Comments on: Bipolar Work-Related Issues http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/career/dont-quit-your-job-because-of-bipolar-disorder.html Information and support Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:07:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Tracey Duty http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/career/dont-quit-your-job-because-of-bipolar-disorder.html/comment-page-1#comment-2160 Tracey Duty Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:46:08 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/?p=164#comment-2160 i worked at my job for 13 yrs. and being diagnosed in 2008 with bipolar thins got very hard for me. i was always crying and very depressed. i worked in a group home with MR/DD people and couldn't function taking care of myself let alone my own family. i had to resign from my job because of my lack to perform my daily duties without the crying and with the crying i also remember the anxiety was very bad. you have to be stable to take care of people and when you can't care of yourself it's time to move on which left me without a job and on disability. i worked at my job for 13 yrs. and being diagnosed in 2008 with bipolar thins got very hard for me. i was always crying and very depressed. i worked in a group home with MR/DD people and couldn’t function taking care of myself let alone my own family.
i had to resign from my job because of my lack to perform my daily duties without the crying and with the crying i also remember the anxiety was very bad.
you have to be stable to take care of people and when you can’t care of yourself it’s time to move on which left me without a job and on disability.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/career/dont-quit-your-job-because-of-bipolar-disorder.html/comment-page-1#comment-1836 Anonymous Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:40:00 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/?p=164#comment-1836 Does anyone wonder why there are so many people suffering from mental illness? I have also been diagnosed with being bipolar II. I spend obscene amounts of money in my manic phases. Most recently over 40,000 in just a few months. Crazy right? I suffer with concentrating at work, home..everything is a mess. My psychiatrist is amazing. We're just in the process of finding a medication that works. Limotregene seemed to help A LOT...but bleeding gums was a side effect. Nice. All this time I thought I had a strange personality...I know now, I've been sick. Does anyone wonder why there are so many people suffering from mental illness? I have also been diagnosed with being bipolar II. I spend obscene amounts of money in my manic phases. Most recently over 40,000 in just a few months. Crazy right? I suffer with concentrating at work, home..everything is a mess. My psychiatrist is amazing. We’re just in the process of finding a medication that works. Limotregene seemed to help A LOT…but bleeding gums was a side effect. Nice. All this time I thought I had a strange personality…I know now, I’ve been sick.

]]> By: john http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/career/dont-quit-your-job-because-of-bipolar-disorder.html/comment-page-1#comment-1801 john Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:34:05 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/?p=164#comment-1801 I was diagnosed with BPII last May. The past year has been a roller coaster. I am a spender when I cycle and had accumulated a large debt. The bigger issue I have not been able to hold a full time job since 1992. Fortunately my wife has a major position and I was allowed to stay home and care for children and sick parents. My child is preparing to leave for college and I am terrified ablot the job market and more so what I can safely handle. Is it better to work part time or go back full time. I have tried real estate the past 4 years , but the stress and lack of steady income and the continuos costs to the firm despite no income. i am substitute teaching and like it. There are those encouraging me to teach full time but I am not 100% sure. Is there accomadation in school systems for people such as us? My BP probably has been aorund since college. But for the most part I was manic , and people saw me as high strung. The truth was I was afraid of everything and hid behind bravado thinking everyone was judgeing me ir out ti get me. This attitude permeated my education as well as my employ. Today I am 100% better but not healed. BP is no different than diabetes or heart disease. It needs to be cared for physically and emotionally. I find exercise to help level thinsg on a particularly bad day even if I have to force myself. The most difficult thing however,has been the constant increases in meds over the past year with stressers and other changes. I hate that the enviroanment dictates my life, I hate the inability to get my weight back under control( terrible I am a fashionista) and i hate not being in control. My hope is I can find a carrer balance in my lfe that will not sabatoge my illness. I so appreciate others sharing their stories, its so nice to know i am not alone. I was diagnosed with BPII last May. The past year has been a roller coaster. I am a spender when I cycle and had accumulated a large debt. The bigger issue I have not been able to hold a full time job since 1992. Fortunately my wife has a major position and I was allowed to stay home and care for children and sick parents.

My child is preparing to leave for college and I am terrified ablot the job market and more so what I can safely handle. Is it better to work part time or go back full time. I have tried real estate the past 4 years , but the stress and lack of steady income and the continuos costs to the firm despite no income.

i am substitute teaching and like it. There are those encouraging me to teach full time but I am not 100% sure. Is there accomadation in school systems for people such as us?

My BP probably has been aorund since college. But for the most part I was manic , and people saw me as high strung. The truth was I was afraid of everything and hid behind bravado thinking everyone was judgeing me ir out ti get me. This attitude permeated my education as well as my employ.

Today I am 100% better but not healed. BP is no different than diabetes or heart disease. It needs to be cared for physically and emotionally. I find exercise to help level thinsg on a particularly bad day even if I have to force myself.

The most difficult thing however,has been the constant increases in meds over the past year with stressers and other changes. I hate that the enviroanment dictates my life, I hate the inability to get my weight back under control( terrible I am a fashionista) and i hate not being in control.

My hope is I can find a carrer balance in my lfe that will not sabatoge my illness. I so appreciate others sharing their stories, its so nice to know i am not alone.

]]> By: Angry Husband http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/career/dont-quit-your-job-because-of-bipolar-disorder.html/comment-page-1#comment-1795 Angry Husband Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:54:30 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/?p=164#comment-1795 My wife was just fired for being a "liability" to her employer for having bipolar disorder. Thing is, her co worker has bipolar and talked about suicide several times and the employer counseled her and is still employed. My wife talks about writing suicide notes to help her realize she does not want to die once and she is a liability and fired. I need some direction on who to speak to and what her rights are. My wife was just fired for being a “liability” to her employer for having bipolar disorder. Thing is, her co worker has bipolar and talked about suicide several times and the employer counseled her and is still employed. My wife talks about writing suicide notes to help her realize she does not want to die once and she is a liability and fired. I need some direction on who to speak to and what her rights are.

]]> By: Allie http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/career/dont-quit-your-job-because-of-bipolar-disorder.html/comment-page-1#comment-1686 Allie Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:40:23 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/?p=164#comment-1686 Hello. I'm 24 years old and was diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder about a year and a half ago, but have had symptoms since childhood. I'm not convinced I'm Bipolar II because I have rapid-cycling mood swings and can have episodes that seem more manic than hypomanic (doing risky things that I don't really remember later, hallucinating, etc.) Around the time I was diagnosed my mood swings were so severe that they affected everything in my life, including my job and marriage. I was the Clinical Manager for a pediatric office and the stress was really getting to me. I became suicidal and my therapist recommended time off work but I did not feel that was acceptable. I suffered through two years of misery and stress until I finally had a complete breakdown. My boss forced me to take a week off work, then offered me a different position with less responsibility (no management) and working from home, stating that I had done such a wonderful job all these years but she felt it was time for a change for me. I couldn't be happier! My new position offers flexibility and gets me out of the stressful atmosphere of a pediatric office. Also, I am able to get much needed sleep! Everyone at the office says they miss me being there every day and love me, but think it's a good change for me also because I seem happier, healthier, better rested and less irritable. I suppose my suggestion is that if you are unhappy and your job is affecting you and making your moods more severe (or making you suicidal, like in my case), don't wait until you have a total breakdown to make a change. I could have killed myself over a job! Instead, talk to your supervisor or boss. Maybe there's another position, or maybe you can find another job where you will be happier and your life will be more manageable. Hello. I’m 24 years old and was diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder about a year and a half ago, but have had symptoms since childhood. I’m not convinced I’m Bipolar II because I have rapid-cycling mood swings and can have episodes that seem more manic than hypomanic (doing risky things that I don’t really remember later, hallucinating, etc.)

Around the time I was diagnosed my mood swings were so severe that they affected everything in my life, including my job and marriage. I was the Clinical Manager for a pediatric office and the stress was really getting to me. I became suicidal and my therapist recommended time off work but I did not feel that was acceptable.

I suffered through two years of misery and stress until I finally had a complete breakdown.

My boss forced me to take a week off work, then offered me a different position with less responsibility (no management) and working from home, stating that I had done such a wonderful job all these years but she felt it was time for a change for me.

I couldn’t be happier! My new position offers flexibility and gets me out of the stressful atmosphere of a pediatric office. Also, I am able to get much needed sleep!

Everyone at the office says they miss me being there every day and love me, but think it’s a good change for me also because I seem happier, healthier, better rested and less irritable.

I suppose my suggestion is that if you are unhappy and your job is affecting you and making your moods more severe (or making you suicidal, like in my case), don’t wait until you have a total breakdown to make a change. I could have killed myself over a job!

Instead, talk to your supervisor or boss. Maybe there’s another position, or maybe you can find another job where you will be happier and your life will be more manageable.

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