Bipolar disorder and social life

@twomes Hello twomes, thank you for opening this discussion. Let me tag some other members who can possible discuss with you.

Hi everyone, how are you doing? 

Has your bipolar disorder had an impact on your social life? If so, how? Does it make it harder for you to socialize or is it easier? Why do you think so?
@kdeleon‍ @deb1956‍ @JamieShaw‍ @MyAngel2016‍ @David-Mark‍ @Bambi1729‍ @Tristar‍ @MissVercina‍ @TDMU1207‍ @Jenlynn3475‍ @Casquijano‍ @Marquita2194‍ @Marianncb16‍ @erynnobull‍ @Ngconway‍ @Kk1971‍ @amigurumigal‍ 

Feel free to share here!

Take care,
Courtney

I find it difficult, because I change my mind all the time from one day to the next. I'll make plans then break em because I don't want to go.

I find that it’s harder because I don’t know when to stop rambling when I’m nervous or I’m very quiet and no fun to be around.

In my case, socializing meant drinking. All my good friends and most of my family like to drink socially and enjoy meeting up in bars and getting together at house parties. I have been warned repeatedly by internists and psychiatrists that alcohol and bipolar medications do not mix. Basically, it is supposed to render your meds ineffective or at worst mess up your brain chemistry more than it already is. It was advice that I have largely ignored, Since I was diagnosed 25 years ago. (Why do we pay all that money to those people if we are not going to do what they advise to help us?--but that is a subject for another discussion.) Well, after many years of being more or less in remission (one is never cured), I began having episodes again mostly after over-indulging, so I stopped drinking all together. I do feel better, but that, coupled with the pandemic and it's lockdowns, restrictions and social distancing. my social circle now consists of my husband and my dog. As an extravert, this has been difficult for me. As I always say, fix one problem and create 5 more.