I'm not sure how the law works for Intermittent FMLA, or some of the rules are by company. I couldn't get Intermittent FMLA until after a year. I've had it for five years with the company I work for. If I didn't have it I would have lost my job a long time ago for absenteeism. Also, when I started I was a temp. and was missing time and was worried I would be fired. I sat down and told my boss. He's been very understanding. I don't know if any of these are options for you.

For me I go through phases of thinking I'm not BP because I'm high functioning, plus I have OCD and believed for a long time it was the OCD. When I was diagnosed I realized eight years ago when I was no longer in denial of being diagnosed I started on Lamictal and noticed an immediate change. That is really when it clicked, it made me realize that this is what has been going on for so many years. I've been on several other meds because the Lamictal doesn't always take care of everything, and I've also had rapid cycling and mixed episodes.

Anyways I've always been on meds. I know it's a choice, but for me I need them. I've also been in therapy on and off. I'm not having success finding a good one where I live. I always do research on the illness itself and my meds. I always see my pdoc regularly. And in the past few years I've really payed attention to my illness, triggers and what to look for when an episode is beginning, sleep issues and irritability.

This illness sucks, but for the first time I've been truly stable for a year now. It's a long journey, but like you will hear on here a lot is that bipolar cycles, so an episode won't last forever. Hope this helps. Sorry I'm sometimes very detailed.