I am a teacher as well. For four years I taught in a special education school that was not demanding in terms of paperwork from teachers but very demanding emotionally because the students were severely emotionally and behaviorally disturbed. I was dx'ed bp 1 about two thirds of the way through my first year of teaching. I struggled immensely for a long time. I was hospitalized seven times and took two extended medical leaves. Somewhere in there my husband died as well so I had that to deal with. I found it impossible to Teach while depressed. One year I started the year depressed and I was known to my students as "the teacher who never smiles". It was awful.

I finally stabilized after another extended leave last winter but I ultimately decided that I couldn't continue teaching in that school. I found a job as a special education teacher in a public school district near my home and I am much happier now. My kids have behavior issues but it's nothing compared to what I dealt with. Plus I co teach for two out of the three instructional blocks of the day, so it's really a great gig. Being stable helps too.

I often worry about what would happen if I became depressed again. I'm not eligible for disability through the state because I'm in the union but the union disability insurance doesn't cover pre existing conditions so I'm not eligible for that either. Basically I'm screwed if I have to take an extended leave again.

If you feel teaching is too stressful, would you consider becoming a teacher's assistant? I know you have too much education for that but that's going to be my fall back if I can't handle teaching. I was a one to one aide before I was a teacher and it was the best job I ever had. Only problem was the pay was really ******. I wouldn't be able to afford living on my own.

I hope you're able to continue teaching. Since you have a masters, could you do something more administrative in your district instead of being a classroom teacher? I don't know if that would be less stress but it might be.

In any case take the time you need to recover now. It must be hard with admin not supporting you though. My admin at the special ed school was extremely supportive. I don't know what I would have done if they weren't.

I know I didn't offer much in the way of advice, I just wanted to let you know I understand. And it is possible to teach while bp, but you need to work hard to maintain stability.