[margie123]

Stared a new thread but submitted it by mistake.
LOL sorry I haven't learned to navigate this site yet. Back to the subject, does your bi-polar disorder make you feel lonely?

[Igniris]

Mine does make me feel lonely. My friend who has moderate depression disorder tries to help me, but always focusing on what he does to fix his which doesn't work with mine. It also makes me feel intensely guilty when people try to make me feel better whenever I am on a low and it won't even help which makes me feel alone as well.

[lilypup]

Not really unless I am down at the bottom of the pit. But I have worked VERY hard to build a good circle of support.

[bondgirl]

No, since I'm mostly Hypomanic, but if I was depressed a lot, I'm sure it would since people don't like negative people, and I isolate myself from others when I'm down.

[Lobster Hands]

Yes, it is constant for me when depressed. People say they care for you, but it doesn't mean anything when you aren't thinking straight.

[~Christina]

I only feel lonely when I am very depressed and "I" pull away from my husband and friends on here.

[BlackSheep79]

There is two ways for me to address this question. The first time I didn't feel alone was when I went into the psych unit for the first time in 2013. I had never met anyone with BP before, and I was listening to their stories and said oh my gosh it's me. So for the first time I didn't feel alone. When I started this forum this year I again didn't feel alone. I could a
again relate, you all are my friends. Everyday I have trouble connecting to the outside world and I feel alone, where as here I can relate. Sometimes I can offer advice which makes me feel good inside and other times just reading your stories is therapeutic for me.

I do also feel alone even though I have such great support. Like I said I have always felt different and have trouble connecting and fitting in. You can tell someone you suffer from BP and explain it but they truly don't get it. When I go into an episode it is usually hypo mania more than depression. My sister deals with depression so she understands that side but no one gets the hypo mania. So yes I do feel alone at times.

[CozyMellie]

I don't know if it makes me feel lonely. I usually feel extremely lonely after I recover from a depressive episode. Mostly because I am fearful of breaking down again or in front of people. I isolate myself which makes me feel lonely.

I also feel lonely when I think depressive thoughts like "why me", "what if". Ruminating on things like that definitely make me feel lonely.

maybe not lonely but definitely disconnected
and when manic i feel at one, thrumming with secret knowledge

[Hottiedepressed]

Yes, at times! Sometimes I struggle to be social, so then I'm alone. But, I'm learning to not isolate!

[bluemuse]

I am always alone, but do not feel lonely. I have no friends because I isolate myself. My mom who was my best friend died 7 years ago. I do have a husband and 2 sons. The son who is the most empathetic does not live nearby. My husband and other son are not understanding at all. I get my love from my dogs. I don't know what I would do if I did not have them.

[GALAXYGAL]

Originally Posted by CozyMellie

I don't know if it makes me feel lonely. I usually feel extremely lonely after I recover from a depressive episode. Mostly because I am fearful of breaking down again or in front of people. I isolate myself which makes me feel lonely.

I can relate to this. I'm never really sure when I've recovered from depression. It seems to linger mildly for awhile so I have to wait until I am not too emotional to socialize. While I'm waiting I just get used to spending time alone. I am not consistently connected to the few friends I have.

[GALAXYGAL]

Also, I am irritable and intense during mixed episodes. I tend to over talk people and I have had people at work tell me that I make them nervous, so at least I recognize that I have to isolate myself to avoid more embarrassment.

I'm extremely lonely. It's better during the week when i see people at my drop-in. But on the weekends it's really painful. I don't know what to do. Boredom is a problem, too.

[Curiosity77]

I get lonely when i'm depressed, but i don't have motivation or energy at those times to do anything about. Also, sometimes my anxiety can make it difficult to be around people. So definitely lonely at times. At other times i am ok though.

[vans1974]

Originally Posted by margie123

Stared a new thread but submitted it by mistake.
LOL sorry I haven't learned to navigate this site yet. Back to the subject, does your bi-polar disorder make you feel lonely?

Only in a depressive state.

[tipper1492]

My wife keeps me from falling into the dark. I do not seem to suffer lots of depression, but I'm not sure how much. Maybe anger is depression. Wish I had a BP group to join in real live place close by. This place has also helped me so very much.

[Manic Trance]

Yes. Very much so. I feel very alone when hypomanic. I feel like I am on this level, moving at this speed, and everyone is around me looking at me like, whoa?! What is up with that guy? Even if it is in some way appreciative, it makes me feel really isolated from them, and I struggle not to resent people. I feel alone when I am spaced out and disconnected, and of course I feel alone when I am depressed. Sorry to be so dour! But yes! That said, there are moments of intense connection, and times when I really feel embraced, and those are very special. Lately I have been more up front with people about what is going on with me, I am just so tired of talking around it, telling people I keep a strict diet because of allergies, etc... And I've told some close friends and it feels good. So we'll see, I feel less lonely reading all of your posts!

[LastQuestion]

I often find myself thinking I'm on my own island. So isolated that it's not even really feeling lonely, just recognizing that there's no place that I belong. I don't 'fit' anywhere.

Whether I'm depressed, manic, or something inbetween I am socially displaced anywhere I go. It's one of the reasons my suicidal ideation is so persistent.

It's slowly wearing me down and I believe eventually the conditions which would compell me to act on these thoughts will arise. I wonder what I can do to prevent that, how I might arrive at a different destination. Sadly, there's no one I can talk to who has any idea how to help in that pursuit. My own little island...

[BipolaRNurse]

Sometimes, I can feel utterly lonely standing in the middle of a crowded room.

It usually happens during a bout of depression, but there have been times I felt it when manic because I just KNEW nobody would ever understand what was running through my mind. Bipolar really is a lonely disease, particularly when you live with people who have no idea what it's like to live inside your head. I have a great support system as well as a number of online friends with the disorder, but not a single person IRL really "gets it".

[Downsideup75]

yes I get lonely in a room full of people and all i have to do is talk lol but i dont

[kf031980]

I think when you feel different to most, inevitably that will make you feel lonely sometimes!

[pawn78]

yes, been lonely most of my life. I like having close friends, but I am introverted and I don;t care for having "shallow" relationships. I always try to keep one or two close friends to talk to, but it is difficult to do even that sometimes.

[gubernova]

I like to be alone during the depressive phase; I don't like people seeing me suffer.

[Alone & confused]

Being bipolar doesn't make me feel lonely, but people around me who don't understand how it affects me does! I would mange it a lot better if my family were a little more understanding about how debilitating the lows can be, & how it's not just about a simple "bad mood" that can easily be remedied by someone telling you to "cheer up!" They do pretty much "get" the manic side though, "Don't mess with mom right now, she's in one of her moods!" & I'm usually given my space! Lol. But I don't think the MI itself is the root cause of me feeling alone.