Your making friends here, and ones that will know you on a deep level once you post awhile. Hang in their, things will get better and keep posting to us.

Me too!! You are not alone. aNd now i have tons of friends here. Just be patient!!

friends are hard for me too-never know what mood I'll be in ,can never plan anything cause I don't know if I'll be able to leave the house that day and I just plain old don't think like everybody else most ppl don't get me.

It was a big step for me to find a support network. I think it is a definate step in the right direction!

if it makes you feel better i don't think i have ever had a real friend in my life, i would take even someone that was pretendig at times.....and i did!!!!

You will be ok in here. Read the topics and maybe privately email people that you connect with on issues, you will be surprised how many good friends you can make. We are all BP but have different lives, ages, degrees of health or not. So by reading the threads and being sincerely interested in anothers dilemas or joys will give you all the friendships you can handle. Those habits can be transfered to the real world and before you know it HEY you've got a bunch of friends. :)

Sorry to hear about your situation you definately came to the right place. You'll make alot right here and you'll always have a shoulder to cry on...

I don't really have friends either, I know lots of people, but they're not friends. Big difference. I kinda prefer it that way as I have had people who got close to me who later betrayed my trust and joined with people who were openly hostile toward me. Now I try and avoid people as much as possible. Sadly that also includes my family sometimes.

Cuppa???
"WOOF"?

Cuppa???
"WOOF"?

Yes, the whole friend thing canbe quite difficult, epecially with the "normies" they have a hard time understanding. I agree with benamun, it is easy to make friends on here.

I can so relate to your state of mind friend. Hopefully knowing that there are others here who can understand will help. I have lost MANY so-called friends as a result of the disorder and have none outside my family. It is as if I watch the world go by me and cannot participate. I also isolate myself as it seems easier and much less painful. I have had many good jobs in the past and lost them all due in one way or another to my illness. I don't know about you, but I find I am STILL picked on as an adult by others. I left the best job I ever had due to several other women who ganged up on me (verbally and emotionally) in the workplace and pushed me over the edge. Without this illness I would have been able to deal with the issue better. It's funny, they are supposedly "normal" and they acted worse than any ill person would. I guess I'm telling you all this because your post brought many deep feelings to the surface that I have yet to express here. Thank you for sharing. Know that you have friends here.

I can relate... I was picked on alot in my school years, though I had some close friends. Now it's impossible. Hey I'm 43... wanna be my friend. I feel pathetic sometimes. This place has been a godsend for me. Some very nice people on here.

Everything you said is just how I feel/have felt. Thanks for your honesty. It made me laugh out loud...cuz I am not the only one...

Is there any chance at all of going back to California? It sounds as though you're happier there.
Even if you can't right now, but want to, you could start thinking about long term plans. Just thinking about it might make you feel a bit better and free up some energy for other things, such as developing friendships.
If you can, find a club or group that does mosaics or scrapbooking. Or maybe take a history course!! It's a way to get you out of yourself a little and with people with whom you share a common interest.
I have social anxiety too -- in fact, just reading your post and responding to it has upped my anxiety a little -- so I do know where you're coming from. And I know how daunting even trying those things I mention might be for you. But if you can force yourself to do it and keep doing it, some of that anxiety will probably fall away.
I was prescribed Klonopin for anxiety and I did about as well on it as you did on Xanax or Ativan.
When I told my Pdoc that it wasn't working he switched me from Seroquel (which was used for sleep, in my case) to SeroquelXR (extended release)to lessen my daytime anxiety. I've only been on it for a couple of weeks, but it does seem to help. Tell your Pdoc that your meds aren't doing the job and ask him what other options there might be.
I've been taking fish oil capsules and it really does seem as though they help, both with mental clarity and with short term memory. Maybe you could add them into your mix to combat any drug loopyness you're now experiencing.
Would you consider joining a support group for BPs? There may very well be one in your area.
I Googled "how to make friends"+"social anxiety" and got the following page: http://www.google.com/search?q=%22how+to+make+friends%22%2B%22social+anxiety%22&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7
Some of it looks pertinent -- and shows you that you are by no means alone in feeling the way you do.
The more you can familiarize yourself with tips and techniques, the less anxious you will be when it comes time to put them into practice.
Consider volunteering for a local church or charity if you can bear the thought of doing so. Helping others who need it will likely help you in the self esteem department and you just might form some friendships that way, as well.
The best of luck to you!!! The fact that you have a feeling that you might be able to figure out the whole friend thing shows that you are ready to do it!!!!
Don't wait until you're not nervous and afraid about taking some actual steps -- it likely wont happen!! It's the kind of thing that you just have to do, even if you do have to do it scared!!! It's partly the repitition that will help you to feel less anxious.
Take care!!!!
(And of course, always come here for some support when you need it!!!!)