I have bi-polar & ADHD I live socal for 5yrs I can't make friends am I alone?
813858
You might find an email support group for people with bipolar/ADHD to help you feel less alone. It doesn't replace real-world friends, but I've found it to be a truly priceless form of support and understanding. There are many groups out there...just from experience I would suggest checking out yahoogroups.com ...
857283
I am the same way.  Its like the only thing that anyone wants to talk to me about is the homework.  I didnt make any good friends in community college.  But now I am at the university level, and it does seem a little better.  Just everyone is so busy with their own lives and so I am; so its hard to find a good friend.  I hope it gets better when I start my career.
191311
Hi. I have RP also. I am 35 years old and was diagnosed when I was 22. I had always been nearsighted and struggled with imperfect vision, so when I got the diagnosis - it did not really have an immediate impact on me. Now, however, I am really struggling in so many ways. Of course, there is the obvious - not being able to drive anymore - but there are many other things that have changed for me as well. I feel isolated both physically and emotionally from the rest of the world and I find that it takes so much more effort and determination to do just the normal things. I suffer socially in most situations because I bump into things and people, I trip over people's children - hurting them,  neglect to shake someones hand when it is held out for me (because I can't see it), and cannot often even follow the most mundane activities because visual cues usually guide most activities. I am exhausted from having to explainn all the time, and even though I don't want special attention - I worry that people see me as demanding it if I try to explain too much. As a result, I no longer feel like I am a part of the normal world and I often choose to remove myself from social situations. It is just exhausting, and most days, I don't have the strength to deal with it.\n\nAlso related to the issue of feeling isolated is the way people relate to you once they know you can't see much in front of your nose. I think that although most people are very well intentioned, they cannot help but be over solicitous. They start treating you differently - like something fragile, broken, or they just act afraid to say or do the wrong thing. Sometimes I get the impression that some people are uncomfortable just to even be near me. Maybe they are afraid it is contagious. Another oddity I have found is that I have often felt the pressure to be a spokesperson for blind people - needing to explain to people that, yes, blind people can actually have regular jobs, be married, have children etc. \n\nThose close to me have reacted in differing ways. My husband is very loving and supportive but totally in denial and cannot seem to remember to stop trying to hand me things - holding them out for me to grab. Drives me nuts. To my kids, I am just mom, but I think it frightens them to see me become so dependent. They forget to warn me of stairs, doorways, cars, you name it when we are out together in unfamiliar places. As a result, I am always falling, crashing into things and hurting myself.  Onlookers just think I must be mentally deficient or something. I have a sister in law who won't acknowledge my eye problem. She told me "I don't want to hear about it - there must be something you can do!" She thinks talking about it means I am whining about it. Yet another relative told me that I needed more faith in God to be cured and because I am still losing vision, my faith is not strong enough. Still other relatives open every conversation with "How are your eyes?" as if there is no more to me than my eye problem. I feel like saying, "Fine, how are your bowels?"\n\nI still work, but only marginally. Because we live in a small town, I am pretty much confined to working from home.  I do some contracting work for a news monitoring company but it is very low paying work. In the past, I was a professional with a college degree - now I am barely able to make $400 per month. This is bad for the self esteem.\n\nThe state I live in has special services for people who are visually impaired. They'll set you up with adaptive aids and teach you how to put raised stickers on your stove so you don't overheat the mashed potatoes, but there is nothing anywhere that can teach you how to be a blind person. From A-Z, I need to relearn absolutely everything and there is no resource for that. \n\nAs far as how I am doing - I am angry, frustrated and feeling utterly isolated. There are days when I feel completely useless and there ar
516824
i have been bi polar most my life but only found out what was wrong within the past 5 yeears my parents used to say thet i was just a hot head they still wont admit any thing is wrong with me my dad used to hit me alot and i was always made tko feel inferior eather i was to fat if i lost 10 lbs i was to thin an better start eating or else so im not sure but i think your born withh it you just get worse over time if not treated
726949
Self mutilating is another issue. I'm sure you had to see a Dr. to determine that you are Bi-polar. PLEASE,PLEASE go and talk to the Dr. I had and I mean literally HAD a friend who was Bi-polar, and was also a cutter, and she did such a good job, that she is no longer here in this life. The only way to help yourself is to face it and get the help you need. Praying for you...
626497
I have Bipolar Disorder and Borederline Personality Disorder. You have to be nice and be very supported to our mental health prolbems. It helps my family to take me to talk to somebody like every other week. Just read up on the disorders. And make sure he takes his meds. I once got off mine meds for 4 or 5 days and it made me sick.
687746
I know alot of people that are bi-polar. I am an addict and I go to NA meetings every night. I have now been clean for 15 months and counting. a lot of the addict there are bi-polar. they do take prescriptions for bi-polar and they really seem to help ALONG WITH THE MEETINGS. Maybe your friend should try meetings. you can look them up on-line. some also welcome supporting family and friends.
981091
Yea..unfortunately i know exactly how you feel. I think most people feel this way at one point or another. It's a terribly easy slump to get into, but now that you are fed up with it start making some changes. Start practicing saying no to people sometimes and giving yourself a littlle time for yourself. It's hard to be a good friend or partner to anyone if your all used up. Unfortunately though it's easy to get into a pattern of just saying ok and going with everyone else's flow! Think of things you enjoy doing and set aside some time to do them... it will go a long way in helping you get back some energy and re-centering yourself. Good Luck and lotsa luv!
1076286
I live in IL, a state given the grade of "F" by the National Institute for Mental Health (NAMI). Lack of funding, community resource, poor communication between inpatient and outpatient care. It is so SAD and FRUSTRATING to sit in a therapy group and listen to the majority of people who say they have nobody there for them.\nI have an illness that affects me mentally (Asperger Syndrome), and subscribe to a newsletter where I have written essays about my personal experiences with it. My way of giving back and saying thanks for having it better than most.
694917
I feel that the United States doctors are going crazy w/ this diagnosis. I feel this is something you can help on you own.  I think that this is a super crazy world w/ tons of things going on in our lives at once and because of this, some of us have a hard time focusing.  You need to practice focusing possibly w/ the everyday use of meditation you could over come this so call disorder.
926779
It might be some sort of anxiety problem, but if it's not giving you major problems, it's probably just a mild anti-social issue.  I don't like parties or large groups either, I prefer a small group, and I definitely need time to myself every day.  It's pretty normal.
1068187
I feel like that sometimes... Like you don't have any "real" friends and have to talk online.  Just think of your aquaintences... the people you see every day but don't think much of.  Co-workers, the people at the grocery store... anyone.  They are all potential friends, you just have to ask them.  Ask someone to grab coffee with you, or go shopping with you.  Ask them over for a neighborhood gathering.  You'll be amazed at how many people really care.
688257
You are experiencing social anxiety. It may or may not be related to a situation but it is treatable. Keep in mind that it can get worse. \n\nHave you ever heard of people that won't leave the house for months and months? That is a severe version of this problem.\n\nEarly medical care can minimize the problem. And it does need to be treated. You may or may not need medication, but do seek medical help. I would hate to see you miss out on life over something that REALLY is treatable.
938244
No.  We are a social species.  Try therapy instead of technology.  And dont forget to go to your H.S. Reunion....you need the socialization.
424927
We're sorta in the same boat then. I don't have many friends... I have a friend who lives a few streets away, a friend who lives 1/2 an hr away, even tho we have each other's #, we still only talk online... :s Rarely see each other. Then there's my bf of course. I make friends & then I somehow lose friends... :( Sometimes I choose to not be friends w/ them cuz I don't deserve to be treated the way they treated me. I'm a nice girl... why can't I make friends ? Why won't anyone be friends w/ me ? Maybe I'm so nice that I'm regarded as a "loser" :( I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs. I don't think that peeps accept me cuz they think that I'm a "goody goody" :s :( (N)
709748
Having no friends, and having no desire for social interaction isn't wrong. It may be not normal, but nobody's "normal".\n\nIf you don't want friends, don't have any. However, I'm concerned about how you treat others at school. You say you ignore people if they talk to you. That isn't a good thing to do. You don't have to be friends with anyone if you don't want to, but you do have to communicate with others. Unless you have enough money to live my yourself and have food and other supplies delivered to you, then you have to interact with the world. Maybe the people who are offended are only offended that you are rude, and not because you choose not to partake in the same social activities that they do. You don't need to attend any social activities, or have friends, but do you need to be civil to others. \n\nMaybe try working on simply being polite to other people. If you are ignoring everyone because you don't want anything to do with them, then suck it up and just be polite and civil. You don't need to make friends with people or be friendly or even be nice, you just need to work on being polite and civil. \n\nHowever, if you ignore people because you are scared of talking to them, because you don't know how, but you secretly would like to be able to have a pleasant polite conversation with others once in a while, then you can still start by trying to be polite to others.\n\nIf you are happy, then that's great, but it's not okay to be mean to people. It's not wrong to not have friends, but it IS wrong to be mean to people.\n\nIf you're interested in therapy possibly, then you should try going to a psychologist instead of a psychiatrist. I may be wrong, but I think a psychologist deals with behavior and pretty much talks with you and tries to help you that way, and a psychiatrist prescribes medicine. I'm sure your mom would be happy to arrange an appointment with that type of therapist (the kind that doesn't prescribe medicine) if you would let her know that you don't want drugs, but you would like a professional to talk to.\n\nGood luck!
396611
I hope that one of the links below will be what you are looking for. I am a 46 year old male who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I know how you feel and that it is good to have someone to talk to. Good luck. I wish you well!