Klownface: I can relate to what you are describing here, as I suffer from both BP and ADHD. My problem is that initiating tasks is very difficult, but following up on them is even more challenging. This is why I’ve had such problems in my career. I was adept at committing to things in meetings, but then would consistently drop the ball when taking the next step. Or I would say that “I need to learn more about it," and fritter away hours ostensibly researching background information. Also, it was nearly impossible to retain information when talking to people face to face; it’s like listening to the teacher in Peanuts (“wah wah wah wah”).

My career has been completely derailed by this one-two punch of BP and ADHD; I went through 6 jobs in 7 years, and am now taking a “sabbatical” to address my cognitive challenges and figure out what career will be manageable. It's been a miserable experience, but slightly better than sitting at my desk and frittering away time surfing the Web and trying to figure out how to accomplish even the most basic tasks. Think "Office Space."

LacunaCoiler: Spot on re: tackling bipolar before ADHD. Executive functioning has always been a challenge for me; I wanted to try to tackle this because of the dire effects it had on my career. However, my therapist advised me to focus on the BP / breaking out of this deep depression first. I get periodic uplifts (not the highs that I used to get during manic episodes), i.e., after exercising / going out with friends / exploring my strong interest in foreign languages. However, I need this to be a sustained state. Once these storm clouds dissipate, I hope to tackle the ADHD.

Congratulations on getting the BP under control! I can speak from personal experience about ADHD medications triggering manic episodes. I took Vyvanse and Adderall, and went into a very destructive mania during which I alienated all my friends and family, and performed poorly at work due to anxiety and lack of sleep. Are you also going to be on a mood stabilizer? I’m currently taking Lamictal, which is supposed to “dampen” the potential for mania. It may be working too well: it's good that I'm not slipping into mania, but I feel extremely downtrodden like Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh.

Good luck, friends!