Can somebody explain to me the thinking and drive behind one with bipolar seeking out a new crowd, new group of friends, new partner, etc? Especially when one has NOTHING in common with these people, and they are younger, shallow, and have only known them for mere months?

Is it the thrill of pretending to be somebody different?

Is the brain fooling you into thinking these people are actually fascinating and deep?

Is it a desire to escape the former life, thus seeking out the opposite? (IE: trading in intellectual for ditzy, older for younger, long-time friend/partner for new and exciting people)

Are these people the symptom of (hypo)mania, or are they the trigger?

Are they mere distractions, or a form of self-medicating?

Yes, I'm speaking of somebody close to me, whose behavior and the people they are now seeking out and spending time with absolutely blows my mind. This is a person whose NORMAL is Bob Dylan, classic literature, nerdy documentaries, and shunning the tanned, makeup-ed, popular, shallow types. etc. Who is now spending time with people whose tastes are Taylor Swift, brainless TV, chick flick movies, endless tweeting, video games, anime, etc. Had I known this person for only a year or so, I could understand having missed that. But it's been nearly 9 years and I know this person better than anybody in their life ever has. And no, it's not just me who has been pushed away, their long-time best friend has also been ignored for months as well. It's just so perplexing..