It is right that you are thinking about your safety first.

If it helps, it's someone in my larger circle of friends more than a real close friend. I'm sorry your friends left you, and I don't want you or anyone else to feel stigmatized. However, I've had far too much violence and crap in my life and I have a right to protect myself. Part of life is accepting that people will reject you for facets of who you are... but some people will still accept you. We've all lost friends for various reasons. I hope you are doing okay and you feel you are getting the help you want/need.

Yes. They need help, and I fully support more funding and easier access for therapy. I fully support national healthcare so these things can happen. Of course people with mental disorders are still people. I never said they weren't. But that doesn't mean I can't protect myself by keeping seriously mentally ill people at arms' length. More to the point, why do you think I should be forced to be close friends with people I feel threatened by? It's not like I'm saying people should be shunned and chained to walls in run down mental hospitals. I want to see everyone have the opportunity to lead a full and productive life. I'm just saying, this person won't be a close friend. They won't have access to my house unattended, or my car, or even my purse. I probably wouldn't invite them to a barbecue, but I'm not going to turn them away if a mutual friend brings them. I didn't come to this conclusion on a whim. I've had multiple friends and even boyfriends with all sorts of disorders including many with BP, types 1 and 2. It always ends the same. It's a fucking disaster.

Everyone I have ever known with Manic Depression is at best a major problem as far as stuff like dependability (even basic) and / or a liar and thief. At worst, yes, physically dangerous. I don't think you are a bad person, and I am sorry for what you are dealing with, but I don't have to be friends with you. You don't have to be friends with me. If I worked with you I would be perfectly polite and friendly, but not friends if you understand the difference. If you or anyone else came to me in a true bind, like your car broke down, of course I would help you out. But you will not be truly part of my life, just like this other person won't.

What is wrong with you? People with mental disorders are still people. They just need help, and so do you. I pity you and your ignorance.

I have manic depression, and all my friends left me. I can tell you from experience that you are doing will only make them worse. Its bad they feel this way, but they are not a danger to you or anyone else. Please reconsider about abandoning your friend in their time of need.

Have you ever thought that maybe this person really wants someone to talk to in this difficult and unstable period of time?

You are right. Fuck them and their fucking mental disease.