OH MY GOSH!!!!! Everything you said was totally me. It's like reading my biography. Wow! I'm a little takenaback by this.

Anyway, I'd like to know how old you are to see if your in a position to get help on your own regardless of your family and friends. Have you been officially diagnosed by a professional? And if you have, do you know what type of bi-polar you have? Have you done any research on your own about bi-polar?

Sorry, don't mean to overwhelm you with questions. I'd just be better able to offer some help if I knew these things.
As far as your family is concerned...they may not be the support system you need and there are good ones out there who can also help you to deal with your family. By the way, bi-polar has a tendency to run in families! They may not be willing to face this because it would mean facing themselves???
As for your friends...I can only say that if they truly love you they will be there for you as best they can. Perhaps knowing there's not alone will help. Explain that this type of illness does not discriminate on how much money you may or may not have. Explain to them your exact feelings, thoughts, stress and pain you are experiencing and then perhaps they will see that you all can truly relate to one anothr. I will also say though, that considering there state right now, they may not be the best people in a position to help you, comfort you, encourage you and be willing to put their own issues aside to have compassion for you. When anyone is experiencing something like depression, it's hard to see beyond there own turmoil and pain. And that's understandable! Again I tell you, there are support systems out there who understand these things. This forum is one of them!
Bi-polar must be treated medically. There is no way around that. It's a chemical imbalance and not a psychological, emotional or mental problem (these are a symptom of this disorder!). Medication is what corrects that chemical imbalance and helps you to function better in your life and with society. I'm not sure what to tell you as far as getting that medical attention, except to say that it ought to be a psychiatrist and not a general practioner. Psychiatrists are specifically trained in these types of doctoral needs.

I hope I haven't overwhelmed with all I've said. I've been successfully treated for bi-polar for quite some time now and I believe myself to be in a strong position to help guide, support you, encourage you and perhaps answer some of the questions you have.
Thinking of you! Tgrspurr. xoxo