Welcome to the forum. Lots of great support here! On to your questions:

Advice appreciated on the following topics
1. Finding a good psychiatrist relationship
-this can be difficult. Finding someone that understands you will require some work.
I'd start out with a site like HealthGrades.com to get other patient feedback, while
also looking at your insurance website to find providers in network.

2. Working while bipolar (I am a RN)
-I agree with others. Do not disclose you are BP. There is a stigma attached to the
diagnosis. If someone needs to know, tell them you are depressed.

3. Medication management, what has worked best for you?
-this is a topic to work with your Pdoc on. All of us respond differently to meds, and so
will you. MAKE SURE you disclose everything you are feeling to the Pdoc.
I was having BP issues, but neglected to disclose my anxiety. I got to level on

Trileptal and had a blowout session of anxiety. My Bipolar wasn't there to mask
the anxiety. So, please be aware of that.

4. I used to self medicate a lot with alcohol, and then just social drinking.
-alcohol can mask Bipolar, but only for so long. Eventually, it will rear its head.