I'll be graduating soon with an education degree and am planning to teach at colleges or universities. I'm in my early 30s, spent the last two years in grad school and doing some tutoring to get some teaching experience. I also spent most of the first year recovering from my first acute BP episode (I have BP Type I) and slowly began recreating a new life for myself.

Now that I'm applying for teaching positions, I have this fear that I won't be able to cope with a full-time job and moving away to the city (moved back in with the parents after I got sick). My parents doubt it and so does my pdoc...and I'm feeling frustrated about that. They think I should try and get a part-time job and commute until I can afford my own place.

At the same time, I do have family and friends nearby for support and I'm happy with my pdoc here, public healthcare is affordable where I live now. Its just that I feel so "out of touch" right now with the working world and I'm afraid of fossilizing. How do I know if I have the right coping skills to return to work full-time?