I too have the same problem. I have been so cooped up at my home for the past 5 years that I barely talked to people and hated to do so. Mostly because of my anxiety issues and agorophobia.
Now that I have dx'd with BP and my meds are all set. I find myself being more outgoing and able to be more confident talking to people. Perfect example is going out to CA all by myself a couple of weeks ago. It was scary but not even a twinge on the anxiety meter. Even my therapist has noticed a change in me from 6 months or so ago. I have even gone on classmates.com and tried to find some old friends from high school and college. Just to let them know I am alive. Each member has a guest book and in the past I would have never signed it but now each old friends' profile I visit I sign their guest book.
All I can say is thank you to whomever made Depakote! Without them I wouldn't be typing this at work in my cube.