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Work and Bipolar DisorderI have three friends who just started work they enjoy. The change in them is amazing. Less sadness- less arguing with the people around them. A better outlook on life. These jobs are not about money. They want and need money of course. I think they just felt a part of the world again. Work that you don’t like is draining. Work that you like is uplifting. Do you work? Can you work? We have to have a purpose. It doesn’t have to be work- but it helps a lot of people! Julie  - (Comments are closed) 7 comments to Work and Bipolar Disorder |
Listen to Julie’s latest interview on bipolar disorder and mental health in children, teens and adults on the Mom Brain Podcast with Hilaria Baldwin and Daphne Oz.
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Julie, I agree! Working get my mind off of myself. When I am not working, I ruminate about all the things that are wrong with my life. Having a job, and I am able to hold a 40 hour p/week job, gives me focus and a sense of accomplishment. And at the end of the day I am tired and ready to relax.
My husband has bipolar 1 and has been off work for more than 10 years and on disability for the last 4. He just took a truck driving class–something he’s always enjoyed and wanted to do–and is starting a new career. I think he needed that time on disability to get himself together, find a good combination of medications and some stability, and make some decisions about his life. It looks like this will be one of the best things for him. He’s happy and not in a manic way. Life with bipolar disorder, chapter 2. Work is good.
I do not work and am lucky enough to afford to stay home with my son. If we needed the money I suppose I would be able to work, but I honestly don’t know if I could handle a daily job requiring me to be functional when my mind is anything but. I am a volunteer with a dog rescue organization and it suits me perfectly. I get a call a couple of times a month to do something and it’s perfect for me.
Sorry to leave an unrelated comment, but I couldn
Hi Allison,
I am always interested in having guest bloggers. I sent your contact information to my manager Sheri. She helps me with the blog. She’s awesome.
If anyone else would like to be a guest blogger, please add a comment to the site with your contact email and I will send your information to Sheri!
Blog logistics:
250 words or less
We use your picture and real name.
The story is about a positive outcome to a bipolar story- this doesn’t mean that things have to be great all of the time, but readers LOVE to hear stories about what others do to deal with a struggle and stay well.
Julie
I love working, and really hate the times when my illness flares up to the point where I can’t work.
I am a school teacher, and even in the summer I like to work part-time doing child care of some sort. I find that if I have too much time at home I don’t accomplish anything, and that makes me feel unproductive, and less useful.
Having a reason to get up and go every day is good for me, and gives me structure and purpose, something that I have a lot of trouble doing for myself, especially when I’m having ADD-like symptoms. My job can be very stressful at times, but my boundaries are stronger than ever, and I am able to advocate for what I need at work.
I was lucky that I have a job in a school board and union, as I am well backed by my benefits, and can take a stress/medical leave at anytime with no questions asked. It is just my right, and I am getting better about using it, so that I can deal with bipolar episodes and return to normal without ending up in the hospital anymore.
My first major break came after I was fired from a job, the last one of three that I just wasn’t able to do and kept wanting to stay in my career of choice. I was so good at it, I loved it, and I wanted to keep doing it. I was released from each of those 3 because I could not keep up with the daily demands. I called in sick too often because I just could not think. My ability to multi-task was gone. I ended up in the hospital, 5 times in one year. My meds have finally got me functioning but the very thought of working is so overwhelming I just mentally collapse. It is a sorrow for me; I would love to be back working and fully functioning again. I do not rule it out for the future, but I will not go back to my old career, it was that kind of stress that made it hard to stay.