Jacqui,

DO NOT make the fatal mistake of revealing your mental illness to your job, as I did. I work in a small optometry office (there are only 3 of us when the Doc isn't there) and one day during a discussion, my supervisor mentioned she took care of her severely ill father, who was BP 1 and had been hospitalized many times for it. I felt if she was willing to share this part of her life with us, I might as well let the cat outta the bag (so to speak).

What a HUGE mistake. Ever since that day (last summer) my co-workers have treated me like a circus freak, and my co-workers pushed it a bit further to be mentally abusive, making comments that my 'monster' must have made that mistake, Jenn's just crazy today, etc.

After enduring months of such abuse, and being mis-medicated, I wound up having a major manic episode, the only one I've ever had in the 6 years I've been DX'd. I am still on medical leave because of it, because my meds got readjusted. I will be going back to work on April 21st, with a more stoic attitude.

I DO NOT let my BP control my life; I control it. Since my episode, it has been a struggle, but I refuse to let it get me down. This is the hand I was dealt, and I will be holding the royal flush, even if I have to DRAW on the cards to make it so.

So, please, PLEASE, save yourself the heartache and keep it to yourself. It's YOUR business and no one else's. I wish you the best of luck.

Hugz and love,
Jenn