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Back in 2009 I had a pretty mixed up year. I was hitting mania and depression continulously. I had a great Summer and then BAM!!! went back to work after a week's holiday to find my Service User's Dad had died and I was to help him understand???
I worked with 8 young men aged 21-35 years old who all had Autism, Learning Disabilities and Challenging Behaviour. My shift pattern was anything from morning shifts, evening shifts, mid shifts, night shifts to sleep overs.
During this period of time I had to gather information to help this 24 year old man understand his Dad is gone and will never come back again. Really hard!!! It was tough emotionally and mentally. I was abused every day from this guy, it wasn't his fault to an extent. I was verbally abused, physically abused. But I still went in EVERY day as it was my job. I asked for time off from working with him I was given 2 weeks off. Then something snapped in me and I was an emotional wreck in work (I never showed emotions, never had) I booked an appointment at my GP's and she said I was close to being Clinically Depressed. I had to go back in 2 weeks. I went back and was put on Prozac, that never helped so I went onto Mirtazipine as I wasn't sleeping at all. It helped some. Then I went onto Citalopram which actually made me Manic. All through this I never told my work I was on meds. I just said I was seeing my GP for Depression. I have been pretty honest with my work.
I was off sick from work 22nd November- 31st December 2009, 11th January-3rd March 2010 and 17th March- 27th May 2010. In this time Bipolar was thrown about by myself and my GP. I actually had some knowledge on Bipolar as I supported 2 men with this condition. So I was adamant I DID NOT HAVE BIPOPLAR. I 1st saw my Psychiatrist 31st May 2010 and he discharged me after 10 mins saying I was fine (I was at that point since I was back at work and functionally normally). I was re-referred again in the July by my GP who had witnessed Hypo-Manic and Manic tendancies from me along with sever Anxiety. I saw Psych again 15th September 2010 who after seeing me for literally 5 mins declared I had Bipolar.
I thought I better be honest with my manager as well the kinda of work I did I need to be responsible, I had the role title of Senior Support Worker/Key Worker so I had a lot of responsibilities. I asked for a meeting with my Area Manager and told her. She said it was fine they would work WITH me. A lot of crap!! I told them in November 2010 and by January 2011 they had dismissed me from work on ILL HEALTH GROUNDS. I was officially sacked 9th May 2011.
I wish I had never told them as I would probably still be working. But cause I thought my work would be understanding since we worked in Mental Health they would be more empathetic etc they weren't. I will never work for them again after this. Cause of this I have had major set backs in my recovery and I have blamed a lot of things on myself and my "stupid" illness. I see a CPN monthing (Community Psychiatric Nurse) and when I talk about my job etc I always say if only I never admitted to anything..... he has told me I would of had a sever breakdown to the one I had when at work. So I guess I have done the right thing?
Discrimination in the work force is always tough as some people have brilliant experiences with their work/managers and colleagues...... but then other's like myself have very bad experiences. I just find it amusing that a Mental Haelth Organisation that I worked for treated me like dirt. I lost the respect from my managers, colleagues and felt isolated. It has made me very anxious about getting a job in the future. But I do know there are some good work forces out there that do not care what disability you have. I am actually supported by a team who have amoung them 2 people who have Bipolar and 1 person who has Depression.
Hope this helps you in some way!
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