Are you a highly functioning person with bipolar disorder?

I consider myself a highly functioning person with bipolar disorder. I'm able to function through daily tasks. I'm a college student who works full-time and have side hobbies to attend to. I never view myself as a victim of my circumstances. How about you?

I used to be. Things got too bad for me and I shut down. Its been years of chaos for me.

Im happy for you.

I used to be, also. In college I worked two part time jobs and had a lot of interests. That's also when I started having panic attacks and sometimes believing that others could hear my thoughts. But overall, I held it together pretty well.

Not anymore. I've slipped so low I can't work. I wake up most days in a panic. I can barely drive anymore. And I used to be fiercely independent.

I am, kinda. I am on disability and live with my mom/share rent though. I'm in college so I have to keep up with that (it's online) I am working towards a degree so I would say somewhat or I'm on my way to being a high functioning person with sza/bipolar

Yes, I consider myself high functioning. It's hard. Each day is a struggle, but I just push my way through.

I also used to be very high functioning and on the rare occasions I am baseline or sometimes manic, I still am. I used to still function even while manic or depressed; I held down a job and successfully started raising my family. But, I had a major psychotic break 3 years ago and haven't been the same since. I'm only 32 years old tomorrow.

I used to be. Now I'm on disability because I can't work---can't multitask, manage competing priorities, or deal with a fast paced environment. It was hard for me to admit that I was no longer high functioning. But now the stress is largely gone from my life, I feel like I'm functioning quite well. However, I know that if I were to try to go back to work, especially as a nurse, I'd probably decompensate quickly.

I used to be a long time ago, but I have not worked since 1998 and have been on disability since 2001. The only thing I do close to work now is I volunteer at the local animal shelter 2-4 hours a week, I work with the puppies and they help me a lot, but it is all I can do to get in there, and I start being anxious about it 2 days before I go in, I make maybe 3 out of 4 times I am signed up for, I love my puppies! If I am in a depression phase I cant go in. I could not even consider working 40 hours a week.

I just signed up for this forum to try and make myself one.

I'd say I'm moderately functioning. I hold down a job, but I have to call out once or twice a month even though it's only 20-25 hours a week. If I went back to school I don't think I'd be able to work. And I wouldn't be able to be a true full time student either.

Happy birthday one day early fellow Gemini (mines on the 4th) Enjoy your day

I would consider myself highly functioning, and I am very bipolar. I've had some rocky stretches, but I've held the same job as a teacher for four years now. I actually have tenure and might be headed toward a pension if I can hang on for another ten years. I will celebrate my 36th wedding anniversary with my wife this September. My children still love me, and i have a handful of friends. I own a moderate home in a beautiful town, and I drive a pretty nice car. I am in reasonably good health, although I have not exercised seriously in about a year. BP rears its ugly head periodically at work, where it manifests itself in my total inability to get along with others. Fortunately, I can withdraw and focus on the students whenever that happens. I am learning to recognize my own episodes when they happen and use appropriate coping strategies when necessary. The most important thing to my recovery, if you want to call it that, is my psychiatrist. He's brilliant, and he's kept me relatively stable for almost ten years. Knock on wood.

I don't work. I have a husband and son I arguably raise well. That said in the last 4 months I've spent 14 days inpatient. I have to see my Dr every 3-6 weeks, I see a therapist weekly with access to him 12 hrs a day. I can't be med compliant to the point I now have a contract between myself as a safety plan. I have to take a shot for their comfort. If I'm not med compliant they can/will hospitalize me. My husband has to give me my meds. However from the outside I have my **** together. So I can't say if I'm high functioning or not.

I'm high functioning. Career and family. Good relationships and treatment compliance.

moogs

I am high functioning. Been married nearly 17 years to an understanding husband. My current job I've had for 3 years, and the job before that, I worked at for 12 years. I have a fast-paced, action packed job, too. It can be overwhelming at times, but I take a deep breath and muddle through. Sometimes I have to "fake it 'til you make it" though.

I'd consider myself high functioning. I've had the same (seasonal stressful) job for 6 years, I've had the same monogamous relationship for 9 years, good car, so-so credit card debt (used to be much, much worse), and am considering going back to school to get my accounting degree. I'm much better off now then i was 4 or 5 years ago.

I'd have to say moderately functioning as well....just diagnosed bipolar in April. This last year was a continuous spiral downwards. I've been married 15 years and at my job for 20 - luckily my boss cares bout me enough to not fire me and force me to get FMLA papers on file. Will see how this goes moving forward..

I would like to say I was, but it's like I've been trudging through the mud up hill. My MI is a blankety blank blank.

I've been bouncing off walls all my directionless life.

I am high functioning but I have a tendency to self-destruct professionally. My personal relationships have also suffered. Staying ahead of it and making the right changes has helped. I was sliding big time until I got some help. Even now, I still have my moments, mostly with anger and paranoia.

I'm extremely similar to BipolaRNurse....I'm an attorney and disabled since 2009. (Hope you don't mind me quoting you).

Thank you. Cyberhug! I'll be rooting for you.

I have faith in you. Cyberhug!

You go, Blue_Bird! Cheers!

Happy early birthday! I hope you have a fulfilling year, you articulate, wise Gemini.

I'm glad that you're stress less now. Cheers to that!