I do not socialize much in general, but when I am hypomanic or manic, I tend to talk rapidly and speak a lot about my newfound interests. Like, I talk 10 times as much! Though, since I don't talk a lot to begin with, it's still not a whole lot. lol.

When depressed, I hardly talk at all and have literally gone days without talking.

I don't socialize much beyond my family. Beyond them, maybe two to three times per month, and they are usually my husband's friends or work colleagues. We used to socialize with our neighbor a bit, but she moved far away recently.

I am the cook and "Director of Household Affairs", so when we have people over, I do the lion's portion of the work. I have a compulsion to make really nice meals for guests and make everything nice, so it's stressful. Occasionally my husband's Czech family members and friends visit and stay with us for multiple days or even some weeks. That is highly stressful because we're often accompanying them to various places. We live close enough to New York City and my state's beaches (and our local area is nice), so our home is a popular vacation resting spot for them beyond just visiting us. I will say that my husband does sometimes take them on trips, without me, such as to Utah or Arizona, etc. I like to be home without them for a week or so. My husband's youngest nephew plans to visit us with his girlfriend in the spring or summer. That will be the case as just described.

[bpcyclist]

I do almost no socializing currently. I have just a very small number of friends I keep in any kind of touch with and one of them lives in Seattle, so, I only see him maybe twice a year.

I wish we had some kind of PC in real life-type thing here in town, but if we do, I have not heard of it. I just really don't go out anymore. I would I am sure benefit from more social linteraction with other people, but I don't have the budget for most of those things and I have been sober for 12 years, so bars are a non-starter. Plus, I have zero interest in any type of romantic involvement, either ultra-short term or long term, so all that stuff is just wasted on me.

[Sunflower123]

I go to two bible studies and associated events, meet ups and Tuesday night movies. I work on socializing so as not to become too isolated. Having said that, I’m not consistent. I think this is more to do with me being an introvert and preferring my own company then it does my mood.

[giddykitty]

I'm apparently an extrovert, however, I also suffer from social anxiety and mood will impact my socialization. Like you, if I'm in a down mood, I'm probably more quiet (although if it's close family and few, I tend to want to vent when I'm depressed.) But as far as the anxiety part, I'm worry about looking stupid in front of important people and saying dumb things, so I'm often very quiet...even get mute when people ask me questions because I'm just so overwhelmed with saying the wrong thing (or I've too many thoughts going on in my head to separate). Or, I'll worry about looking boring when not saying anything, but when I don't particularly care for a topic or a crowd. Actually, I've gotten better at accepting this though. If I don't approve of something, I don't mind as much anymore if people see that I don't approve...but I do get bored then sometimes too.

Unfortunately, for an extrovert, I don't get many opportunities to socialize, and then because of that, when the opportunity does arise (ie: have an upcoming social event for my husband's work), I am super anxious because I'm out of practice with socializing...

maintaining contact and/or relationships on the forums though helps a lot.

I'm trying to think moodwise...like when I'm higher.... I mean, I definitely talk more online at that point. Maybe much more! But in real life, well, I don't really have many (or any now?) who will actively listen. I can talk to my Mom, but she doesn't always relate and usually will just say things like "well i hope it gets better" or "i'm sorry". Yeah, like that's helpful. I can talk to my sister too. She knows about emotions and all, but she tends to get very chatty and ultimately just like "hey, what will be, will be. Nothing we can do!" (I don't know. I'm very much paraphrasing and frankly I can't explain well how she reacts, just that it's not always helpful....though sometimes it can be.) Sometimes she'll have good insight, but a lot of times I come out of the conversation feeling like she thinks I'm a looney or something.
My bro, oh I love him. He "gets" me. But he also doesn't really have much solutions...meh! well, maybe the last few times he's said some really helpful things, things that I needed to hear...but he's not around to talk very often.

Most people just want to chit chat and not talk deeply. I'm a deep thinker, deep talker and most people can't handle that...so I'm pretty lonely regardless of mood or opportunity to socialize.

bpcyclist, do you have a DBSA location near you? Or NAMI? DBSA, in particular, was sometimes fun to attend and I made friends with some people there, in the past, but they have faded out of my life. It depends on the group how enjoyable it is, obviously. Our local NAMI chapter has all kinds of events. I go to some, but not the social ones, usually, because the NAMI is a little hike from my house. The DBSA isn't too far, but I wish it was a little earlier in the evening. It used to be just fine when I wasn't on Seroquel, several years back.

A big factor for me, for socialization, is the time in which it can happen. I wish I had more to do (out of the house) during the daytime hours. Most all women in my area work and I am on disability. Everything is at night. My French class tonight is at night, but luckily only from 6 pm to 8 pm, and it's very close by. I've been to other types of classes at the adult school (all at night) and many people are quick to leave afterwards. I might join a local French school in the Fall, for continuing French studies. Again, all classes at night. Maybe there I could find some friend(s). The French school has weekend social, and other events, for those at higher levels.

[*Beth*]

I socialize very little and I'm lonely, very much so.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I’m
Weird in that I’ll talk to strangers in a store
But won’t go places (even to a church I love) by myself because I get really bad social anxiety. It’s hard to explain but most my friends are married and have kids
So I rarely spend time with people.

[Tryingtobehappy5]

I go to kickboxing and jiu jitsu a few times a week and we have a FB message group that is very active. When I am higher I will go up to 5 times in a week and be active on chat, when I am lower I can completely shut down and people start to check on me because I dont show up and wont join in the chat conversation.

There is a very big difference in how I interact while there as well from no talking to super chatty. It probably makes me look weird now that I think about it. Some of them know that I am bipolar though, those are the ones that will check on me if they dont hear from me.

I go to AA twice a week when I am doing ok, same thing there, I will share if I am alright or high and if I am depressed I either wont go or I will skip my turn most often because I dont have anything to say.

Also I work and my mood shows there too although I do my best to hide it but I just cant engage people when I am down, it is hard to just manage the minimum necessary to do the job.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

bpcyclist, do you have a DBSA location near you? Or NAMI? DBSA, in particular, was sometimes fun to attend and I made friends with some people there, in the past, but they have faded out of my life. It depends on the group how enjoyable it is, obviously. Our local NAMI chapter has all kinds of events. I go to some, but not the social ones, usually, because the NAMI is a little hike from my house. The DBSA isn't too far, but I wish it was a little earlier in the evening. It used to be just fine when I wasn't on Seroquel, several years back.

A big factor for me, for socialization, is the time in which it can happen. I wish I had more to do (out of the house) during the daytime hours. Most all women in my area work and I am on disability. Everything is at night. My French class tonight is at night, but luckily only from 6 pm to 8 pm, and it's very close by. I've been to other types of classes at the adult school (all at night) and many people are quick to leave afterwards. I might join a local French school in the Fall, for continuing French studies. Again, all classes at night. Maybe there I could find some friend(s). The French school has weekend social, and other events, for those at higher levels.

BirdDancer, I do think there is a DBSA group somewhere, but I don't really know anything about it. I guess I should probably give it a shot and see what it is like. I know it is not just for bipolar people, which somewhat puts me off, for some reason. There could be some support or possible frineds there, though.

I hope you are able to make some new pals at French School. That sounds like such fun!! You are obviously such an accomplished chef, and living within striking distance of NYC, have you ever taken any of those incredible cooking classes available in the city? It's the best food city on earth, by far, as far as I know!! That could be so much fun for someone like you! Just a thought.

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

BirdDancer, I do think there is a DBSA group somewhere, but I don't really know anything about it. I guess I should probably give it a shot and see what it is like. I know it is not just for bipolar people, which somewhat puts me off, for some reason. There could be some support or possible frineds there, though.

I hope you are able to make some new pals at French School. That sounds like such fun!! You are obviously such an accomplished chef, and living within striking distance of NYC, have you ever taken any of those incredible cooking classes available in the city? It's the best food city on earth, by far, as far as I know!! That could be so much fun for someone like you! Just a thought.

Hi bpcylist. I hope you do consider checking out a DBSA meeting. If you don't like it, then you'll know. I can't speak for one near you, but mine often had more people with bipolar disorder than depression. Frankly, I thought the folks with depression were not off putting. I really liked a number of them and learned from them. At least at my DBSA meetings they fit in just fine. My meetings were usually well-attended with occasional interesting guests, because of where I live. Some members could be annoying (maybe I was to some ), but c'est la vie!

NYC is a little too far away for me for regular travel, though many in my area do it, daily. Hectic! But hubby and I go in sometimes for concerts, and the like. Actually, my area has many cooking classes, but they are all mostly in the evenings, unless they're college-based. Once I went to a fish filleting class, another working with fondant, and a third a cheese appreciation class where we learned to make fresh mozzarella. They have many others, but most I don't really need. I could stand to improve my knife skills. [That sounds scary !]

[Fuzzybear]

I don't socialise much, I'm too grizzly for many

[Jmayfair]

I have one good friend and thats supposed to be enough but I do remember a time in college when I had many. That was fun. My only friend is a old friend and we hang out by going to a gym. I have not checked out the NAMI that is near me yet. My Pdoc does not believe in group style events for me because he thinks other peoples' problems may cause uneeded anxiety. I do not know if this is true for me. After all, I did join this forum.

[zapatoes]

Once per week is my goal and sometimes socialize twice per week.

[~Christina]

Honestly ? My local friend due to multiple reasons became a emotional vampire despite my explaining I often have to cancel plans to either my Bipolar /Fibro or PsA just has me unable , but still would message me constantly and if I didn’t respond fast enough. I finally said unless your bleeding to death stop expecting me to respond in 22 seconds

So I have many true friends I have on here, a few other places , we all get it , if I get a PM I do not have to quickly respond, I can take my time responding.

I absolutely will not tolerate anyone demanding my attention unless it’s truly an emergency.

Maybe that makes me a bytch and honestly I don’t feel bad if it fits a situation.

[Cocosurviving]

I regularly socialize online. I’ve built a support system...me and several individuals check in on each other. I have a several check in posts with emoji‘s that correspond.
I’ve been doing this the last few years. I do have select
family members I call to check in on.