A question ...

Do you isolate and cut your friends off when you are very down?
This might seem like a stupid question, but I am interested in hearing other people's experiences, maybe from both sides of the fence, if anyone wants to share.

If not, it will be good practice for me to see a post of mine with no replies ... that brings up all sorts of negative feelings for me, which is pretty dumb I guess.

Take care,
Fuzzy

((((((((((((((((((((((((((Fuzzybear))))))))))))))))))

Hello,

When I am having a down time, I keep to myself a lot. I let the answering machine get phone calls and I don't enjoy going out of the house. I hide in my room a lot. I feel safe at home and cuddle with my dog, Amber.

Take Care Bear,
Leslie

I withdraw from everyone and everything, including my family. I get very quiet and I've been told that I "sound" different when talking - [shrug]


Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
Dorothy Bernard

Fuzzy,
I must admit that I do push others away when I feel depressed. I just feel like I cannot communicate and I become so frustrated that I want to hide. The other thing that happens is that contact can sometimes become almost unbearable when I am feeling down. Being around others is just too tiresome.
It sounds very normal to me.

Jessica

<font color=blue>The worst is over now and we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain away
There’s so much left to learn, and no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain</font color=blue>
~Seether and Amy Lee

It's hard for me to say. I'm not sure if I isolate myself because I'm feeling down, or I'm feeling down because I feel isolated.

I've never been sure of my social skills, and every little thing feels like some how I screwed things up. My supposed best friend has said something that has hurt me to the core, but I don't trust her enough right now to be able to go to her with what was said. Quite the dilemma

it's interesting what wilamh said-- am i isolated because i'm depressed or am i depressed because i'm isolated? when i'm depressed i cut myself off entirely. i've lost a lot of friends and some significant others because of it. i can't open up and i can't verbalize anything. i just shut down and shut off.

i wish i knew how to fix it. it's easier for me to type... so i'll often spend a lot of time online because it's the only time i can put words to my thoughts. if it weren't for the internet, i'm sure i'd be dead by now.

i can relate, anyway.

take care,
ghost

---------
....Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.

Well, that is a good question and I am not sure exactly how to answer it.

I do not really have any 3D friends, and I know the aquantances I have I tend to avoid. I feel like the few 3D people I talk to, wouldn't want to be bothered with my problems or that I fear I would pass my depression on to them and cause them to have a bad day.

I have Bi Polar and I have been having alot of depression lately and have avoided this board for days. I guess when I am down and depressed I seem to avoid alot of things.

There are a couple of boards that have hundreds of new posts and I am just too scared to go in there. I don't know I am just very fragile sometimes and common things people do everyday freak me out (or fear of it causing) So I guess I do avoid things quite a bit.

______________
~KRIS~

If you think you have totally gave up, you haven't, because you are here!

yes fuzzy it's quite common for people to isolate when they are down i hope you start feeling better.
love
orion 70
(((((huggybear))))

Hi,Fuzzybear, Just got a chance to get to the forum and the message you posted (better late than never).This really strikes a cord for me as I am very limited in terms of friends any way.I find isolation to be an ongoing issue.If only we could have friends when we feel comfortable and be alone otherwise.I find that I'm reluctant to begin new friendships because as soon as they want to come over alot,I get uncomfortable because it's not very often that I feel like socializing and even less often that I want to organize a social event.Inevitably, I start avoiding thier calls (not because I don't like them) but I feel overwhelmed and they get offended (understandably!) so eventually, they usually assume that I'm a snob.It's frustrating brcause you can't very well sit them down and describe your symptoms! So I think that that's all the more reason that these forums can be good contact between people who might relate to our specific struggles and when we really isolate, we can still "reach" others in safety. I wish that it wasn't such a prominant issue in illnesses like bipolar since my experience has been that "we" are some of the most sensitive and compassionate people out there and those few friends that I feel safe around are appreciated more than they know.SO...that is my sermon on isolation .Sorry to ramble but loneliness is a very big part of my life and the sad thing is , as much as I want to, I can't change it.Just another interesting side of self conflict.I hope you are feeling better since your post and sypathize with your struggle.Jill.

Dance like nobody's watching.

I get kind of sarcastic and stay away from people when I crash, usually I'm very high, happy, to the point of being obnoxious.
I cycle very rapidlly, not sure what type bi-polar Iam. still learning

Hi there,
I would take this up with a reputable psychiatrist, that will give you the proper DX and prescribe the meds you need to help you out.
I say this from my own personal experience, I was DXed as Bipolar-II(mild) 4 years ago and have followed treatment plan, it does work, give it a try, for your own well being, and also please take care, come and talk to us anytime you want, or even PM us.

Take care now,

DE

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON