[Gray Rider]

Has anyone ever been forced to resign or fired from work due to depression and anxiety?

My current state is making life really painful and hard to manage. I'm seeing a doctor and therapist, still adjusting meds. My family and friends live about an hour away so I'm battling this pretty much alone. I hate to quit because it provides structure and gets me out of the house.

[winter4me]

Over the years, I have frequently changed jobs to deal with anxiety, and depression---and it was not always a good idea...especially since I was handed some very good jobs in my field...I suggest hanging in there for the structure and getting you out (& the money) for now---you are still working on adjusting meds etc---you may be working on things a long time and that is OK. I would only share this with your employer if, after talking with your doc & T., you really need some time off (I never shared---but once, only, and fairly recently in life---I did talk with my doc and he gave me a note that simply stated that I would be out of work for two weeks as he was treating me for a non-work related illness.)
The problem with that was everyone, including some patients(?!) making veiled attempts at finding out why I was out...this I ignored.
If you can work, do----it is better than not. (((((((((((((((((hug))))))))))))))))))))))

[Love&Toil]

I'm sorry you're struggling. It's a very hard time. I left a job due to anxiety. You're not alone. Sounds like you are struggling to get through the days right now.

[onionknight]

I am currently having to step back during the last week of the semester in graduate school, which is quite akin to taking a leave from or quitting a job.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Yes I have

[newtothis31]

I'm sorry to hear. How long have you been at your job? It may not be a bad idea to check with your p-doc to see if you can do an outpatient program and take FMLA to cover the absence.

[Gray Rider]

thanks for the replies everyone

Originally Posted by Love&Toil

I'm sorry you're struggling. It's a very hard time. I left a job due to anxiety. You're not alone. Sounds like you are struggling to get through the days right now.

Yeah it's a daily struggle and I can't stop thinking "I'm not going to make it" over and over again.

Originally Posted by newtothis31

I'm sorry to hear. How long have you been at your job? It may not be a bad idea to check with your p-doc to see if you can do an outpatient program and take FMLA to cover the absence.

Only 4 months, not long enough for FMLA. I do have short and long term disability insurance but I'm not sure if this would qualify. They may be willing to let me have some time off but I'd have to come up with a reason. I know my boss will be curious.

[newtothis31]

With Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance- the doctor overseeing your care needs to certify that you have a medical condition that is preventing you from working. It's designed to protect your income but it won't give you job protection.

When I was first diagnosed- I was in-patient for three weeks then went to outpatient for two months. My outpatient sessions started at 5x per week but they gradually got cut down to 3x per week before I got discharged. During that time- I was able to receive short-term disability coverage for my job due to the p-doc on staff certifying that I had a disability that made unable to work.

HIPPA prevents the HR department from disclosing the medical reason to your boss. Or at least it should- not everyone understands HIPPA since it's so complex.

You may want to get feedback from your p-doc on outpatient. OP helped me learned a lot of coping skills- it took a lot of time post-treatment to implement them. Med adjustments are hard to handle, especially when you have work on top of it. It may be beneficial to do some med changes under a more supervised setting.

What type of work do you do? Some coping techniques that I use at work is that I'm always making a list. I make goals that match up with what my supervisor wants. I try to smile as often as possible when I talk.

[Love&Toil]

Is there any chance you are going to cycle out of this pit?

[Gray Rider]

Originally Posted by newtothis31

What type of work do you do? Some coping techniques that I use at work is that I'm always making a list. I make goals that match up with what my supervisor wants. I try to smile as often as possible when I talk.

thanks for the detailed response, I work in an office type environment. I will also check with the pdoc about outpatient.

Originally Posted by Love&Toil

Is there any chance you are going to cycle out of this pit?

I'm sure there's a good chance, the last major hole I was in lasted 6 months or more and only ended with self medication. I'm trying not to go that route this time. I'm only about 6 weeks into this one and it's hard to see light at the end of the tunnel.

[BipolaRNurse]

I have quit and been fired from several jobs due to bipolar symptoms, even before I knew I was BP. This last time, when I lost my job of four months, I filed for disability with the blessing of my pdoc, who once told me he'd never sign off on any SSDI claim because he believed I was capable of working full-time. He knows better now. So do I, as I get heart palpitations just thinking of working more than a few hours a week, and never again as a nurse---it's much too stressful for me at this time of my life.

Bottom line: you are NOT alone. Many BPs have a terrible time with work because of mood episodes, not to mention overstimulation and pressure to perform. Stress is toxic for us, and job stress seems to be one of the worst kinds. Wishing you the best.

[ReleaseMe14]

I'm having trouble keeping a job as well and am getting too anxious to even apply anymore because I know how it'll en! Of course having the initial fear of knowing you're going to get fired doesn't help.. I'm 20 and hoping to see a neuropsychologist soon. I see you've mentioned working as a nurse, have you given that up? just wondering because I hope to be able to have a career one day,but I can't even keep a crap job as of now.

[BipolaRNurse]

Yes, I did have to get out of nursing entirely. I'm way too easily distracted and I can't manage competing priorities any more. I'm also forgetful, which is NOT good when one is holding peoples' lives in their hands.

Still, I had a good career for most of my 17 years in nursing, although I never stayed with any one job for longer than a couple of years. I'd either get restless and bored and quit, or I'd get restless and bored and have a meltdown and get fired. And toward the end, my time at each job grew shorter and shorter.....BP symptoms were exacerbated by the stress, and I just couldn't handle it.

[srf1909]

I quit my job during a mixed episode. One minute I thought I wasn't going to make it. The next I'm thinking I can leave and I will just find another one quickly. It took me almost a yr to find another one which just made the depression worse. Hang in there if you can.

[Gray Rider]

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

Yes, I did have to get out of nursing entirely. I'm way too easily distracted and I can't manage competing priorities any more. I'm also forgetful, which is NOT good when one is holding peoples' lives in their hands.

Still, I had a good career for most of my 17 years in nursing, although I never stayed with any one job for longer than a couple of years. I'd either get restless and bored and quit, or I'd get restless and bored and have a meltdown and get fired. And toward the end, my time at each job grew shorter and shorter.....BP symptoms were exacerbated by the stress, and I just couldn't handle it.

This sounds a lot like my story. I usually quit, thinking the grass is greener elsewhere. I keep hoping to get comfortable and stay in a role longer term but it seems like i burn out within a year. I found out how dangerous stress can be last summer, ended up in a few ERs.

[Mimielam]

Someone once told me..when you are sick, never, never quit a job until you have spoken to a doctor about it..then see.

[Fuzzybear]

(I can relate.. )

[Gray Rider]

Well, I'm still barely making it to work. The depression hasn't lifted yet. I didn't think it would drag out this long, I figured either things would improve or worsen and I'd have had to quit by now.

I am ready to give up on my pdoc at this point but we get along okay. I called the nurse told them my AD increase wasn't helping, she said go to ER because doc can't see me until the 8th. I'm going to call and schedule another T session this morning.