How does your bipolar affect your career/job?

[lisalaneland]

I was hoping to get some responses about how having bipolar has affected your professional life (if applicable, obviously

Comments

[noiredemons]

I've been at my current job for 4.5 years. About 2 yrs ago I had a major mental break. I came in one day and just realized I couldn't do it anymore. I called the associate director and told him I have to take time off and don't know when I'll be back. I filed for FMLA, and spent a month in a partial program, then took another 2 weeks before I went back to work. I made the decision while on my "break" to try a different job but within a month I was suicidal again and off work. Luckily I was able to go back to my current job on limited part time working back up to full time.

I luckily have a supportive family that helped me while I was out of work/only working 4 hrs a week to keep me from having to freak out about money and I applied for foodstamps.

A few people at work know about my mental health but I don't flaunt it around b/c of the stigma.

I think a lot of it is trying to figure out what works for you. Within my job there are multiple positions and I've tried 4 of them with the one I'm currently making the most sense for me and my mental health. It's fast paced, hard work but I don't have the stress that the other positions have.

I do fear leaving this job and trying other professional jobs because of my mental health and ensuring I have access to decent health insurance because of the medication and therapy.

Good luck in finding something that works for you.

[lisalaneland]

Thank you so much for sharing