I think its very hard to maintain "normal" healthy friendships when you are bipolar. I am blessed to have built a very close knit family of my own children, their spouses, their spouses' families and my grandson. Honestly, outside of them and you wonderful folks, I dont put much effort into building social networks or friends bc I have had so many experiences w/ ppl using me or "ditching" me- often bc they couldn't handle my BP- but sometimes just bc I was "ditch-able" I guess. All that said, I do NOT think that just bc being BP makes friendships harder to find and maintain that we should compromise and accept negative or even destructive friendships. Even tho this person has been in your life a long time, that doesn't necessarily means she DESERVES to continue to have a place in your life.