How many people in your life are real?

When I say "real", I mean authentic, genuine, sincere.

Like me, have you come to feel that most people are disingenuous and phony? If so, do you think your thoughts are a reflection of reality, or merely a symptom of your illness?

It's a good question. I tend to gravitate to those that are sincere and genuine. I don't have time for disingenuous and phony, and don't tend to pay these characteristics much mind or hold much value with me, saddens me in fact but life is too short to be surrounded otherwise. So those closest to me are ones that I know are authentic and true to themselves and others, as much as anyone can be given their own idiosyncrasies. It is how I want to be treated so I will do the same. As far as views being colored by illness, even having BP, I am still true to myself and when with others so that it comes down to, "Those that mind don't matter, and those that matter, don't mind," still being true is a two way street. Really good question.

After I left school and I was 18 I decided that I will reject 'friends' who never rang me back. And so I rejected people that never bothered to ring me and started spending time with people that valued me. So the friends I have now want to be my friend and accept me for who I am.

I'm using this.

I have a very small group of friends and consider them all "real." The say what they mean and mean what they say. I could trust them with my world and do! I love they accept me just the way I am. Flaws and all.