Yes, I do work.

I’m not sure I could find a more stressful job if I tried. I was laid off from my previous firm (which was spiraling down and is now out of business). I tried to find a similar job but couldn’t get one (they would just hire someone younger and more junior, or pull the job). I finally landed one-a headhunter found me, but it is higher level and I’m not used to dealing with executive management.

I was being managed on Abilify then Seroquel...a few months after I started this job I went hypomanic from extreme stress. I managed to inherit two massive headaches the previous person in the role fleed from. One pertaining to overarching technology issues, the other—multiple regulatory issues. My God. They didn’t tell me this during the interviews...

My therapist and my psychiatrist both asked if I could find something less stressful. I told them I already tried, and I would have to move since my industry barely exists in my city.

I asked to be started on lithium and was also given gabapentin to handle the anxiety.

It’s been very hard.