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Originally Posted by grandmaof3
I lost my job last year. It took my 3 months to find a new job. I waited until my second interview to tell my prospective employer that I was bipolar. I told them my symptoms were for the most part controlled by my meds.It also helped that my pdoc wrote me a reference letter. Ive managed to keep that job for the last 10 months. I have had to miss work a few times but I have always been lucky enough to get someone to cover for me so I haven't put them in a bind with my absence. My pdoc has told me that I would certainly qualify for disability but he suggests that to keep working would be better for me and help me feel good about myself and productive. Also I cant afford to live on disability. My husband is self employed and we have our health insurance through my work. PLus the money really comes in handy because when I am manic I tend to spend every dime that I have. My husband keeps a separate bank account that I cant get into so we will have money for our bills.
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I really appreciate your truthfulness. It's too easy to pretend that everything will be fine and to shy away from telling others about your BP condition, but when an episode comes, it's so gratifying to know that support is there for you. My best friend has BP2, and besides the U.S. Air Force, I'm the only one that knows. As hard as it is to believe, his employers, other friends, wife, relatives, and all associates don't know about his illness. He's afraid of prejudice and segregation. Who's right?
I would much rather have a girlfriend (and employer) who knows the truth up front, then to have her dump me later because I wasn't honest with her or she can't handle the occasional symptoms. My ex-wife, who herself is a mental health professional (MSW), never forgave me for marrying her without telling her that something wasn't quite right in paradise. She said that the reason she was divorcing me (3/15/13) was because "I cannot tolerate your bipolar symptoms anymore." I'm doing things differently from now on.