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.
So I've been working full time on and off a lot throughout my life. Mostly it goes sour, I either get overwhelmed and end up calling in sick one too many times to get fired. It's not all a bad experience either though, I earn money, feel much more confident, a lot more normal etc.. but the problem is I'm not normal. I can pretend it's working all I want, and a lot of the time it IS working. But eventually I have to accept that I cannot do this my entire life. There will be times I can't handle this stress, times I can't get out of bed, times I don't want to face anybody. I'm going through one of those times now. But I want to keep this job so badly.
I have a disability hearing coming up next month.. half of me wants to pour everything in to it and get on SSI and live a meager life without all this pressure and stress. The other half of me wants to not even go to the hearing, pretend I never applied for disability and continue working and pretending I'm normal and none of this phases me. I fear in the long run if I keep up the latter I'm going to do something really stupid or have a bad episode.
I'm curious how many of you work and manage bipolar disorder. Do you work full time or part time? Do you work with other people? Is your work stressful? What kind of bipolar do you have?
I'm type 1. I've got my work to cut off a day a week, which is so awesome. But now they want to make me start working 40 hours again instead of 32 and I'm already feeling stressed and fed up. I know I can get over this though and maybe keep a job for more than a year for once in my life. Any advice, stories, pats on the back =D I'm so desparate right now. Tired of running the rat race, it's like everybody I know forgot I had a mental illness because I got a job, makes me really want to scream at people.
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Hello everyone IAM back in the mental health unit at hospital I've been sectioned under the mental health act for my own safety my daughter as been taken into care
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Mom and I have errands to run this morning. She said we can get sushi for lunch though. I go back to work today. What are you looking forward to this weekend?
What kinda trips me up in employment situations is me talking. I talk like a freaking book. Talk about my personal life, talk and try to be my co-workers friend. That's no good in a work environment. People are not there to be friends, they are there to make money. It's hard though, but next job I will tone down the talking of my personal stuff. Usually when I reveal too much, they usually stab me in the back with that information later. Or make up rumors or something. Last major job I had (the one held for 3 years) was at a blood bank. I was a "distribution driver" I would deliver the blood and blood products to hospital blood banks and hospital labs. I mentioned to a talkative supervisor that I was bi-polar. That info got to my co-workers..and there was a question whether I could do my job, and drive correctly.
There were three people in the distribution department that were related family members. They were always trying to conspire against people they did not care for. Once they had a topic on me to press on, they did. I was watched by management very closely for my job duties. I eventually did not like being watched closely and quit with good job performance.
I think the three family members lied about me and what I was allegedly doing on the job. I still don't know what they accused me of. But I found out after I quit from a co-worker and friend two of the family members quit. Maybe because their lies about me were found out to be untrue? I am not sure I would like to think they got called out on lies they told about me and had to quit. The third family member is still a sneaky supervisor there.
The main trick is getting the client base, or finding an employer that will let you work from home with maybe weekly visits to the office. I gave up on trying to do that right now. I may just go back to school for drafting...not sure.
I had a really challenging day yesterday and felt physically ill when I got home from the conflict. I still feel on edge this morning, waiting to see if I need to go in later today to cover someone's shift.
How about getting into mental health? There are some two year programs in my area I am starting to ponder more and more.
I'm so sorry. It's like life is constantly a battle of organizing finances and there never seems to be relief. Please know there are people out there who get it. STAY STRONG! No matter what, stay strong.