I prefer close friends to a lot of friends. Do you?

Ocean Swimmer · Dec 18, 2016 at 08:14 AM

It's better for my symptoms to maintain close friends rather than a lot of acquaintances.

Wild Coyote · Dec 18, 2016 at 08:46 AM

Yes. A few good friends over many acquaintances.

LadyShadow · Dec 18, 2016 at 08:58 AM

I don't have either. I have my best friend and my family. A few online friends scattered here and there, but mostly everyone is gone. But I would actually prefer a handful of close friends to do things with than a lot of acquaintances.

Icare dixit · Dec 18, 2016 at 09:04 AM

Yes.

But it's complicated due to my (borderline; neurotic-psychotic) personality, BPD. It's all or nothing, basically. But the close friendships are either less stressful or not at all (if they are similarly more or less borderline crazy). I prefer crazy people and there aren't that many.

I also really like talking to people I just met. It's less complicated/stressful and I'm generally talkative and interested in people and whatever they do really.

JustJace2u · Dec 18, 2016 at 09:30 AM

I'm very selective in who I consider a friend. I have a few 'friends', most others I just consider acquaintances. Having spent most of my childhood being bullied has made it hard for me to make and keep friends for fear of being rejected.

Unrigged64072835 · Dec 18, 2016 at 06:34 PM

I've lost my friends over the years because I've been agoraphobic. I see them on FB now and I'm not invited to much of anything. I hope that's changing and I can start meeting new people. It's hard with support groups because they're late at night and we have to drive across town to get there.

Wander · Dec 18, 2016 at 08:24 PM

I used to have heaps of friends and throw parties regularly. As I have grown older (I'm 40) and had to deal with chronic physical and mental illnesses my friendship circle has shrunk significantly. I am ok with this. I have a couple of close friends who I see monthly (ish) and my immediate family who I see weekly. That is enough for me. And of course I have you guys

fishin fool · Dec 18, 2016 at 08:31 PM

I had friends from my childhood that stayed friends with me right up until
we turned 50 years old when my MI got the best of me once and for all and
the people I thought would be my friends til the end vanished.
I always did prefer a few close friends over many.

xRavenx · Dec 18, 2016 at 08:33 PM

Yes, a few close friends to me is more important than having a whole bunch of friends. Trust is big for me, and it's too overwhelming to try to keep up with so many people. My one best friend in the whole world passed away almost a year ago, but I do have one friend who texts me all of the time, and we look out for each other, so I'm glad for that. Family does not always understand, but my mom means well....she's actually trying to understand (to a small degree) my mental health condition, whereas before she avoided any talking about that. So that's a start, I suppose.

Victoria'smom · Dec 18, 2016 at 08:58 PM

I have one IRL friend and you guys. I have my husband and family too but as for friends that's it.

Theseus · Dec 20, 2016 at 03:40 PM

I have no close friends or casual friends. Hell, I have no friends. With the possible exception of one, who is the closest thing I have to a friend. He was also my boss of 31 years. We met at work 31 years ago. We know each others' families, I watched his daughters grow up, and was invited to their weddings. We don't work together anymore, and now only occasionally text or call. I always knew this would happen.

I know a lot of people, but I wouldn't even call them acquaintances. They are people I work with and people I've done some sort of business with. I've had friends come and go over the years. I find it hard to maintain friendships. I don't socialize with co-workers, even at work events. I avoid holiday parties, luncheons and things of that nature.

CarriB · Dec 20, 2016 at 04:57 PM

I know a lot of people and have a lot of friends, which is kind of weird for someone with BP. As far as close friends... I have a handful. Those are the people I prefer. Most of the people I know I met through my son (other parents, etc).

Yours_Truly · Dec 20, 2016 at 05:42 PM

I prefer a few good friends to many acquaintances also. As of now, I'm down to one close friend who lives out of state so we rarely see each other and 3 siblings. That's it. So no friends to do things with or hang with.

LifeInProgress · Dec 20, 2016 at 05:52 PM

I prefer a few close friends. I have a lot of acquaintances, but they are not close. It is my close friends who really matter.

Lost_in_the_woods · Dec 21, 2016 at 11:25 PM

I prefer a few close friends as well. I actually only have 3 friends. I consider them to be my family. But my best friend isn't speaking to me...and I am so scared and lost without him.

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Ocean Swimmer Magnate Member Since Dec 2015 Location: Costa Rica Posts: 2,171 8 121 hugs given	Dec 18, 2016 at 08:14 AM #1 It's better for my symptoms to maintain close friends rather than a lot of acquaintances. __________________ Bipolar 1 Day Vraylar 3 mg. Wellbutrin 150 Night meds Temazepam 30 mg or lorazepam Hasn't helped yet. From sunny California!
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Wild Coyote Legendary Community Liaison Member Since Jun 2016 Location: USA Posts: 12,735 (SuperPoster!) 7 70.9k hugs given	Dec 18, 2016 at 08:46 AM #2 Yes. A few good friends over many acquaintances.
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Unrigged64072835 Legendary Member Since Oct 2010 Location: Under the noise floor Posts: 18,579 (SuperPoster!) 13 11.8k hugs given	Dec 18, 2016 at 06:34 PM #6 I've lost my friends over the years because I've been agoraphobic. I see them on FB now and I'm not invited to much of anything. I hope that's changing and I can start meeting new people. It's hard with support groups because they're late at night and we have to drive across town to get there.
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fishin fool Legendary Member Since Apr 2015 Location: New Jersey Posts: 11,872 (SuperPoster!) 9 1,766 hugs given	Dec 18, 2016 at 08:31 PM #8 I had friends from my childhood that stayed friends with me right up until we turned 50 years old when my MI got the best of me once and for all and the people I thought would be my friends til the end vanished. I always did prefer a few close friends over many. __________________ I traded it in for a whole 'nother world A pirate flag and an island girl
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Victoria'smom Legendary Member Since Apr 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 14,931 (SuperPoster!) 12 5,470 hugs given	Dec 18, 2016 at 08:58 PM #10 I have one IRL friend and you guys. I have my husband and family too but as for friends that's it. __________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog
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CarriB Member Member Since Dec 2016 Location: California Posts: 94 7 17 hugs given	Dec 20, 2016 at 04:57 PM #12 I know a lot of people and have a lot of friends, which is kind of weird for someone with BP. As far as close friends... I have a handful. Those are the people I prefer. Most of the people I know I met through my son (other parents, etc). __________________ BP2, previously diagnosed with Major Depression and Generalized Anxiety. Latuda Luvox Klonopin
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Yours_Truly Poohbah Member Since Apr 2016 Location: neither here nor there Posts: 1,269 8 5,268 hugs given	Dec 20, 2016 at 05:42 PM #13 I prefer a few good friends to many acquaintances also. As of now, I'm down to one close friend who lives out of state so we rarely see each other and 3 siblings. That's it. So no friends to do things with or hang with.
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LifeInProgress Member Member Since Oct 2014 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 263 9	Dec 20, 2016 at 05:52 PM #14 I prefer a few close friends. I have a lot of acquaintances, but they are not close. It is my close friends who really matter.
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Lost_in_the_woods Grand Poohbah Community Liaison Member Since Dec 2013 Location: Brokedown Palace Posts: 1,625 10 2,917 hugs given	Dec 21, 2016 at 11:25 PM #15 I prefer a few close friends as well. I actually only have 3 friends. I consider them to be my family. But my best friend isn't speaking to me...and I am so scared and lost without him. __________________ "The woods are lovely, dark, and deep But I have promises to keep And miles to go before I sleep And miles to go before I sleep"
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