Does your bi polar make you feel lonley?

Yes, it truly does

Sometimes it seems like most people have a social circle they fit into except me. Don't get me wrong, I have friends and I'm a friendly, nice guy... But it seems like I fit in with other people who have trouble fitting in. I try, but I sometimes feel like I just don't connect with the average person. This makes me feel lonely.

I once went out with some people I didn't really know (this type of thing happens frequently). They talked with me, but I felt like my socialization wasn't really connecting. I felt they were more mature and more socially talented. Towards the end of the night, they were talking, and I was standing there quietly for the most part. They were taking about their relationships, their jobs, just talking and laughing, and I just had trouble relating. I felt like I was there alone. I wanted to connect and fit in, maybe it was mental insecurity. I had fun, maybe if I knew them better I wouldn’t have felt that way.

Also, once while riding the train, and there were these three guys and a girl all talking, they all seemed to fit in. They were going to the school, enjoying each other’s presence. Maybe you just notice the people that talk in groups, and the people that don't know anyone and are alone fly under the radar. But I wanted to belong.

There are people I feel like I belong with, and I guess I want more of those people in my life. Ultimately I just want to be around people that accept me with open arms. Unfortunately you're not always around these type of people.

I guess I want everyone to like me, connect with me, and I want to be able to walk up to everyone and have an instant connection. Obviously this is very unrealistic, maybe I need to lower my expectations, and be happy with what I’ve got.

Beyond lonely... I feel like a misfit or an outcast a lot of the time.
I was just diagnosed 8 months ago, and I was open and "public" about it (even on facebook) without even considering that I should hide it. I was totally naive to the whole stigma and everything... I had no idea how awkward this would become, and how judgmental and unsupportive many of my friends and family have been.
Even though I have a fantastic boyfriend, who has been so patient and loving and kind, I see him losing his patience as time wears him down. He snaps at me almost daily now, sending me into a tailspin almost every time. I know he is as exhausted of me as I am of my own illness.
I've lost my job, my car and my phone in the past 6 months, and no longer have the income to replace them. My social circle and ability to pursue my own interests (or even friendships) keep diminishing, so my life keeps feeling smaller and lonelier. Yet, at the same time, I'm such a mess I don't even feel like having friends or hobbies anyway, I don't even want anybody to see me like this or have to spend the energy putting on a happy face.
It's a catch 22. I'm lonely because I can't handle much more than being alone.
Bipolar has been a very lonely, very isolating diagnosis for me.

crackerjack wrote:I was just diagnosed 8 months ago, and I was open and "public" about it (even on facebook) without even considering that I should hide it. I was totally naive to the whole stigma and everything... I had no idea how awkward this would become, and how judgmental and unsupportive many of my friends and family have been.

I am so sorry you've had this experience *hug* I've also opened up about it even on Facebook and my friends were/are fantastic about it. True, some people whom I had more "party-based" relationships with deserted me, but I actually gained some friends who are much more open-minded and understanding than I would have given them credit for.

I'm sorry about your financial losses as well. I have drastically downscaled and it looks like more steps will have to follow. I just end every month about 100 euros short and I can't go on borrowing and selling small things forever. I look at how I used to spend money and it's almost funny. My life has changed "a bit".

I hope at least here on the forum you don't feel alone -- it does help me a lot. Big hugs.

Not being able to talk about my symptoms of my MI is lonely. I do, however, find some consolation in telling my therapist about it. I see her once a month or more often if needed. When the end of the months comes around I actually look forward to chatting with her about me and my issues in my life. I also like to have the pdoc. He is the one and only person who I can be completely honest about what I am experiencing be it mania, hypomania, paranoia, or severe depression. He's seen and heard a lot so I am no exception. I am very honest with him. Aside from that I don't have anyone in life who I can trust. So I just keep it that way to protect myself from being judged or treated bad.

From reading all the comments on this topic, I have found that most people are less inclined to tell people about their illness. And I can understand why you feel like that and don't let people know.

As for me, I am extremely confident in who I am now, so disclosing my Bipolar isn't a problem for me when in a social interaction. I know what I am and what I suffer from. I have found that most, like 90%, of people I tell about it, want to know more about it. I get a lot of questions from them. So in a social setting I will talk about it because it makes me an interesting person.

But when it comes to my work, it took me 7 months to tell my manager about it. When I have days off due to it, I come up with some random excuse for why I can't work. I am weary of letting them know how bad it can get some times. The only reason I told them was because I was in a really bad way and needed a couple of days off.

Landor

Hi there. You are not alone in feeling this way. I feel alone and isolated when I am on my own and the same when I am with people. I know that I am different but the minute people find out about my illness I am treated differently - almost like a naughty child - and I am 37! My own mother and siblings barely speak to me. I have done nothing to hurt them directly - other than by hurting myself. They do not get it or understand, even though I am still the same person before they found out I had Bipolar. My job found out and I had no choice but to retire immediately. DISCRIMINATION! I am yet to complain about that. I used to say to my work mates "Hey I am still the same Chrissy you spoke to yesterday before you knew I had bipolar!" But instantly attitudes changed and I was bullied, rejected and isolated. I never did anything wrong at work other than be honest about my condition due to some extended sick leave as I was in a clinic for alcohol abuse.
So what to do about it? I have no clue. Maybe I am just getting used to the idea, but I would rather be the life of the party. I am lucky - or am I - that I have 2 kids and a partner who care for me... sometimes and quite often over the years I just don't want to put up with worrying all the time about how I am and what others think. I still do what I want but that is very different to what other women my age do - ie dress, act etc. I have no answer other than to be yourself and enjoy being yourself. The rest of the world is doing just that.

At this time, I am feeling extremely lonely and still a little paranoid. I am ready for the worst to happen with my relationships. Feeling that others are out to only hurt me or take advantage of me and my kindness. I wish I could just trust. My husband is out of town. So I am all alone. Dealing with this has me trying to escape somehow. Weird, but since I don't exactly know what normal really is, I can't even begin to wish for that. I just want some sunshine in my life.

When i was married, i reilized i was alone but not lonely. Now im alone, and feel lonely

I struggle with loneliness, yes, but it has little to do with having Bipolar Disorder, & much to do with PTSD. I struggle with "extreme" trust issues. Debilitating, really. So much so, that I have a hard time even posting to Facebook without deleting my posts due to feeling exposed. Often, I do not even want my face to be on my profile picture.

Only recently (the past several months) have I experienced what it means to be in regular contact with someone. To actually reveal myself genuinely & consistently. And it has shown me what living truly is. Yes, it is terrifying, but it is extraordinarily good.

Tonight, though, I am dealing with acute loneliness. My person is otherwise occupied, and I do not want to be a nuisance. I need to take an internal chill pill. I also struggle with bouts of intense anxiety. It is hard for me to calm down when I think, "Perhaps I've ruined it. Things are different, the past few days, and they won't be going back." Even though I know very well that there is a legitimate reason she is busy. And I would't want her to write much, now, because what she is doing is truly more important. Still, the worry. Still, the fear. Still, the inability to take a deep breath.

^ I feel the same way. My trust issues maybe aren't that extreme though. I usually get angry at myself for who I do end up trusting and letting in my life though. I'm pretty consistent in that way I swear, the wiring in my brain must be so off sometimes.