Don't tell your employer about your bipolar.

That's just my opinion after having gone through something similar recently.

I had been on the job for about a year and a half, my bipolar was taking me on a really big rollercoaster, I couldn't concentrate, I was making all kinds of mistakes, I wasn't retaining information when I was being trained to take on new aspects of the job, I was falling behind, and interns who were brought in zoomed past me.

I took short-term disability and FMLA for several weeks after being reprimanded at work yet again.

It gave me time to go through several meds with my pdoc to try to get things under control. During those weeks, I went from bouncing off the walls, to practically being a zombie, and then to a somewhat middle ground where I remain. But the middle ground is leaning toward the depressive side and I am miserable because I need that spark of mania to keep my creativity going. But it's gone.

I never told my young, inexperienced boss about my bipolar. I was kicked around the idea of telling her, but I decided against it after communicating with some folks here on the forum and doing some research on my own.

Not long after I got back to work full-time after my leave, I was put on probation. At that point, I knew I was going to be fired soon, and I was right.

The good thing if you get fired is unemployment. So don't quit. Hang in there so you have a shot at unemployment.

I didn't have any problems with my short-term disability payments kicking in when my PCP, T, and pdoc decided I should go on leave.