Friendships are a tough one for me too. I have one really good friend who has stuck with me through thick and thin, and my husband...other than that...I am feeling pretty lonely too. Most people can't understand me and I have a hard time getting close because I am afraid people will learn about my illness and judge me. I can't help but think that I hate myself...so who's going to want to be my friend anyway...makes it tough for sure. Maintaining friendships is difficult because I run hot and cold. I isolate myself when I feel unwell and new friends who don't know about my illness just don't understand why I don't call them back or keep dates and it quickly shuts the door on any chance of an actual closeness...I've lost a lot of friends being bipolar and have learned to just accept that I will never be a social butterfly...it's lonely...That's why I agree with RapidFlyer...there is always the internet!