[lacerta]

I know this subject is perpetual here, but I need to vent.
I'm in middle of another (mixed) episode and I'm so tired of hiding my diagnosis from almost everybody. I make mistakes at work, I work so slowly. I got in a major word exchange with my mom because she requested me to be happy, but I feel so depressed. So it ended up that my husband told her that I'm ill, not spoiled and I can't help it. Still, she did not talk about that with me, no conversation on this subject.
Though I'm afraid of denial at work, I'm afraid of losing my job or getting another job if anybody finds out. It's a small town where I live and news travel fast.

[Crazy Hitch]

I tried to hide it for as long as possible at work .........

Long story I'll have to post here later on perhaps but eventually I was having to take time off work for my bipolar and yeah it got past the stage of me being able to hide it. I chose to disclose for that reason only.

[lacerta]

I have week or two until summer vacation, but I have to finish some important things until then. But I'm too tired and too busy occupied with thought about opening a business (I know it's bipolar, so I'm not into doing that) that I cannot finish even simple tasks like entering some data in database. Even if I started extra meds they won't kick in untill week or two.

[LettinG0]

Hugs to you......I, too, am having some difficulties at work so I understand what you are going through. To disclose or not to disclose....always such a difficult question for us...

[raspberrytorte]

I've been having trouble at work lately too. And I understand not wanting to tell everyone that you have bp. I'm definitly not telling anyone at work. I hope things get easier for you! Hugs.

[Keegan2015]

Best of luck to you. I've been having a lot of difficulty lately deciding when/how to disclose to people. I've been stable for a few weeks now but have been feeling majorly depressed -- having difficulty focusing on simple tasks, feeling "unlike my normal self"

[Capriciousness]

You know this kind of **** just really pisses me off. We are put in suchhhhh a tough spot. I'm so sorry.

I have a **** ton of feelings on this subject if you go to my blog. Especially the one today and the one yesterday about being angry.

It is just so hard to hear about everyone's struggling and hiding and everything. It just gets me going....

[CopperStar]

With this sort of thing in life I tend to just take the dive.

I mean, the reason people stereotype bipolar disorder in the first place is because the people who do so are simple-minded, highly suggestible lemming types. Their critical thought capability tends to amount to little more than a game of Follow The Leader.

Which actually can give you an advantage in dealing with them, because their number one priority most of the time is to fit in and gain approval, to follow the leader. So if you take on the role of leader and clearly display an attitude that it's a part of life, isn't rare or freakish, doesn't change who you are, and is just something you have to manage the same way diabetics have to manage their insulin, the same people who would be like, "Oh, my, gosh, Becky, look at her mania, it is SO big," are going to be the people, typically, who will follow your lead and mimic back to you that it's not a huge deal, or any of their damned business. Whichever route you wanna take.

[meganb22]

I'm sorry you are having a hard time. I have had lots of jobs because of my bipolar (I would get fired or quit) and have never told about my bipolar/mental illness issues. I really don't know how companies respond to hearing this. It's worth googling about it. If your bipolar is that bad that you miss lots of day/come in late, I would consider telling them. For me, I'd think being fired is worse than maybe vaguely telling your HR department or boss that you are struggling. Being fired sucks and it looks like crap on a resume. I know.

Good luck!

[BlackSheep79]

I first told my Supervisor, not the temp. agency, because I was missing time and I was afraid I would lose my job. He was so supportive and didn't even want to see my pdoc. note because he believed me. If I hadn't told him I would have been fired for absenteeism. I was hired in and have been with the company for just over five years now. He's been supportive through everything I've gone through when I have episodes. I'm really slow but I do a great job and he doesn't even care about me being slow because he knows I work hard. I am on Intermittent FMLA for five years now and I usually go on Med Leave once a year. So far this year I have not.

A couple years into my job I finally just told people. I was sick of the stares when I would miss work and come back. Also, I said **** this, I was born this way, this is not my fault. So many people have came to me for advice or just to vent. There is "the others" that you figure out quickly don't believe in MI. My friend co-workers are so supportive, get me cards when I'm gone. It makes me feel good. On the other hand I sometimes wish I hadn't told people. I don't know why. Maybe it's paranoia, and I feel like I'm being judged. It's a double edged sword. Think really hard about this decision, and my advice don't make a definitive decision when in an episode. This will change your life forever.

[lovejoy91]

I told my HR people my situation and have no regrets. THEY accommodate ME.

[Suburban44]

Just tell HR. Tell them if u need additional accommodations by law. If you say nothing then they will go by ur job performance. Instead of your mom get support from friends & other family

[BipolaRNurse]

I'm glad to see some people getting good treatment from their employers. I disclosed my BP to my own boss in the summer of 2012 when I had a manic episode that I couldn't hide, and it led to my eventual downfall and firing. The worst was when the corporate nurse consultant said to me as I was signing the termination papers, "It's not your fault. Your work habits are consistent with your diagnosis." Well, I did the best I could even through episodes when I was climbing the walls, but it wasn't enough. I don't blame them so much for firing me as I do for making bipolar the reason. They had decided they couldn't make the accommodations I needed to continue working there, so out I went.

As you can tell, I'm still angry about it three years later.....