I have bipolar and traits of borderline. I used to be a computer programmer for the government and the hours, competitiveness of my co-workers, interpersonal intrigue, pressure from my boss and commuting were unbearable. I was taking sick leave every second Friday by the time i stopped working. It just got so hard to string five consecutive days together. I got all sorts of pressure to improve my attendance despite the fact that i had 52 sick days banked!

Attendance was really a high-profile issue in my department. I lasted eight years. Since then i have been on disability benefits [20 years now] and am doing well in a low-stress lifestyle. It's just me and my dog now -- i attended a support group for years but have given it up recently -- and i enjoy myself [mostly] and i can manage my episodes without all those crushing demands.

Life's still not a picnic but it's so worth it now.