Aw hun... what a traumatic experience to be taken from the high school like that people can be so mean and most don't understand or believe bipolar is real. My family is kinda like yours- I'm one of the only single moms in a wealthy community, people gossip a lot. Myself and 2 of my 3 kids are dx BP. It's tough, everyone else's lives look so cookie cutter perfect from my point of view (I'm sure they have their problems). And your problems are not ridiculous, don't be so hard on yourself. I'm not sure what to tell you about isolating, I tend to do it myself. I don't love public places and being around a lot of people.

When you say you look back on the girl, yourself, and want to tell her to chill out, it's like you're mad at her. But that's not really fair is it? You were really struggling and going through a hard time. It's not your fault you have bipolar, it's not anybody's fault, it just is what it is. It's like you're double punishing yourself, you already went through that horrible situation, then you get mad at yourself on top of it. Try to look back at the girl in that time and have compassion and let her know things will get better. All these hard experiences are your life path. And I think they happen for a reason, maybe so that you can help others, I don't know. You seem like a very bright, well spoken woman, maybe you'll write a book someday. I would buy it and read it.