I am in my teenage years, working in a political office as the full-time student intern (local member of Provincial Parliament, who is also the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs).

I never said anything about it, although at one point my office manager so my scarred arms and asked what was going on. I told it to her straight – something I did to cope with stress, I no longer do it, and in fact do motivational speaking for other teenagers. She was understanding, and appreciated my honesty.

I did an article with a big newspaper on having schizoaffective disorder (Bipolar version), and was interviewed on everything. My boss found out then that I had a mood disorder, because I am heading/creating/facilitating a Youth Group for mood disorders with the Centre for Mental Health of Ontario. She didn’t say much about it, but my co-workers were really cool about it and wanted to know more about what it is like. I have ended up being handed every case involving mental health and disability… which is fine, but it’s a large work load when you consider half the phone calls we get are related to those two things.

I have been working three jobs, four if you count my winter position with the Minor hockey Association. Luckily, with my winter job, I can pass up times for refereeing to other refs. With my intern position at the politicians office, I don’t get any time off (in my contract), but they have made allowances such as not burdening me with any more work then necessary and allowing me longer lunch breaks so I can go for walks and cool down/calm down.

I work anywhere from 8-18 hours a day, by choice, and if anything it keeps me too busy to think about other things in my life. They let me leave early for doctors appointments and never dock me hours for it.

They are always very considerate of how I am doing. I tend to look extremely worn out during depression, very wound up when I am actively hallucinating and very agitated when I manic. My co-workers have even done research so they know the signs of things, and the precautions to take in the case that something happens (extremely delusional, suicidal, etc).

Basically, even though they have not made drastic changes to suit my disorder, they have educated themselves and show that they care. That for me is enough. I don’t really want to be treated special because of something I will struggle with for the rest of my life.

Sometimes all the work stresses me out, but honestly, its very gratifying work, and it fulfills me to be able to come home after working a super long, stressful day, and know I helped other people and that I did it without assistance.

Just my thoughts on things.