[JaeMae]

Just out of curiosity, how many of you can cope with your bipolar and keep a job? Not because you know you Have to keep being employed. What keeps you motivated to stay employed emotionally?

[Bipolarchic14]

It's hard at times to get out of bed and stay motivated, but I remind myself that once I am there it will distract me and keep some of the depression at bay. It helps if you like your job and your coworkers. A few years ago I was in a job I hated because I was being harassed and discriminated against. I was soooo scared to make a transition into a new job but it turned out to be a really great decision.

[A Red Panda]

Yep I'm fully employed. I can't imagine not being employed, and I grew up with pretty strict expectations put on me so I've always known self-control.

Emotionally, I like knowing that NO ONE else helps me with my life. I like knowing that everything I've bought, and everything I've done, is because I've worked my butt off to get it. I like having total say in my life and finances - I would be a complete wreck if I couldn't afford to live without assistance. I'm lucky enough that I don't experience mania or psychosis, which is a huge help for me.

I also find my job is helpful to me. It's actually my strongest anti-suicide plan... because there's no way that I could inflict that experience onto a group of kids (I'm a teacher). Also, when I'm depressed the kids sometimes say or do things that will cheer me up or at least distract me. And when I'm hypomanic they're a riot and I can use a lot of my energy up doing things with/for them.

[JaeMae]

One of my most difficult problems would be making myself get there on time. I completly dread the fact of having to go in. But like you stated A Red Panda, I can agree, it does get a bit easier once your actually at the job site.

[A Red Panda]

Oh... I might not want to get ready and go in... but I am absolutely PARANOID about being late or having people get upset with me... which keeps my sorry butt going.

[Trippin2.0]

Cope? Whaaah???
I keep trying sometimes I'm not quite too sure why

The last 4 months though, I've been employed on a flexi time basis, and my BP has not interfered with work, nor has work interfered with my BP, and so I hope I can continue in this manner

Feeling trapped is a huge trigger for my Bipolar Monster, and ultimately all my jobs lead there because I'm a single mom, and I ain't so pretty when I feel like a caged animal. Thee worst one was being a Contact Centre Agent, gawd I crumbled within 3 months lol, but I managed to stick it out for the full year contract with some excellent support from colleagues.

What keeps me getting up in the morning?

Well its a mixture of the above replies.

I've always been an independent person, the last time I was someone else's responsibility I was in High School. Even when I was retrenched or temporarily unemployed, I made sure I had my own funds until the next job. Working brings me a sense of fullfillment, knowing I did that, I bought that, is a source of pride, the good kind though. Not the "I'm too good to ask for help when I'm stuck" kind. Because I've definitly had to ask for help with my erratic work history.

So that extends into my role as a single mother, knowing I'm solely providing for my daughter (although she really wouldn't starve if I didn't work) keeps me going even when it feels I really can't. Also work is a very good distraction from depression, that's if I manage to haul my leaden a.s.s over there, because I do allow myself a mental health day when (desperately) needed.

Last but definitly not least, after I was retrenched and sunk into a year long depressive episode, I knew without a doubt that I could never be a stay at home mom regardless of my financial circumstances. Mentally I thrive while I'm working, ( although I now stay away from stressful jobs because I'm OBVIOUSLY allergic ) the lack of structure, purpose and sense of accomplishment that accompanies staying at home (with or without money to blow) just feeeeeeeds the depression.

So for me work is a must, its just a matter of finding the environment/circumstances that compliment my bipolar.

[Washburn]

I work at a Provincial Park here in Canada. Being able to be outdoors by the ocean all day is a good thing for me. I was diagnosed Bipolar I after having an episode at work last year that ended with me being pepper sprayed and brought to the hospital. I was fortunate enough to work for good people that brought me back as a manager the next year but it was extremely difficult to stay motivated. With medication changes I would have to pull out chairs in the office and have a nap midway through the day just to keep going but I know that going to work and having something that I forced myself to do every day was what I needed to keep going.

I have been off work now for four months because the job is seasonal, and I start back at work tomorrow. It is a constant worry that I wont be able to operate at a sufficient level to stay employed though. As much as I should enjoy my job and where I work it is a constant battle a lot of the time to get through the day but I know that it would probably be significantly worse if I was somewhere else.

[wildflowerchild25]

I have a full time job as well (teacher like red panda). It is imperative for me that I keep it. I have never not had a job and/or been in school full time. As profoundly difficult as it is sometimes (like today), I have to keep coming. I watched my mother give in to depression and no matter how bad I am I just can't lie there if I have a work commitment.

Now on days like today I do give up and do vocabulary worksheets and not an intense lesson. But I can get away with it in my school.

Over the summer I had to leave my camp job because of bipolar. I went to a partial hospital program that kept me occupied but when they dropped me down to three days a week I lost it. I need to have some sort of consistency to anchor myself otherwise I'm lost. While I do suffer from mania, I am usually able to keep my delusions quiet, so know one knows. They just think I'm hyper. The worst is mixed, though. It is very difficult to maintain my composure then. The students can crack it much easier.

I hope I will always be able to work. I'm sure I would be nonfunctional otherwise.

[vjdragonfly]

Honestly, I never have been really able to hold employment. I try, but eventually it gets to much for me. The longest I worked a job was a year. I started around 20 hrs. a week and by the end I was working 8-10 hours (per my request). My biggest problem is ppl. There ignorance drives me insane. Also, I have always been hardworking and so my employers pile me up with tasks and eventually the stress breaks me.

Although I am currently in a job since August. It is outdoors and I LOVE it. Really no-one to deal with and I just do things at the pace I feel is right for me that day. Hoping I can get full time in the not too distant future. I do have times that getting up and going in is difficult though.

[Theseus]

I've been at my current job for over 16 years, with the same boss, whom I've been friends with and worked with for almost 29 years. We worked elsewhere together over the years. He puts up with a lot of crap from me (well, sauce for the goose ). If it weren't for him being a friend and a rock, I'd have either been kicked to the curb long ago, or bounced around on my own.

[Curiosity77]

I have a full time job that i love, but there is a lot of responsibility and sometimes it feels like pressure. I was forced to take a 6 month leave 2 years ago when i was hospitalized. Being off that long really affected my self-esteem, and i felt pretty lost. I went back early against medical advice, as soon as i was cleared to work. The structure keels me stable, and the work helps me focus on productive things so that i'm not in my head. I've only ever taken time out a few times when mood episodes were very severe. Most of the time i function highly at work, and appear very normal, even when i'm not feeling great.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[swheaton]

I have had many jobs, but have always been employed. I am really learning to cope so that I am not job hopping. I like working and want to continue...therapy is my mantra now.

[JaeMae]

I sincerely thank each and everyone of you for all the responses and encouragement!

[THE16THDOCTOR]

I'm a social worker and the motivation is I know if I don't work, for me, is a bad situation. It causes my anxiety depression to increase and allows me the chance to isolate myself from the world. It's really the routine and rigid schedule. I grew up w the same strict expectations as others have said. It's also rewarding to help ppl living w the same illness (no one knows abt mine).

I've been employed part time and in volunteer work for 10 years since my diagnosis, but any more than that sends me into an episode. When I up my work schedule I usually last 6 months before a hypo followed by depression or just straight crash into depression. I've tried to work other jobs numerous times with the same results. It really brings me down that I cant work more. Working full time in a job I enjoyed would be a dream for me, and will probably always be a dream. Its really hard not having much money and knowing I'll never own my own home or afford to commit to my hobbies. Im still recovering from my last work related depression crash 8 months ago, I think it spurred on my current condition.

[feferock]

The only thing keeping me at my job is knowing I'm now expected to work. I never lasted at other jobs very long.

1. 2 1/2 months

2. 3 months

3. 4 months

4. 3 days

5. 1 school year so 7 1/2 mths but it was only 2 hours per day

6. 1 month

7. Worked the 2 hour job again at a different location

8. I've been at my current job 8 months. The only reason I've lasted was because I switched to 3rd 5 months ago and there's less people to deal with. It's more cleaning.

My problem as my hubs puts it is that I'm entitled and think people should take care of me which deep down is true. But that's my issue and I'm working on it. Which is why I'm really trying to stick to this job. Depending what happens in the fallout of this injury I may have to start the job hunt again. Which is pretty non exist ant when you live in MI

Fefe(28) -bipolar II
Hubby(28)
Son(8)-aspergers and possibly ADHD and odd
Daughter(5)

[Suddz]

I have always worked. My last job lasted 15 years and I was making close to $60K. I lost it because I couldn't keep up anymore. I think it was the drug cocktail I was on at the time. It could have been BP2/ADD/PTSD.... I don't know for sure. That was 4 years ago this month. I have been full-time caregiver for my daughter who has Cerebral Palsy for the last 3 of those years. It's a tough job but I like it. She keeps me busy. My wife works full-time and we get by.

Well, despite the parameters of the question, the answer truly is no choice. But, on the emotional motivation side, I do find that it is helpful to have some degree of structure and expectation from others to be somewhere. And do my part. I hate letting people down. (Which of course can get very hard.) And along the lines of what A Red Panda said, I am terrified of of having to explain myself, so in I go. Almost always. I may be late, lost in my own head, suicidal or bouncing off the walls, but I'm there.

I've always worked (except one spell of a few horrific months and scattered unemployment). 39 jobs (that I can recall….there may have been more(!)). Never full-time. Longest lasting was 6 years, but it was seasonal. Never made diddly squat. Never interested in anything remotely managerial (I can barely manage myself and my people skills are….not so great). The sort of work I do now is a good match work-wise. But it's always the people….First time with this kind of work I was always butting heads with the boss/owner. Second time, no retail aspect! Extremely few people. Which of course made it my favorite job ever. Until one person decided to make it a living hell. Not so motivated now….

Like vj, I'm a really hard worker and don't goof off. Which is the absolute key element that keeps me in (relatively, lol) good graces. Most of the time. It covers a lot of sins as they say. That's an emotional motivation…. being able to take pride in being a hard worker.

I work p/t and I'm really fortunate because I am employed at a funky old coffeehouse where I can really be myself...being a colorful person is a job asset. I am dependable and responsible, though. Without meds there's no way I could work.

[Lobster Hands]

I should have been fired long ago. I went up to my boss and told him, "This place is s***, fire me now if you don't like how I do things."

At that time they knew I hadn't slept for 4 days though and were ready for something to go down. I really like my job and I'm glad that I didn't get fired.

I think I stay sane at my job because we are closed most days in the winter. Spring through Fall are nuts though.

[Crazycatlady82]

I have worked at my job for 6 years now. At the moment I work full time, but there were times when I took small leaves of absence or when I needed to cut my hours down a bit. Luckily my work has been quite flexible with me and if they weren't I don't think I would be there still. Some days I cry all the way to work, but when I get there I just have to stop and go in. Sometimes I have taken a cry break in the bathroom, not too often. When I am feeling hypomanic I always have to remind myself to turn my voice lower, to think about what i'm doing. I work with disabled people, and that helps me because I know those folks are depending on me to be there, and that my most of my coworkers work 2 jobs and they need me to be there or they can't leave. I was brought up that working the most important thing, and although I don't necessarily agree, I am very lucky that I base my self worth off of my work...because a lot of times there's not much else.

I'm a college student, and I'm honestly concerned about how to find my footing in the workplace when I graduate. Right now, I have a part time job with my university's writing center (I provide students feedback on their writing assignments, help them brainstorm, etc.). Even though it's just 5hrs a week and I love my job, it can still feel like a big burden when my BP is acting up.

[Twigs92]

Originally Posted by JaeMae

Just out of curiosity, how many of you can cope with your bipolar and keep a job? Not because you know you Have to keep being employed. What keeps you motivated to stay employed emotionally?

I work part- time as I'm a student. When I'm manic and happy it's easy, when I'm depressed it's hell, when I'm manic and angry, or upset, or delusional it's a freaking nightmare and I can barely do my job everything is a blur. However what keeps me going is that when I have a job I get out of the house so I'm not locked in my head, it lets me actually put myself to some use, and social interaction, so while I might be really bad at it on that particular day depending on how I feel, I'm not isolated. It also gives me a sense of worth and stops outright depression completely flattening me, or delusions completely taking over.

[lonelychick]

Right now I'm working about 30 hours a week, not quite full time. One of my biggest fears is not being able to handle full time work if I'm ever able to find it. There's times I can barely handle part time. Like now. I had to drop out of college because I wasn't able to do what needed to be done with my bipolar and anxiety. Without my degree, I'll be really limited on what I can do in the field I work in and am passionate about (library science). I love where I work and what I do, but I'm terrified that this illness will keep me from being able to achieve my dreams. It already has in some cases.

[Unrigged64072835]

I was in the military for 22 years and a government employee for 6 years, all while being un-diagnosed. Beyond feeding my family, I actually liked my job and the interaction with people (well, most of them LOL). It was high-stress, though. I definitely took my vacations and sick time. Even with depression I went to work because most of the time I was the only one who could do my job, and that made me feel important.

Now that I'm 'retired', I would like to start selling my photographs and art. However, that also entails stresses that I need to consider in balance with maintaining my mental health. Even though I can work my own hours and stuff there's still things to keep track of, expenses to cover and taxes to pay. Hopefully I'll be able to do that soon, though.