Every time I get around some old friends they belittle me for not having a steady job in 3 years. I was fired from last steady job for outbursts, which eventually led to bipolar diagnosis and treatment.

One of the friends called me today about a job in my last field of retail automotive service. As bad as I need to generate myself income, I honestly feel that retail is something I may mentally never be competent for again.

I am sooo worried. I really do need an income/job. See, that's part of my problem. I used to have some interests and passions pertaining to work. Now it's am I competent enough to handle said job and how much does it pay? No longer is it do I have experience?

BIPOLAR SUX, and how long do you have to wait to get a ss hearing to get some relief while trying to give treatment and therapy time to hopefully mend my mind back together?

[Trippin2.0]

Its bipolar's job to suck, the flack you're flinging around should be aimed at your friends. Well IMO anyway...

They don't have to suck, actually, because they're friends they shouldn't, but they do anyway. And they choose to do so.

Whereas Bipolar can't help but suck...

I wouldn't be friends with anyone that belittled me, and certainly NEVER be friends with people who belittled me over a disorder I never went looking for.

Ok rant over.

I'm not in the US, don't know jack about SS, but I do sympathize with the having to be picky about work due to the "can I handle it" angle that was implemented.

Sucks, yes. I currently started a part time job, because I know I can't handle fulltime right now. I'm hoping to work my way up to fulltime since I'm still seeing my T weekly...

[~Christina]

Yeah "friends" that belittle you .... Are NOT friends. I would remove them from my life.. I have enough Bipolar stuff to bring me down I dont need stupid people to increase it.

Its tough to decide if you can handle work at this time or not.. Maybe a good question to ask your T and Pdoc.

Getting SSI or SSDI depending on what you qualify for can be tough.. But if you have lots of documentation from Pdocs and T's it does usually speed thing along to a degree.

Bipolar does indeed just Suck, sometimes more than others.

[SilentTrice]

I have to agree that having Bipolar does just suck. I'm currently in a position where I need to have income as well but I know that I am mentally unstable to work. So I went for SS and from my research and from what my lawyer has told me it doesn't matter how much paperwork you it still can take up to a year to get a hearing.

[BipolaRNurse]

Yeah, it sucks all right. I'm in the same boat---need an income, but have been basically too unstable to work. I'm looking outside of nursing because I know I can't do that again. Not sure what I'm suited to do anymore, but I keep trying because I'm just not ready to give up yet. In the meantime, I do have a lawyer and I'm filing for SSDI, I know it takes forever to get a hearing and I can always cancel the application if I find something I can actually do. Who knows?

[vjdragonfly]

Sorry your "friends" are treating you this way. I do agree i would be done with them. Don't feel bad, my job track record is horrendous. Bipolar is always going to suck cause it is always lurking around the corner waiting to strike you down. I have found a job I can do and hoping they don't go under. Work with your pdoc and T to help find the right way to help you. Unfortunately finding the right combo can take some time.