My biggest problem is that my forward facing persona is a facade. There is a huge stigma with bipolar. Substance abuse can cause problems professionally as well as personally. The few times I have trusted a work colleague I have regretted it ("Off your meds?"). So people get to know me better and find out they don't know me at all. A couple of old true friends have stuck by me and I am making new ones at support group meetings. When they have the same issues I can be open.
My second big problem is that I am not an easy person to like even if you get past the facade. Depending on where i am on the roller coaster, I may be the despondent downer guy or I might be an arrogant jackass. The lamictal is helping me spend more time between the extremes but anyone that spends much time with me will see the other facets of my personality. Also, if I go really deep in the tank I disappear socially for a time.