Thanks to all who have shared in this thread! I'm sorry that I'm giving written acknowledgement this late, but I have been reading everyone's responses and relate to much of what has been written. It seems clear that various aspects of the illness (and resulting co-existing "complications") affect social relationships. I also know that personality tendencies (introversion to extroversion) are factors. On the latter topic, I can easily seem like the "star of the show" when manic, though under normal circumstances, have an inward focus. I like to be around people, to a degree, but not always. I don't depend on many people for inward satisfaction, but do depend on at least a couple. I'm happy to have one or two close people in my life, rather than dozens of superficial "friendships".

When I was a little girl to mid teens, I was one of the popular "leader" types. When my bipolar disorder really reared its head, and I had a major disappointment in my young life, that changed. I developed trust issues with people, particularly females. I trusted my close family members, though, including my sister and mom. When I've made female friends, throughout the years, I believe there has always been a figurative glass wall between me and them. Again, that hasn't existed so much with men. My husband has often commented about my "glass wall" tendency. And yet, when I try hard to break it, I sometimes overshare, too soon, and that scares potential friends away.

Definitely my bipolar moods have affected relationships. As others wrote, depressions turn some people off because you "fall off the map" or seem...I don't know...like a party pooper. My mania? Ouch! You can't image how often I've been called "over the top", "aggressive", and even "scary".

A couple of days ago, I met with my new therapist in my new country of residence. She really pressed me on things I wanted to work on. One of the last things I mentioned was my desire to improve my relationships with women, and make some real female friendships work. Whenever I've mentioned this, and I have several times to various female therapists, I always fear that immediate scares them. I always tell them that my male psychiatrist insists that I have a female therapist. I also tell all of them that though I've mentioned it to many before them, the work on this never seems to get done. I wonder...Am I avoiding it? Or are they?

I'm a very dedicated loving wife. I would do anything for my husband, and he feels the same towards me. Despite many boyfriends before him, I only loved one other man. He broke up with me, I think because of my bipolar disorder. It was a shock that his love was not unconditional.