I think being open with your close friends/family about what you go through can help a lot with maintaining relationships. It’s easier said than done to talk about such a stigmatized and painful disorder, but educating people can help you feel more validated and know that people aren’t going to leave you just because you are having an episode. Being open and vulnerable is the best way to feel understood in my experience. When people don’t have any clue what we are going through, it can make us feel isolated and push them away even more. Hope this helps💗