[Deanna Morgan]

Has anyone else been living with bi polar and can't work anymore??

Hi Deanna. I am living with Bipolar Disorder and currently can't work. I'm actually on disability at the moment.

[greylove]

Hi Deanna.......yes, I'm living with bipolar and can't work.......not now, not ever. I'm in the process of filling out an application for disability. I have never seen so many invasive questions in one spot in my life........arrrgggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

[Travelinglady]

Yes, I'm a bipolar, and I had to go on disability. I actually contend it wasn't so much because of my bipolar symptoms per se, but rather because of the side effects from all the drugs. They affected my memory and my mental acuity in general. Also, I do have some other health problems, too, such as fibromyalgia, so that didn't help.....

However, there is still life after all that!

[madisgram]

bipolar and disabled because of it. working kept me in a high pitched mania. couldn't shut it off even on meds.
...ooops, welcome to pc!

[RyuB]

disabled with bipolar.
i've had to go off meds now, not my choice, and the symptoms have started to come back the past couple of weeks.

i'm not a happy camper

[VickiesPath]

Don't know if you are the Deanna Morgan I know but yes, I'm bipolar and do not work any longer and have been on disability for over 5 years now. Will probably never work again. I did work for over 34 years however, but it became harder and harder as the illness took more and more of a toll on my health.

[sugahorse1]

i'm still working, but battling. Spend all my time depressed and stress is a major trigger for me.

[lotusflames]

i work always have done and i'm bipolar.

anyone mind me asking why you can't work because of the bipolar?

[Travelinglady]

Well, Lotus, I think I sort of answered that for me personally. I was on some powerful drugs, first of all, that kept me so doped up that I had a hard time remembering and concentrating. Not a good thing for a college professor!

Also, I was having to go in and out of the hospital and would be "out of commission," for a week or more at a time. All those absences don't help. However, that said, some people are able to get on the proper dosages of drugs and get treatment in general and can keep working. For example, I saw a tape one time about a medical doctor who was bipolar and was still able to keep working. So, I don't think a bipolar diagnosis automatically means a person will need to go on disability and/or drop out of the work force. Even I am able to do some part-time work as a free-lance writer now.

[sugahorse1]

My depression is what makes life hard for me. And after I've taken a few Klonopin, I'm a bit out of it, cannot concentrate and don't get much done.
Other people battle with the triggers that a stressful job may pose

[CliveWild]

I tried very hard to find work up to three years ago. Whether I can work is a difficult question. Some days I seriously doubt it. I am trying for a voluntary position. If I get that, It should tell me if I could work. Finding work would be another problem !! I have only worked about 6 months in the past 10 years.

[kj44]

I quit my job of 3nhalf yrs in August. Still tring to get a grip! I plan to go back eventually, somewhere! Still working on meds.. 3yrs is about my max on a job, I have terrible episodes!!! Best of luck!

[kj44]

Originally Posted by lotusflames

i work always have done and i'm bipolar.

anyone mind me asking why you can't work because of the bipolar?

I have always worked too, but, I only last max 3yrs.. Then its mania, I quit from embarrassment,paranoia, afraid Ill hurt someone. I have to get new meds, really sucks!! Usually takes about 4 months to get a grip.

[PT52]

Definitely not a cut-and-dried situation. I have a sister on disability, but I can still work. I'm just trying to figure out how to not get fired...or how to find another job...

[larakeziah]

I have worked for the last 10yrs since i left school. It has been a major struggle at times especially as i've only been medicated for a year and only got my official diagnosis at the begining of october this year. I have been off work for the last 4 months cos i broke both my ankles and had to have surgery on them. I now don't feel i can go back to work. I panic at the thought, its even gettin to the stage where i don't want to go out cos i get so worked up and feel i could be a danger to myself or others!

[wing]

I had to quit my job last year because my hypomania slipped into a full blown manic episode, complete with my usual psychotic symptom, paranoia. The constant triggers just became too much to handle effectively and I basically "snapped". I had to revamp my meds but would've been fired had I not recognized that I wasn't able to safely do my job.

[greylove]

I was abruptly fired from a job I loved and had been at for five years.......my manager told the owner that she could not work with me after I entered my first manic state