[Faltering]

Does anyone have any advice for how you have managed to hold down a job while bipolar?

I'm 25 and a graduate student currently doing a full time internship at a workplace. I lost my sanity several times in undergrad to get to this point. I was already IP at the beginning of this month and probably need it again. I don't know how I will be able to handle 40 years of this.

[st0psign]

I don't have any advice. but con ****ing gratz to you man for getting your degree. ive been working on mine for 10 years now as an undergrad. still 15 credits short. I lose my mind every semester, without fail, and I have no idea how I'm going to survive in the real world when I'm done.

[scatterbrained04]

I'm admittedly bad at advice, but this is what has worked for me:

Being med compliant and finding a good pdoc who works with me. Getting plenty of sleep consistently. Having a daily routine. Focusing on the work at hand as much as possible and NOT workplace drama. Writing tasks down to stay focused when my concentration goes to crap. Try to stay quiet and away from people when angry/irritated. Lastly, I've been super blessed to have a good amount of schedule flexibility.

I'm BP2 and don't have to contend with mania & psychosis though. That has to be difficult.

[Sliders]

From my experience self care is majorly important. Getting enough (or plenty) of sleep, using gratitude as a way to keep myself grounded, allowing time for leisurely activities outside of work, and not letting every little thing get to me.

[xRavenx]

-Staying on meds
-Having a consistent sleep schedule
-Try to eat something for breakfast/decent diet
-Good communication with supervisor and co-workers to increase a sense of comfort in the work environment, makes the time go faster and reduces stress (I didn't even realize how important this was until later on!)
-Take advantage of any break times you have
-Staying on top of health and make sure you go to appointments
-Choosing a job where you have an understanding, supportive working environment, preferably one that is flexible and offers time off, if you are lucky. Know that if one job doesn't work out, there's lots of jobs out there that may be a better fit
-Reserve your time off for "mental health days" and take them as soon as you experience warning signs, so that you don't burn out. FMLA is also a safety net
-When you do have off, make room for relaxation so that you can go back to the week feeling refreshed
-Don't think about work too much the night before.....that creates so much anxiety, and I've been guilty of that!

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by xRavenx

-Don't think about work too much the night before.....that creates so much anxiety, and I've been guilty of that!

I know someone who used to do that a lot. We'd be hanging out on a Sunday and he'd start complaining that he had to work the next day. I told him he was wasting his Sunday doing that, but he never listening to me.

[wiretwister]

stress was my biggest issue ... would just make me physically sick .... years of numbing meds gave me control .... slowly I have tapered down till now I am on prn xanex only .... still get those issue every now and then ... made a pac with myself if it got too much I would just leave ... if too bad in am would just not go in ... guess I have got to the point I can say f##k it and not care anymore ... I really do not care what anyone thinks about me any more ... when I feel stress creeping in or I start rapid talking and sharing way too much I am self aware of it now .... and I back down ...

lucky for me I had been in this position for 20 plus years before my melt down ... I had a lot of work "credit" built up ... having to start over even now .... probably could not survive ...

my only advice is to learn your triggers and become aware of sutile changes that mean bad is coming ... learn ... listen to yourself ... and put your self and health first .... think of a job as a want to not a have to ... at least tell yourself that ...