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

Applying for SSDI

[harrietbrown]

I was undiagnosed for 17 years, during which I worked in various industries. I was diagnosed in 1998, and in 2009 I applied for disability, after I had been hospitalized twice in six months, during which time I had stayed out of work for 3 months, which was covered by New York State disability

Applying for SSDI, Part II

[harrietbrown]

Continued from Part I, this is Part II

Re: Applying for SSDI, Part II

[lisalaneland]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and your advice. I will research getting an advocate, because I think that is a good way to be taken seriously in the process. I'm sure that my therapist would fill out the form for me and I have a few co-workers from my last job that would definitely fill out the form too. My co-workers are what helped me deal with the last 3 months that I was there. They were really supportive while management was slowly plotting to push me out

Re: Applying for SSDI, Part II

[harrietbrown]

If you could get a supervisor or someone in management to fill out a form on your behalf, that would be great. If you could get a friend who is in a position to employ you, that would help also

Re: Applying for SSDI, Part II

[lisalaneland]

Thank you again for your help. I wrote a paragraph with my application explaining some of the ways it affects me, but if I don't get accepted I will appeal and take your guidelines and fill them in with my inabilities/struggles.

I didn't file for unemployment because I technically quit. I had a bad experience with it when I got "laid off" (aka nice package given to me instead of firing me), it took over 2 months to get my check and it was for $100 per week. They didn't take the taxes out, etc etc it was just a nightmare.

I actually just got some good news today that after I pass a criminal background check I will be receiving a job offer at a local gym (front desk position), part time. I am glad to take a step down to part time and be working in a lower-stress environment. I will not be making anywhere near $1000 per month, which is good.

[therapist_to_be]

It's so interesting that you posted this. I actually have big issues with my bipolar in work. I work in clothing retail. I suddenly was getting few hours and was pissed and stressing. I, one day, stormed into a manager's office and got into it with him. Got fired. Begged for my job back the next day. Luckily got it back. It's rough. I've also been in tears there on more than a few occasions :/

[lisalaneland]

I'm sure clothing retail is pretty high up there in stress and you must have to deal with some really annoying customers.. I really feel bad for people who work in those positions because I constantly see them getting yelled at for no reason.

[gmacco]

Work has always been an iffy issue for me, but bipolar really started messing me up in college. I didn't do as well as I should have, and between apathy and anxiety I ended up with a degree I didn't want in a VERY stressful field

[lisalaneland]

Thank you for your input!

I think I've made the right choice by working at a local gym. I love to work out and I love to help people, and I can't see too many people being irate at a gym. I used to work at a gym and I had a good time. It's an easy job and the hours are great, 10-3 some weekdays and 1-7 on sundays. I am more likely to get the chilled out people that work from home or are soccer moms or something.

My other choice was to work at Petco and I think that would have been really stressful for me.

I agree that I think it's a combination of a.liking the work and b.who you work with, which combine into the work environment. When I quit my last job I suddenly perked up and became my more happy self. I had no idea how much it was bringing me down.

I feel like bipolar causes a lot of anxiety because we never know when we're going to snap. It makes sense.

[anneinside]

I am on SSDI and have been since 2005 or 6, can't remember. I had been a university professor recently promoted when I became severely depressed, which lasted 2 years. During the two years I was hospitalized about 12 times. I said something to a coworker about being depressed, having bipolar and being suicidal. She reported it to the Dean of the College who contacted HR. They called me in and gave me a hard time. They actually contacted my psychiatrist - they had her name from my insurance claims. My psychiatrist immediately wrote me a medical leave of absence which I turned in and was accepted. I went on short term disability for six months and was then transferred to long term disability insurance. I returned to work 1 1/2 semesters, part-time. When I reported to HR to start working again, the Dean was there again and I was required to sign a statement that I would not disclose my symptoms or diagnosis to any faculty, staff or students... certainly this is not done to people coming back from a heart attack

[lisalaneland]

Wow, thank you so much for sharing your story. It helps to know that someone else who is educated and worked as a professional is dealing with this too. A lot of people that are on SSDI never had jobs and I'm sure it was easier for them to get on it because they lived with their parents and were never on their own/making an income

[anneinside]

People who have never worked don't qualify for SSDI, only SSI which is Supplemental Security income and is not part of the social security system. It is funded by state and federal funds. In order to qualify for SSDI (Social Security Disability Income) you have to have worked 10 units (years) in which social security was deducted from your checks. People on SSI I know in MN can earn $50 a month before it is deducted from the next check. People on SSDI can earn a thousand dollars a month without losing their benefits. However, earning any money puts it into doubt that you can't work the next time you are evaluated

[lisalaneland]

I appreciate the response. I will keep this for future reference. I still have not heard back about the decision. The first job I worked when taxes were taken out was in ~2001, which would mean I've been working for 11 years now. Through earlier replies in this thread I've learned about getting a representative to help me get on SSI. I am waiting for the decision until I will pursue it further. I am working part time now and it is still difficult for me to function in a working environment. How are your moods lately? What do you do to pass the time? I find that just resting/relaxing for a few hours really makes me calm and/or baseline, I don't have to worry about being irritable because I don't have to interact with people, and I have plenty to do around the house so I don't get depressed. It's a pretty good balance right now.