Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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can't work, but...

cb72
cb72
So my main complaint is that I can't work.

Excuses: I am too depressed, I can't focus, my concentration and memory are gone, yada-yada...
Yet I have no problems doing stupid stuff like what you see in my earlier post (A curiosity).

So what's going on? Can I be selectively too sick to to useful work? Or is my former pdoc right when he said I have a block towards working (which I did initially have)? Why does it come and go in waves then? Do you have experience with that? Did it get better on meds? Therapy?
cb72
cb72
Also, my old (bad) pdoc said that he prefers to keep people on the job, rather than granting leave, cause it's better for their recovery long-term. Makes sense.
starfish
starfish
That's true, if they can work. I am pretty certain I cannot work, or I would be. That is why I tried to work 4 different nursing jobs, lost all my money trying to start an adult FCH, and did delivery work, (which was also extrememly stressful for me, even though I love to drive - I still had the same problems - too many mistakes, and time management. (fixing mistakes I made) Then Isaac died. i was forced to try to go back to work by a well meaning friend two weeks later, and almost killed myself. I snapped. I haven't been the same since.
Like you said, I can't help it, either.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Starfish, Im sorry if you're feeling judged here. Someone else said only YOU know if you are well enough to work. If going to lunch with friends wears you out so much that you sleep, that would indicate to me that a job would be very difficult for you right now. I am currently on leave from work. I occasionally feel as you do, however I then remember that I am very good at beating myself up for things I "THINK" I should be able to do. I am still learning to not should myself so much. The main thing here is to take care of you. However that works for you is what you should do. I am glad that you are reaching out by posting here.
BipolarPrincess
BipolarPrincess
I understand how you feel starfish. I am sorry I took a break Is this better?
starfish
starfish
I'm sorry princess - I don't know what your other avatar was like. I was only referring to what cb72 was saying to me. I think we got things cleared up. I'm having a bad night, so not in such a good mood.
Bipolar disorder and grief are not the only problems I deal with.
Although I do not have an official diagnosis, (you need 11 out of 18 positive "trigger" points, and I have 10) I also suffer from Fibromyalgia pain, PTSD, dissociative disorder, IBS, (which can be risky in public)and God knows what else, because I really haven't spent hardly any time in the Dr.s office until recently.