not a easy a question as it sounds. i'm sure you will get multiple answers. but for me it's a vicous cycle. when manic i seek out people and become very sociable. i look up people i havent seen in years, last time it was childhood friends from 20 yrs ago. for awhile it was like we never parted ways untill i started with those pesky delusions, it does'nt take long to alienate everyone. then the crash and guilt and shame. i push everyone away even though i need them more than ever. i need to insulate the ones i love from the sickness to maybe perserve what little is left of that relationship in hopes one day i can function normal and regain all that was lost. to further complicate matters one might become a little parinoid and think the worst of the littlist thing. so you push away to protect yourself. i think it was robert lowell that wrote somthing like "mania is a sickness for our friends and family but depression is a hell we keep for ourselves" or some such thing.
i rapid cycle quite a bit so thers no rest for the weary, i've bin on a good combo of meds that has really helped though i have my days.