My bosses keep me past overtime and want me to work 12+ hours daily, mania is close

I work as a hospice cna and I work full time. My bosses keep texting me everyday to work 12-15 hour shifts and I'm crying. I need days off to do my college work and to prevent myself from going manic. I'm having anxiety attacks because they can fire me for not taking over time. If I go manic and have a huge episode again I could get hospitalized, lose my job and worse, ruin my college career. I can't tell them I have bipolar, but I need something to be done. I'm so damn sick of my phone. I just get texts and calls from them now. Help!

It is too bad it is not a perfect world where I can pick up any shifts at regular time, so you could recuperate. However, I am not qualified, but you should consider another forum as part of this post involves your work.

I suggest you post about your current dilemma in the
Work and Careers - Forums at Psych Central

Your phone has an "OFF" button. You should use it from time to time. You have a right to your own time!!

Let me tell you from my own experience as a nurse with anxiety and bipolar: NO JOB IS WORTH YOUR SANITY. I had to learn that the hard way this past spring, when the severe stress at my nurse-executive job wore me down to the point where I became too manic and too anxious to work. It was in the middle of preparing for a state re-survey, the pressure was intense, and I just crumbled.

My pdoc had been after me for months to leave this position and find something a little lower-key, but I thought I knew better. Was I ever wrong......when I finally lost it, he gave me the choice between taking time off or going inpatient. I was out for almost a month on medical leave, then promptly fell apart two hours after I walked back into the building. They let me go three days later, claiming they "couldn't" make the accommodations my doctor requested for me to help me stay in my job.

That sent me into a mixed episode of epic proportions, and again I came close to being hospitalized. And frankly, this event pretty much ruined me as a nurse; now I can't even do floor work, let alone management. All I can handle now are admissions and some quality-assurance paperwork---nothing that requires me to think fast on my feet, or stay on task when I'm being bombarded with distractions.

That's why you should quit while you're ahead---BEFORE the mania and anxiety push you over the edge. This job is killing brain cells that you'll never get back......and our disorder also causes damage over time, to say nothing of the meds we take to try to control it.

CNAs are in demand in long-term care (nursing homes), assisted living, and hospitals among other places. There HAS to be a better job for you. Don't let this one drive you crazy!! (((HUGS)))

I went to the gym for 3 hours since I had no idea what to do. I wore myself out and I exhausted myself to the point that my worries have left me because my mind was more focused on what was happening. It's so hard to walk now, but I'm glad. This had made me so tired that I'm going to bed 8 hours before I normal retire. I'll think of something to get out of my situation, but for now it's time for bed. Good night everyone.

I can relate to your dilemma. I am a social worker and we do on-call rotations (while still working our normal 40-50 hours per week). If you don't handle everything, they have no problems firing. It sucks that they can do that.

In the area I live in there is an extremely high demand for cnas. There is a huge lack of cnas and long term facilities are very under staffed. Many cnas are switching to home care because the stress of being under staffed in long term facilities is burning them out. I'm pretty sure the same thing is happening in hospitals in my area because the nurses get called in all the time. When I was in the ER I remember seeing nurses begged to not work an extra 6 hours because they already passed 12. All I see for jobs is nursing and because of the craziness I'm switching to radiology. That field is way more low key and it suits me pretty well. I just don't want to go manic again, so far I've gotten manic 1 time during my old job in a facility and twice with this job when I had to work 80+ hours several weeks in a row due to us being under staffed. I wish they knew my disability so they wouldn't put me through this.

I know.....CNA work is hard on the body and mind. 12 hour shifts and overtime added to that in addition with your school work is a bubble ready to burst. But you have to stick to your guns and say no. You are a STUDENT....use that only. If they can't understand that then you may very well be better off looking elsewhere for employment. Because you may need a day off before a major test or if you do get too stressed....they need to take care of their employees. Good luck to you.... but try not to push your limits, you do not want to have an episode. It sounds like you know your triggers and that is half the battle right?

I got my paycheck today and even though I told them I couldn't work this weekend they tried to assign me multiple shifts. I told them off and they backed off on asking me. I told I would pick up only ONE 10 shift if needed and that was the end of that. I feel so much better now. Thanks everyone for your responses