If you are ever in Atlanta, I'd love to have lunch with you and listen to you talk about your hamster - of course you might get to look at several pictures of my dog and cats.

I might print this out and show it to my husband, who is dutifully and perpetually concerned about my lack of friendships. Especially female friendships.

I have two friends, and both live an hour's drive away so get-togethers occur only on perhaps a bimonthly basis at best. I often wish I had more friends, but truthfully I don't think I could handle more--like you, I tend to keep people at a distance, a likely side effect of having my heart trampled (or my back stabbed, to use a likelier cliche) by past friends.

But some of us just aren't wired to be social butterflies, or to have more than two or three people with whom we are close. And I think that's okay. Hopefully you will think it's okay once in a while, too.

And, for the record, I would totally be sad. :)

Dear Liz,
I would be sad if you died. I look forward to reading your blog, plus I feel you have been of great service to some of us bipolar (or not) people in cyberspace.
I understand your friendship issue also. I cannot form lasting friendship, except two from 1991. I wonder is it, I work on a computer all day, (and am isolated)I am not friendship worthy, I am a fake, or I am so different people can't figure me out and don't bother. I think a little of all of the above is true. Maybe that is why I rescue dogs. They all seem to like me! I don't get hurt and I don't have to explain my bipolarisms. I certainly wish I had more friends, bu for now as I try to navigate my bipolar status, I accept my life the way it is. Semi-stable, not really rewarding, but I am useful sometimes.

Liz, I've actually thought a lot about this for the past year or so (I guess maybe because of all of the posts you've had about suicide). I think I can honestly say I'd be devastated if you died, and I think the world would be a much poorer place, also. There's so much I can identify with in the feelings and experiences you have described on this blog - I don't think I've ever felt closer to anyone who I haven't actually met.

On a more general note, I think it's probably not uncommon for people to become cut off from old friends after having any kind of serious psychiatric problems. And I think it's more the rule than the exception for people who've had any kind of serious involvement with the mental health system in the U.S. to generally live pretty lonely lives afterwards - partly for reasons of economic discrimination, partly for reasons of social stigma, and probably for a few other reasons as well. You may be doing better than most in this regards.

I think the importance of things like family support, education, and career are often vastly underestimated.

I will be sad. I read you everyday although I've never commented.
and with three close "vintage" friends you are doing WAY better than me. I have my sister.

I'd be sad.

I would miss you and I don't really know you. From watching your youtube videos you have a great sense of humour and a great personality. I think you should dump your current boyfriend if you feel so unloved.

You need to put more people in your cell phone address book if you're really feeling this way. Of course, we all do from time to time, but we have two sides of us: our emotions and our brains. When our emotions are over the top and out of control maybe we can't always apply logic, but we can ingraine mantras into our heads that become as spiritual and emotional as our first feelings. You should program: I am a very talented and well-read and well-loved journalist with experiences that help others find insight into their own and I save lives by my candor and my dedication to my mission.

I'd be beyond sad if you went away. I'd be devastated. You've come too far and been too much of an inspiration to too many of us to take yourself out of the loop.

Pax,
L.

Quality is better than quantity and that's true of friendships, too. I recently discovered your blog via psychcentral.com. Besides the excellent content and your talented writing skills, I love your quirky sense of humor, intellect, sincerity and balanced views. Thanks, Liz, for making us laugh, cry, think, question, reason and share. I need my daily TTWS 'fix' so please know that you're needed and loved.

Dear Liz,

Your question is one which I would expect to come from a woman and one which my wife would ask me. So you want an answer…I’ll give you an answer.

Children are not supposed to predecease ones parents. Now ask your parents as to the validity of my statement; they know.

Secondly, you are far too young and have much to live for to be burdened with asking this question although it makes for some interesting responses and entertainment news media.

Better yet, come back and ask again in 40 years as I’d be delighted to entertain the question while I take the opportunity to ponder some better answers if I'm still around.

You already received an interesting response from “mark p.s.” but he didn’t complete the thought. And when you “dump your current boyfriend”…and…?

I’ll also add your column is a wonderful opportunity to reach out and make friends.

Now that we’re past dying and as Kent noticed the many articles about suicide I would hope now is the time for all of us to live.

Warmly,
Herb
VNSdepression.com

My ex told me once, 'everyone dies some time' [red flag alert], and my one true history woman friend of 43 years -- died last December. So I guess I am like the "lost lamb" as my one other woman friend's mom has called me since age 18. The one true friend who was real, --died.
I often imagine myself floating on a raft or in a canoe on a lake in the middle of it, actually every day this is how I imagine myself, and it's not for lack of wanting a friend either.

Super triste! Funny how thinking about one's own funeral can give one a sort of queasy highschool feeling, like getting invited to the bigger cooler parties. I agree that it's the isolation post-illness and also just needing to focus on a few people so I don't feel too scattered or worn out. But I think your yearbook would have lots of scribbles in it.

Liz, I would be sad. And would miss you also. I'm new to commenting here. I discovered your blog about 2 months while doing a search on Effexor side effects. Ever since then, your blog is one of the first things I check in the morning when I get to work. I very much enjoy your writings and your YouTube vids. I find you extremely witty, informative and just amazing, for all you've been thru. I think because of your blog, I started seeking out more bipolar blogs and online communities as a way to connect with people that understand. I have few friends also and find it very hard to make new ones.

Just Thank You...

Next time my girlfriend, who works for The Food Trust, and I are going to be in Philly together, I'll send you an email invite for drinks. We should admit, however, that would probably be weird.

Liz, you actually do know me in real life. I don't have a lot of friends in real life but I felt a huge connection when I met you, seeing our parents are almost alike, our education levels and experience with the illness.

You touched a lot of people that night you visited our group, and inspired a few who were really on the down side of the illness. They would be very sad if you died.

As would I. I would be devesistated. And Liz, if you died, who would love Tinsel properly? You and one other blogger motivated me to actually start writing again, and I cannot let anything happen to my muses. I would go on your pyre with you.

Liz I too, would be very upset if you died.
I have been silent in my watchings of your blog and your vidoes about mental health issues. You have touched so many lives....
Thank you for your honesty!

susan, i'm anxiously awaiting your entry into the blogosphere!

Great post, Liz. This one certainly brought out the commentors in force.

I like Epstein's previous work a lot but also feel that, of late, his writing had gotten far more acerbic, even mean spirited at times.

P.S. Yes, I'd miss you and my daily ritual of reading your blog every morning.

The way my life goes, if I got stuck in a Tom Waits song, it would be his song "Warm Beer, Cold Women".

And even though we've never met, absolutely I'd miss you. I'd hate to stop writing "I found this news item over at Liz Spikol's blog..."

I just started reading your blog and it's become one of my favorites. I felt so relieved that there was someone who was attractive and intelligent and funny and who also suffered from depression and the kind of anxiety and "craziness" I've always tried to hide. I admire you for being so out there. You have more friends than you know about (even if you haven't actually met them!)

This post comes as I have just had to sever the one friendship I thought to be real... I know that question all too well, and I would miss you. Although I rarely comment, I read your posts daily as a source of comfort and humor, a hope that someone out there gets it. And, on a personal note, as I miss Philly dreadfully, its nice to reminisce through your site. I recently mentioned your site to someone, and realized in doing so, I was referring to you as I would a friend. Thank you. Don't die. I would be sad.

I'd be really sad to lose you. You show great courage and humor and inspire me in many ways. Don't know if you ever come to South Carolina but I'd be honored to treat to you dinner.