Job questions

Hello I am 41 and have had a hard time keeping a job over a year except my last job which lasted 3 years almost to the day.

I managed to graduate college back in my 20s, however never had a solid job over a year after college. My last job 6/2009 - 6/2012 ended with me melting down and leaving without the standard two weeks notice. I did a great job, and managed to keep my mind together for those three years. I have references.

Anyway, it's been over a year since I worked solidly. I went through 5 temp agency jobs, all were super stressful and lasted a few days to a week or so.

My question is, are there help placement agencies for people with mental disabilities in the Chicagoland area. I was diagnosed with "mixed mania" bi-polar. I am on my meds, but I can't take high pressure jobs. Or would going on SSI be best..I am not sure. Since I worked for the past three years, I feel I won't be accepted into the SSI program. I heard you had to be unemployed for 7 years. I am not sure if that is correct though.

If anything, my health care is running out on me from my last job (COBRA). I need to see my pdoc and Therapist. Any advice would be great. Thanks - C

Hello, thiswreckage, and welcome to Psych Central! I wish I knew a job placement service anywhere for folks with mental illness.

I am bipolar and have been on SSI for a number of years. I had to quit teaching because it was too stressful--and I was having problems with my memory. I don't recall being out of work for seven years before getting it, though. But as I say, my memory isn't so great. I suggest you call your local Social Security Office to find out the details.

I am wondering if anybody out there in Psych Central land has bipolar and still works. What kind of job do you have? How do you manage? I think the answer to these questions might be helpful to you and to other people with mental disabilities.

I hope something will come up soon for you. I am thinking that folks might be able to do some kind of job working from their homes, but I don't know what all the options might be.

Hello, and Welcome to PC!!

I have rapid-cycling bipolar 1 and still work, although at a much reduced capacity. I am a nurse and used to have a high-powered executive level position at a large assisted living facility. Like you, I was there for quite a while but eventually couldn't take the stress anymore and had a massive meltdown. Unfortunately, the company figured out a way around the ADA and let me go right after I got back from medical leave.

My pdoc is one of those who will NOT sign off on an SSDI application unless the patient cannot work under any circumstances. I happen to agree with that, and since I don't fit into that category even with BP 1, I've never even inquired about disability benefits. Yes, I have a disability, but I'm not disabled---there is a difference.

Currently, I'm working 2-3 days per week in a relatively low-stress job in a nursing home, doing admissions and some quality assurance work. It's not much, and most weeks I still qualify for some unemployment benefits. But I can at least handle it, and since I worked there several years ago and most of the staff and management know what my limitations are, I don't have to hide my illness.

I wish there were some sort of program that helps mentally ill people find work. You could try Goodwill, they work with people who have all sorts of physical and mental disabilities. You may also want to check with your county's mental health clinic---you may be able to get free or low-cost care once your COBRA runs out.

Hope that info is helpful. Wishing you the best of luck!

I'm 45, bipolar 1, and work at a state university as a grants officer. (*Smelling salts to revive the people who just spontaneously fell asleep*) I was working part time following a mental health crisis in 2010, but I've recently taken on full time work again and am handling it OK. I do have problems focusing, and my cognitive speed isn't great, so speaking extemporaneously at meetings is always stressful. I think that for the most part my job works well for me because I have a lot of freedom, so that if I'm having a rough day and literally get nothing done, the only person who'll give me a hard time about it is me. The dean I work for has absolute trust in the people she hires to get their jobs done in their own way and on their own schedule.

She is aware of my illness since I was hospitalized for a week in 2010; the circumstances were shared with her (with my approval). So I have no fear or urgency to hide on that front. If I'm having a difficult time I remove myself from the office until I get things under control and she understands abrupt exits and needs to occasionally work from home. She encourages taking "mental health" days as sick time, not just for me but for all.

So, I would recommend jobs with a good balance of structure and autonomy (I wouldn't want to work without a schedule at all, because I need some structure to maintain stability, which is why I think I personally am a particularly poor candidate for SSI). So, hmm, maybe keep an eye out for jobs that send you out in the field to work with far-flung clients, or jobs with blended office and telecommuting possibilities. Jobs where you're on your own honor to get things done and you don't have to stress about toeing a strict behavioral line. Awesome bosses are always a bonus.

Good luck!