My BP is starting to affect my work. Well, it has been for the last several years but now it is really starting to have a major impact on the quality and consistency. I'm in a manic episode right now so I don't know whether or not my desire to just speak out and admit I have bipolar is a result of the mania or a conscious effort on my part to do something right for me personally.

I want to tell my employer that I have bipolar, but I'm worried that in doing so it's going to cost me. I'm not too concerned with losing my job, but I'm worried that I could be passed up for merit increases and promotions (down the line) if and when I have my bipolar under control. I recently had an assessment done on the core functions of my job and basically got an F on the quiz. I know what I am doing when it comes to my job. But now a piece of paper has my supervisors concerned about my performance. I don't want to use bipolar as an excuse for poor quality work. Please do not misunderstand me. I have a way of coming across one way when I really mean to be heard another way.

I want them to understand that this may be "me" for a while and that I might need extra time to complete tasks or even time off to recoup mentally. So I'm curious if this is something that I should do - perhaps with HR - that might help mitigate future issues or will this cause more.