[Lima Carol]

Hi,
Anybody ever get in trouble at work because of impulsive words or behaviors? I feel like my "filter" is down and letting me say and do things that are quite literally putting my job in danger. Hypomania, cuz I'm also overspending? Is there drug treatment for this? all thoughts welcome...

[BusyMomma2]

I have no idea but I can relate. Hopefully someone knows something.

[Irreplaceable]

When I get to the point at work where I'm getting more snappy, more irritable, more over whelmed, stressed, and burnt out, I force myself to take a vacation day or two. I know me and I know my reactions. If I push myself and ignore the signs that I'm near my breaking point, I will lash out or act in a way that is not so good. So, I force myself to take a vacation day. This normally helps. If someone at work says something to me on one of my "off" days and I know I'm about to flip in any given moment, I normally will get up from my desk, go to my car or the bathroom, and calm down. Or, in so many words, I will tell them to leave my cubicle and give them a stupid look. LOL. Just a couple of weeks ago, this girl, who has a reputation for talking anyway she wants to people, said something to me at my desk. I made an excuse to get her away from my desk before I blew up. I know my breaking points. Before I get to my breaking point, I either take a break or stay to myself at work...Yes I have done things that I should have been fired for...It is what it is...I'm in the process now of trying to make a career change because this job is a huge stress trigger. I realize that, so I'm making moves to leave...Good luck!

[SmokeyPoole2012]

My mania has gotten me into trouble more times than I can count. It half the reason I say people can't deal with me the other half is the brooding caused by states of depression.

Frivolous spending is caused by the manic episodes. I think it's safe to say that majority of us in the bp community has experienced what you described.

As far as there being a drug to help control this. The medications prescribed by the doctors designed to reduce the dramatic mood swings of the manic depression mind are designed to control those instances but of course with different levels of success per individual.

[Nsgirl]

Had to quit as a teacher because of odd behaviors and was missing too many days. I hope meds can help us both get back/keep our jobs.

The daylight's fading slowly
The time with you is standing still
I'm waiting for you only
The slightest touch and I feel weak
I cannot hide from you, I cannot lie
And I'm losing my will to try, can't fight it, can't hide it

So go on, go on, come on, leave me breathless
Touch me, tease me until I can't deny this
Loving feeling, make me long for your kiss
Go on, go on, yeah, come on

And if there's no tomorrow
And all we have is here and now
I'm happy just as you
You're all the love I need somehow
It's like a dream although I'm not asleep
And I never want to wake up
Don't lose it, don't leave it

So go on, go on, come on, leave me breathless
Touch me, tease me until I can't deny this
Loving feeling, make me long for your kiss
Go on, go on, yeah, come on

Ah, ah
I cannot hide from you, I cannot lie
And I've lost my will to try, can't fight it, can't hide it

So go on, go on, come on, leave me breathless
Touch me, tease me until I can't deny this
Loving feeling, make me long for your kiss
Go on, go on, come on, leave me breathless
Go on, go on, come on, leave me breathless
Go on, go on, come on, leave me breathless, go on, go on

.....................

Take sick days. If you're feeling anxious take a sick day and don't feel guilty. You are sick, after all. Well, a different kind of bug.

I also recommend finding a job that facilitates a certain amount of independence and autonomy. Also, never make friends at work. It kind of sucks, but pays off on days you need to be left alone. Nothing more annoying than some 9-to-5 best bud pretending he cares, especially when he has access to your boss and everyone else you work with. - Shania Twain

Welcome, Lima Carol Hear you on the "filter". I call mine "the gatekeeper", as in "the gatekeeper has left the building!". Not only in irritability, but the way words themselves come together. I tend to use kind of atypical sentence structure and choice of words as it is, but it can come out really weird sometimes. Or sounding suggestive(!) when it's totally not meant to be at all! Not great when that happens at work(!) The gatekeeper has caught some whoppers though, an accomplishment which requires a moment of thanks. (Literally.)

Good advice, Irreplaceable. I've not had a job that had vacation days, but use similar techniques in my personal life and call it "self-quarantine". There are just some days you know there's going to be trouble. And the moments taken to defuse situations that are building to problematic levels -- off to the bathroom, storage room, outside, etc. can be very helpful, yes.

Gotten in trouble? Yes. Probably should have been fired? Yes. More that once, that's for sure! A situation a few years ago also pointed out a pattern that has been problematic... jumping in to "deal" with something that is not only unnecessary, but would be downright ill-advised, if in fact advice were actually sought(!) Yikes. Where angels fear to tread kind of thing? Yeah. (It'd be something like a variation of that old Life cereal ad... "Send the crazy one. She'll do anything!" What's worse is it's not even being asked. It's volunteering out of the perception of sheer invincibility(!!!) Being able to recognize that kind of situation before the damage is done would be a good skill. Oh yes.

Drug treatment for? Yeah, meds. The right mix has proved helpful for me in reducing the frequency of... "incidents". Hypomanic? Yeah, that can cause trouble for sure. But even when in a basically normal mood, the energy from the escalation of a situation (especially if the pace is frenetic, as in a busy restaurant) can create a tipping point. So that's a good thing to be aware of too. Especially if one has a strong work ethic, it can be hard to step away, even when it would be a really good idea. Not sure if there's much in the way of problem-solving ideas here so much as the thought of figuring out one's triggers, so that they might be recognized. Because w/o recognizing them, we're very likely to cross that line before we even realize it, you know?