[Crook32]

Do you think you would like a bipolar boss? What are the pros and cons? Would you let them know that you are bipolar as well?

[sarahsweets]

How would you know if your boss was bipolar? Do you mean if the boss told you they were bipolar?

Maybe, but probably not. On one hand, the person would be understanding of your mood swings and probably give you leeway on projects, but on the other hand, you don't know how they are when manic or depressed. You only know you. I'd be afraid of the unknown because some people are VERY socially destructive when manic, or they could start a bunch of new projects and force you to do them all at once. Just a million things could go wrong.

I realize that maybe one of my future bosses (or past bosses?) could have bipolar and I wouldn't know it, but if given the choice, I'd have to pass because I like to minimize risks. No offense.

[fern46]

I'd be happy to work with a lot of you... I've had the opportunity to speak with several highly intelligent and perceptive people who show great empathy for others. I think those are solid qualities to have in a boss. Every boss I have worked with has gone through their share of emotional and medical struggles. I supported them in those times the same way they supported me through mine. A diagnosis wouldn't change that.

I think the pros and cons are dependent on the person. We all share some characteristics, but every person I have met with bipolar disorder is wildly different from me in so many ways. We are highly varied.

I don't know if I would disclose anything right away, but I tend to form strong friendships with my coworkers. I imagine my history would come up at some point.

[Crook32]

I googled her and the other supervisor so I would know their background before my interview. She posted on a website about being bipolar and how she handled it with her boss at work. So that is how I know. I am not planning to say anything about it I was just curious if people thought it might be a good or bad thing. I know my current bosses have no empathy and I thought maybe someone who has been through it might.

[sarahsweets]

Hey @Crook32: Thanks for clarifying how you came to think your boss is bipolar. I know you were not trying to offend anyone I was just concerned that you would be observing behaviors and then guessing or assuming the boss was bipolar. I’d hate to have behaviors of a bad boss attached to the bipolar diagnoses because very often people hear about bipolar and use misinformation to slap a diagnosis on someone. So I understand better now. Bipolar is the soup du jour lately. So many news stories about people committing violence and the media is quick to point out that someone was bipolar- like linking the two. Bipolar doesn’t mean violence.

Originally Posted by Crook32

I googled her and the other supervisor so I would know their background before my interview. She posted on a website about being bipolar and how she handled it with her boss at work. So that is how I know. I am not planning to say anything about it I was just curious if people thought it might be a good or bad thing. I know my current bosses have no empathy and I thought maybe someone who has been through it might.

[bpcyclist]

Speaking as one who was a bipolar boss who became flagrantly manic and then psychotic while running a couple of businesses, do you happen to know if there is any kind of emergency plan in case the boss becomes really symptomatic? Is anyone there sort of , I don't know, keeping an eye on him, for lack of a more subtle phrasing?

[~Christina]

Oh looking back to my 20’s I worked for a Doctor with Bipolar. At the time I just plopped him in the “ God complex with whiney moments” category.

But we got along fine , I had Bipolar back in the day , I didn’t realize it. I wasn’t diagnosed until age 43 and haven’t been able to work since unfortunately.

If there is every a way for me to return to working I would not disclose my Bipolar at all Nope nada ain’t gonna happen.

As for winding up working under a Bipolar boss ?? Unless they came right out and told you they were you’d probably never know. S/he could show lots of possible symptoms or it could just be there normal behavior and nothing to link to a mental illness.

[sophiebunny]

I had a director who had borderline personality disorder. She really liked me...at first....and wanted to spend all kinds of time sharing her personal problems with me. I got comfortable being her confidante. When she found out I had bipolar 1 disorder, she became my worst enemy and made my work life a living hell. I had to hire an attorney for violations of the ADA. She found out I had bipolar disorder because HR told her. I had to be out on short term disability leave because I was hospitalized for 8 weeks with a brutal manic-psychotic episode and anorexia. When I returned I was stripped of responsibilities. Verbally humiliated in staff meetings. She THREW THINGS at me. It was nuts.

The moral of my story...jealously guard your bipolar diagnosis in the workplace. It will come back to haunt you.