I agree with you. I, too, have been in and out of therapy (mostly due to insurance restrictions or someone leaves) and have been thru most of the second generation medications too.

This comment of yours really struck home with me: "Maybe this is a common problem with us bipolar afflicted? Wanting to make and keep friends, but never having periods of stability long enough to do it - and it's lonely". It's wanting to be part of the pack and longing for this and yet not finding a stable platform to stand on while pursuing constant friendships. I find that people disappear out of my life due to my mood instability. One day I seem "normal" to them and the next ... they don't know what to expect with me. Because my mood is unpredictable, they tend to want to stay away from me.


I tried to become a friend of a neighbor who had severe mood swings. I never knew when she would explode at me or be friendly, there was never a constant. So, I tended to keep my distance from her, even though I basically really liked her and found when she appeared stable, I really enjoyed her company, she was very funny and kept me laughing, But I could never count on this every time, but now, looking back on this, I now understand her much better since getting my dx of BP ll. I am still very fond of her and try to look at all the positives.


Birdie