[Passion222]

Just figured I'd ask this because my I've held a job for 5 yrs as a dental assistant working for a great guy. But many ups and downs where without meds I'd have argued alot and got bad reputation at work I'd be either fired or I'd quit. Didn't stay with dentists long until now. As much as I want off meds, I'm afraid ill have no tolerance with people and jeopardize this job

[Anika.]

I have, like every single job I have had, yes. Which is why I am on disability. The longest job I was able to hold was 2 months. And one job where I worked for my sister in law for a year and a half, but she always allowed me time off.

I'm going back to work soon, part time, and I am nervous, but i'm also confident that it will work out this time. I'm in a much better frame of mind now. And I am off meds.

I think the trick is to take it real slow, if you want off the meds, whithout too much upheaval. Make sure you have strategies, coping skills, relative stability in place a head of time. And then ween off very slowly. I think we get in trouble when we rush into it, are not prepared and are not ready for it. Being off them requires a lot of management too, but it's doable.

[Passion222]

That's amazing you went off and are doing well. Very exciting. How long has it been for you? I'm nervous my attitude will come back and it's honestly a hard one for me to keep under control. I snap easily without meds and make ALOT of commotion in the office. But want to learn like you how to cope and manage without. Any secrets? I'm not def going off but would like a plan cuz side effects are ruling over the good benefits

[Anika.]

Well I was on 6 meds, I was on 3 antipsychotics, two mood stabilizers an antidepressant and benos. I was a walking barely, not talking zombie. It was horrible.

Over the last year I have not had any major episodes. I have had a few small blips here and there, nothing to write about. Now before I made all these changes I was having a MAJOR episode at least every two months. I am dx with Bipolar 1 with psychosis NOS. Everyone told me I couldn't do it. I tried many many times in the past and failed, but it was a throw them out the window thing, and think later.

I learned a lot from people here. I started using mindfulness, like every day, meditation, yoga.. I do you for 90 min almost everyday ( not that you need to that much ) but I feel in love with it, it's my real passion. I sought out and connected with my spirituality ( kinda my own blend with a touch of science) but it helps me a lot. My diet, I ellimated gluten due to celiacs ( you'd be amazed how much it can effect your mind ), and dairy.. more protein. Vitamins. Hmm ..

Perspective, that is a huge huge thing. And we have the ability to change it constantly, but it does greatly effect our lives. I guess I just kept trying things till I found what worked for me. And then I stuck with them till they became daily habits. I can't tell you how much happier and healthier I am. I do understand there could be a point where I need a med short term. But I am confident that I likely may not either.

I can always send you links to stuff I found useful if you like. You gotta build up a big tool box of stuff you can rely on when the going gets tough. However, I dunno for me, it hasn't gotten tough, its actually usually getting better and better. I hope that other can finds this too.

If you saw my first post when I was a new member here, on my old account, and now, it's a pretty big change. A lot of the stuff I learned I learned here, from other members.

Sorry my grammar and spelling are not so great. No passion for that.

[Trippin2.0]

Havent lost a job due to bp nope... Quit impulsively? Yes. But that stopped when my daughter started school... At my last job, I was medicated, and really *****y. My current 1, so far so good, the *****ometer stays steady at 'creamy*****'...and my manager just thinks I'm on meds he doesnt know I quit them LONG before taking this job.... Like Anika said. Best way is to ease into these things, and adopt a USEFUL mindset. I'm also experiencing less episodes, and fewer symptoms,life's good

[Anika.]

also I was gonna add, I also was a life long anorexic, and had major anxiety, the changes I made spread beyond the bipolar, I have been able to maintain a healthy weight, change my thought process towards food and my body, and anxiety attacks are in the past. Once in while I struggle with body issues still, but I now nip them in the bud, and work on it when I see myself going there. It's a big improvement for me. I wasn't expecting that to get any better.

[Moose72]

I get fired for spurious reasons and don't hold jobs very long.

[ellipsisdream]

I lost the best the best job I ever had and happened to be quite good at... I could not prove it; it was termed a layoff. There are only so many times one can go out on Short Term Disability with the level of responsibility the job entailed. Every single time, my teammates had to divy up and service my 150 clients...

I was heartbroken.

I very nearly lost two others before that, but left before they could can me.

[Victoria'smom]

I have only had a seasonal job. My husband has lost ever job he's had he always had years in between each job.

[Moreta]

I lost the one job I loved b/c I went out on short term disability and my FMLA ran out. They said it was due to lack of communication while I was out. I wasn't communicating with anyone at the time. I went off my meds and psychosis set in. After they called me telling me that they were going to terminate my position, I ended up in the hospital for 3 weeks. sucks. took 2 years to find new work, and I'm actually doing quite well with it. But then again, I'm stable, which is something that hasn't happened in 3 years.

[greylove]

I worked the front desk at a Health and Tennis Club for five years. I absolutely loved it. I loved the members and my co-workers.....but the owners, different story. No-one could stand them. I got fired when I was manic and have been on disability ever since.

[BipolaRNurse]

I can't say I've ever lost a job because of my bipolar, except for my very first one at age 18 when I went off on the boss and slammed the office door on my way out after having my *** handed to me for sloppy work. Yeah, bad career move to be sure. But I've quit almost every other job because I got bored and restless, or I couldn't stand the politics anymore, or I was handed more work than I thought I could (or should have to) do.

I'm just glad I got it figured out before I blew this one, too. My current job is far and away the best I've ever had and I SO do not want to screw it up, because I love the place, the residents, the administrator, and the whole set-up. Besides, I know what I'm up against---nobody is hiring nurses who are old, fat, out of shape, and lack a bachelor's degree (I hold an associate of applied science in nursing). Especially nurses with mental health issues, and there always seems to be a way to find these things out during the interview process (yes, they can ask you to take a physical exam in which you have to list your medications, and anyone with a lick of knowledge about meds can take one glance at my list and know that I'm being treated for bipolar disorder).

So, I'm under no illusions about my chances of finding another job, let alone one that's anywhere near as good as this one, which means I have to figure out ways to survive. Sometimes it requires taking a couple of 'mental health' days and making a long weekend out of them, as I'm doing right now. Other days, I just have to drive the 25 miles home, screaming loudly and profanely with the car windows rolled up and the radio blasting to cover my outburst. Thankfully, I'm "out" at work and most people respect the fact that I sometimes don't play well with others when I'm super stressed.

[katgalaxy8606]

I have never lost a job due to BP, (I'm bipolar 1, intense anxiety) but I have quit many jobs (probably over 5) due to symptoms and just not being able to handle going to work on a consistent basis. The anxiety makes me afraid of going to work which in turn starts the depression in my case. I notice that the less hours I have to go to work, the better I do. I have never really seen it as an option not to work; I have considered disability and at some times I think I am disability worthy but when I'm being treated correctly I can do pretty well. I am in my early 20's and have been married for 3 years. I have been on again, off again in jobs in the past 3 years and my husband has carried me immensely. I started a brand new job in March and I have been doing pretty well at the job (I have even received bonuses), but it is a high stakes, high stress position and even though it appears that I can do it my anxiety and depression keep me feeling very downtrodden about my job even though I put on a happy face. My husband's overtime was cut to 0 (he works a straight 40 hours now) in March as well which has really hurt our finances. I have been given more and more responsibility at work even though I've only been in the position for 6 months and my therapist wants me to keep my hours (35) how they are right now. I just worry I'm going to have a meltdown, like I have many times in the past. My husband and I would like it to be where I don't have to work, but that's just not in the cards right now, maybe sometime when our finances get better and we can afford more. We're just so young and so much has happened. I have been told by a doctor that unless I am doing ECT and treatments of that severe nature I can't get disability. I find that ridiculous but that's where I'm at now. Thank you.

-KAT

[purpledaisy]

I've quit or been fired from every job, and there have been MANY jobs in my 46 years.

The longest I've been at a job is 3 years. That was the only job that I really liked, but I got bored and restless and left and regret it years later.

My current job pays a lot more than most jobs in this town. I was very lucky to find it. But the bad news is when I finally get fired (which is about to happen at any minute), I'm going to be stuck with $8.00/hour jobs to look at.

[Clinte89]

I lost my only job I ever had. Had it for 7.5 years, and loved it but after I went berserk things went down hill and I had to quit. Well I was pretty much forced to quit. It sucked. So yeah I lost the only job I ever had and its all because I was a drunk bp nutjob lol

[Eliza Jane]

Does being kicked out of grad school count? I was deeply depressed for years and they felt I wasn't progressing on my research fast enough. They held me to a higher standard than all the other students because they were annoyed with me.

The story has a happy ending though. They ended up letting me back in and letting me finish. (I had found te right med by then, so i was able to do it.) Probably because they knew I was about to hire a lawyer because they not only did they blatantly disregard my disability accommodations, they essentially discriminated against me for the disability.

Best,
EJ

[HurtingFML]

I lost all of my jobs from being bipolar, didnt realize it until i found out thats what all was involved in the reasons i lost all of the jobs. Fighting, being different, not engaging into convo, isolation from everyone etc. Being teased , harrased, etc.. Ive been hurt by just about everyone. Good luck to anyone working with this diorder

[Livebythesea]

I lost my job two weeks ago due to BP. Could not get out of bed to go to work. I could have gotten fired from the two previous jobs but I quit first. Hate this disease!

[thickntired]

Originally Posted by greylove

I worked the front desk at a Health and Tennis Club for five years. I absolutely loved it. I loved the members and my co-workers.....but the owners, different story. No-one could stand them. I got fired when I was manic and have been on disability ever since.

I got fired when I was manic too. I lost 2 jobs in 2 years and now I'm on disability.

TnT

[faerie_moon_x]

The job I have now will be the longest I've ever had. It will be 5 years in January. I have a terrible reputation at work because I make a lot of mistakes. I disclosed my illness, hoping they would understand it's the cycling that causes me to suddenly lose my ability to think clearly and remember... bad idea.

Anyway, before this the longest job I ever held was 6 months. I could only keep a job for about one or two months. I would always quit. I always had a good reason to quit, too. Like.... "I won't help 'the man' by asking people if they want the store credit card." Or "this company is going to go out of business soon, I better jump ship" (that company has now been around for 14 years and the biggest in the city... haha.) Or you know, logical things like that... >.> I've only been fired twice.

[cocoabeans]

No, but I'm a bit manipulative and haven't been afraid to use bipolar disorder as an excuse to get away with bad behavior like missing a week of work to party or showing up to work drunk or high, yea boss that's just bipolar...may seem like drugs but it isn't! Scout's promise! Comes with that pretentious claims about human rights in the workplace and bare bones educate my boss on bipolar

Figure if I could spend my high school years repeatedly being accused of being on drugs when I hadn't so much as smoked a cigarette back then, I could get away with saying my intoxication was bipolar and if I have to live with this, may as well take advantage too!

I have gone somewhat "manic" and started second jobs, job offers and got promotions or switched jobs but never lost a job.

Originally Posted by Passion222

Just figured I'd ask this because my I've held a job for 5 yrs as a dental assistant working for a great guy. But many ups and downs where without meds I'd have argued alot and got bad reputation at work I'd be either fired or I'd quit. Didn't stay with dentists long until now. As much as I want off meds, I'm afraid ill have no tolerance with people and jeopardize this job

oh boy!.....been holding back on this one.

222...I'm 41 now I had 40 jobs before I was 26....

I didn't lose my jobs. I just left them...same thing I spose?

couldn't go back...I just seemed to get so damn upset about things sometimes and I cannot let it go until I've damaged my world .

and 'theirs' apparently

can always rely on desperation mania to pull me out and do it all over again....so uncomfortable so unreliable so unavoidable I am an emotional creature I won't hesitate when I am upset!

had 15 more jobs since and with age and wisdom applied to shame it's become harder...

I work better than anyone I ever met....I just get upset by things

been employed self employed had employees....

been there done that.

made lots of money spent more...

I never held back!

thats the important thing to remember....

I would be required immediately to disagree with anyone here who attempted to prove that they never did their best!

just keep waking up hey....

it's ok

I've had many a job that I quit due to my bipolar, only been fired once.

[Faraway tree]

I would be required immediately to disagree with anyone here who attempted to prove that they never did their best!


Aw I was just feeling really bummed about my job because of my inability to do it but your words chaired me up somewhat. Probably no one at my work achieved as little as me today, or had to work as hard as me either. But ******mit I tried my best and then some! Maybe I should feel less guilty . Thanks!