Like your family, your friends probably knew all along you had bipolar. They may have even dropped you broad hints, such as “I have a cousin who …”
Bipolar is the very last illness in which you can afford to go it alone. Isolation can literally suck the life force out of you. You need friends to connect you to the world, to stimulate you, to ground you, to help pick you up when you are down. It may be easier to keep your friends by being open about your illness, or you may have to be discreet.
Having a trusted friend to talk with about your illness will make your life a whole lot easier, but you may feel (for good reason) that you can’t rely on your current circle of acquaintances. In this case, finding a support group is your best option. The only requirement is to show up. It could turn out to be the wisest decision you ever made.
