Dreamrunner, please don't ever feel of being ashamed as being bipolar, even if all your friends that didn't know you are bipolar til now they should understand it's just an illness. If those friends think differently about you and avoid you, then they are not your real friends, friends stick together no matter what. either its a physical or mental illness it doesn't matter they are both illnesses reguardless. I'm also bipolar and I am not afraid to admit it, when I found out that I am bipolar and told the people and the family I know they still look at me the same way as before they found out that I'm bipolar. so don't feel ashamed at all.