Hmm difficult one. It is hard to make and keep true friends.There has to be that compatability from the start, compatability and something in commom. I have one friend from childhood in the '60's and one friend from work circa 1984. I have two good friends from when I had my kids 1999. Thses 4 are keepers and I know will be there for me through thick and thin.
Try joining a club or reaching out that bit more to an established friend. Confiding and relying on someone is true friendship.

I don't know. I hope you get some good advice about this because I'll be watching. I'm having a hard time with friends on DS.

You could have written that post for me!
Because of the work I've done..I know hundruds of people..aquantences,FRIENDS..only one.

Here on DS,I have connected on a deeper more meaningful way,than I do in the "outside world"

I feel safe here.

It is a safe place I can ignore people here I dont like and then I meet people like dd and I know then that world is full of kind loveing people . Even when I am in the depths of my bp illness. I could be a real dick here and people would understand that its the bp and not the real me.
I hoppe you have the same esp as I .

I have a difficult time with friendship. Here, and in the world. The inconsistencies of my moods affects my relationships in a big way and makes me afraid to cultivate any new ones.

Thanks Matt,I consider you a true friend also.

This is a safe place.

I worry too about my moods being a strain o real life relationships that is the good thing about here.

But I don't want to feel like I am hiding here just to avoid reality

Well I can't even maintain friendships "here". That's how shitty of a friend I am. If I can't make or keep friends here then why should I even bother out there.

Personally ,I think friendship is a matter of the spirit and heart more than anything. My best friend and I are a great distance apart but have kept our relationship strong for more than 25 years communicating on the phone sometimes several times a day,every day.It is a matter of commitment too.I think in order to make a friend you need to be a friend. If you have one true friend through life you are richly blessed.
Try to get out there in the world and extend yourself to others as you do here.Best of luck!

I have 3 friends here that I can count on, the rest are drinking buddies and occasional acquaintances that I will speak to whenever. I do not make good friends easily and it takes time for them to become very good friends at that.

I have several good friends in the real world but very few here. I guess it's a matter of time and energy. Where do you want to invest it. I find on DS that you can't have true conversations. It's all just writing on the computer. You can't see body language or hear tones of inflection in the voice so often true meanings of what you say are lost.

My advice to you is to find someone that you are comfortable with. Invite them out to coffee and see if you can find things in common. Do you have hobbies? Maybe you could join a group that deals with your hobbies. That's a good way to meet people. You have to find something in common with the person you want to be friends with. I have met many friends through my association with AA and through my support groups. I also belong to a pottery club and have met many people through that.

I WISH I HAD AN ANSWER FOR YA. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE 2 PEOPLE IN THE REAL WORLD I CALL FRIENDS. IT IS SO HARD TO TRUST PEOPLE. JUST BE YOURSELF AND I'M SURE YOU WILL FIND FRIENDS. CAUSE TO ME REAL FRIENDS ARE THOSE WHO EXCEPT YOU FOR YOU.

I WISH I HAD AN ANSWER FOR YA. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE 2 PEOPLE IN THE REAL WORLD I CALL FRIENDS. IT IS SO HARD TO TRUST PEOPLE. JUST BE YOURSELF AND I'M SURE YOU WILL FIND FRIENDS. CAUSE TO ME REAL FRIENDS ARE THOSE WHO EXCEPT YOU FOR YOU.

My Mother once told me that if I have a total of 3 friends in an entire lifetime, I was rich indeed.
I think you can actually back pedal that to just one.
I have several, and she was right...I do feel exceptionally blessed.
But, for me, there is this one...her just being on this planet has saved me so many times I can't count. Heck, when I met her, she brought me back to reality after being lost in insanity for over a year.

I hope for you that feeling of attachment. That ability to let it all hang out with someone. to trust them with all of you. And for the discernment to know who that special person should be.

And just so's you know...I have several people here on DS that I love like family. Even though I'll probably never meet them face-to-face, I love them just the same. They are my friends in every sense of the word.

I hope you have that, too.
hugs and you aren't a nobody!!!!

I have 2 friend's in the real world . My need to isolate my self from outside stimuli during the different phases of BP makes it hard to stay in touch with folks.DS has been a godsend because no one can see my little emotional breaks here so I'm not too embarrassed to communicate . Luv ya' all !