I, too, feel lonely because of my bipolar depression. Even if I am around other people I feel like there is this hole that needs to be filled but isn't. I think that it is because I wear this mask so that everything appears to be normal to other people. I also tend to isolate myself when I am on the downswing because I don't want anyone to see what I am like in a depressive state.

One of the best things that I have done was to start going to a DBSA support group. I don't know if the guidelines that they set are the same for every DBSA support group, but I feel that it is a safe place to share. I can talk without interruption and people suggest what's worked for them instead of throwing out the suggestions that you would typically hear from someone who doesn't really understand depression. I think that as I keep going to group, that it will help me not only wiht my bipolar, but my social anxiety.

That's what worked for me. Take care.