[earthangel1]

I am starting a high stress job as a chaplain in a prison. There will be fights and nasty confrontations. But this is what I've wanted to do for a long time. And I went to ministry school for this. The main problem is I'm still manic. It's been a month and 1200mg of lithium and 30mg of abilify is not making it go away. I don't mind being somewhat hypomanic, but every couple days I have a psychotic episode. I really need help, but I am supposed to start this job which I am really excited for. I start it next week. My pdoc says my bipolar 1 is more severe, which I don't really know if there is severity. You're either bipolar or you're not. But I am just trying to follow what he says. I just hope this mania doesn't get in the way of this job because it really is my dream job. I will be doing inner healing and healing prayer for the inmates. Should I talk to my pdoc about adding Depakote? or maybe switching antipsychotics?

What an admirable goal you have. I don't know many people who would be able to care for others in this way.

I can understand your dream and desire to be in this job. I was a youth pastor for two years and it was my dream job, went to ministry school for it and everything. But it was SO high stress that I ended up crashing and burning because I didn't know how to care for myself.

Overall if you can learn some self-care strategies to practice while you're under stress or to help relieve stress in your down time I think you'll be able to handle it. But the psychosis gives me pause because that can be dangerous if it comes up on the job. Maybe this is the right job at the wrong time.

Just remember you can only give other people something to drink from a full cup - meaning you have to take care of yourself before you can care for others. You want to be the healthiest version of yourself before you are put into such a high stress situation. My doctor told me that the medicine takes time to even you out - like 6 months to a year. Can you take a couple of months off to allow the meds to stabilize you?

[PumpkinPieHead]

I wanted to congratulate you one your job and tell you that is awesome that you have such an admirable goal. That will be some fulfilling work for you to do.

Check back in and let us know how you are feeling and how the job is, ok?