how do I let friends know about bipolar moods

How do I let friends know about bipolar moods? I have been very snappy lately especially when friends start telling me what to do or maybe im just thinking they are, I dont know?
I dont know how to get them to recognize a mood as bipolar and not me just being a "bi**h ! Then other times Im fine then im sad and lonely then im crying and want to hibernate . I think Im just recognizing my moods myself , I have been hurting my friends feelings and that was the first sign that i questioned myself about , was i being mean? was I just in a bad mood? ect...
I have already pushed one friend away because she was too nosey and all up in my business so I just kinda stopped hanging out with her but thats hard cuz shes my neighbor!
Am I going thru a mood now?
how do I get my friends to notice and TELL me when im like this so I dont hurt anyones feelings? and how do I not get my feelings hurt so easy?

The first question is:
Do you want people to know about your BP?
Do you want everyone to know?
When you have decided who you want to tell, you need to give them literature to learn more about it.
You then need to ask them to assist you in tracking your moods.

It is a difficult process, and I would recommend you choose very carefully who you wish to disclose to. I've only told one colleague at work, a friend that I see every now and again at the stables and my boyfriend.

mommasuesue; I agree with suga think about who you want to tell etc. I am open about my diagnosis, but it's one of those things once you tell you can't take it back, so make sure your comfortable.

Bottom line own your behaviour, whether it was caused by a mood or otherwise. A simple sorry usually is enough. Avoid the yeah but sorry. i.e. yeah I'm sorry, but it was because I was hypomanic.

I would only tell like 1 friend. Someone who you are around alot and who can be trusted to not tell if you don't want everyone to know. I'm picky about who I tell that I'm BP. I wish I was more open about it. Hopefully one day I will be. Good Luck to you!

Over the years I have probably told too many people. I'm pretty open and up front about it. But the most important people I have told were my best friends. Before I was married to him, my husband would notice my mood before I did. I think over the years just telling him what to watch for and what were dangerous signs he has learned the way the disease presents itself in me. Also his sister, who is my best girl friend can tell when I am up or down. Everyone else I told was too much. They dont really pay attention and if I snap at them or if I do something out of control I just apologize and move on. (Not really move on... because I constantly replay the scene in my head and wish I could take it back)
Good luck!

I'm upfront about my bipolar with a lot of people and all my friends know. However, I'm also openly autistic so people already know I'm not "normal" and I am unable to attend school or go to work and am on disability. So there's less for me to lose by someone being unempathetic. I agree with trying to just apologize without trying to make it sound like you are blaming your bipolar, though having people alert you when they think there is a problem that you might recognize doesn't sound like a bad idea.

I AGREE WITH SUGAR HORSE TOO. START OUT SLOW. EDUCATED THEM. AND CHOOSE WHO YOU TELL WISELY. I HAD!! TO TELL MORE PEOPLE THAN I WANTED. MY SON UNDERSTANDS BUT HE IS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD. MY MOTHER WAS IN DENIAL FOR AWHILE. BUT IS SUPPORTIVE NOW. EVEN MY EXHUSBAND IS UNDERSTANDING CONSIDERING I HURT HIM WITH SOME OF MY BEHAVIORS BEFORE WE DIVORCED. MY HUSBAND READS EVERYTHING HE CAN GET HIS HANDS ON ABOUT THE SUBJECT AND IS THE BEST. HOWEVER MY DAUGHTER (19) HAS COMPLETEY DISOWEND ME. SO START OUT SLOW, I FOUND MOST PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDING, AND IF THEY ARE NOT YOU DON'T NEED THEM UNLESS THEY ARE WILLING TO LEARN . GOOD LUCK AND PRAYERS