3 Ways to Maintain Friendships with Bipolar

Bipolar can make it difficult to maintain and continue to have friendships in the world. The manic episodes can send you off the deep-end saying things and acting in ways you can never imagine yourself behaving like when you're no longer sick. What happens to our friendships? Oftentimes they fall by the wayside. It can be hard to both manage the disorder, make amends everytime you have a manic episode, and still have friends. 




1) Let your friends know

This is sort of risky, letting your friends know you have bipolar might make them more or less sympathetic to you position in the world. Either they have family with bipolar whom they love and understand, or they have family with bipolar whom they despise, or they've only ever heard about bipolar from the their smartphones and TV. How are they going to react when they know you have bipolar? If you have good friends, they won't give a shit. And beyond that you can explain to them what a manic episode in you looks like and they can help provide guidance and support when you need to go to the ward.

2) Meet with your friends regularly 

If there's a weekly get-together with a bunch of friends already make sure to go to it. If there's not one, I always suggest meeting with 1 or at least a few friends weekly. It's important to not self-isolate when dealing with this disease. When you're manic you might know every single person in the town or city you live in, but the only people who really know you, are your friends. Make sure you spend time with friends regularly, if not weekly at least bi-weekly, those closest to you. 

3) Write to them 

Just like I'm writing here, although this post is mostly about management of the disorder. There should be times that you write to your friends either on messenger or in letters. I know that it can be difficult to remember to write to and about others and their needs. Especially in the midst of managing bipolar disorder symptoms. But I suggest not tweets, twitter, facebook, or instagrams to friends. Especially in the midst of serious bipolar mania. The best way to maintain friendships is thoughtful writing back and forth to them. 




Thanks for reading yet another of these posts to bipolar babes in the bipolar void. 

If you liked this follow and comment. And if you don't, of course don't. 

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