[Thriving101]

Does anyone else have problems keeping a job for a long time? Does anyone have mood swings at work or have trouble showing up some days when depressed ? Just curious ?

[*Beth*]

Up to a few years ago I worked at a job for 15 years (same job). But I worked part-time. I could not have held down a full-time position, no way.

Hi Thriving! I've been on disability for my bipolar disorder for a long time. I've collected SSDI for about 8 years? Before that, I was on and off short-term and long-term disability for 3 1/2 years, attempting to return to work on a number of occasions. I had had that job for almost 10 years before I became fully disabled. However, I had lots of mood issues occur during that period. Usually my productivity and work quality were excellent, but my behavior was up and down. Just prior to my 1st hospitalization, I was so manic that six of my work colleagues went together to HR to wage a complaint/concern about me. They threatened to fire me, but didn't. I was in the hospital then IOP for over 6 months. Then in and out of hospital/IOP 11 more times. Scary! Scary!

I'm one of the bipolar types that experiences elation, extreme irritability (to put it mildly), grandiosity, impulsivity, disinhibition, etc. That's problematic in life. Really, those symptoms affected past jobs in various ways. Also, sometimes my mania made me so extremely project-driven, and in overdrive (taking on monumental efforts), that I would basically be driven to a major crash. That's what killed my last job, and likely my work life. It was a combo of glory and tragedy.

If a job was too slow, I got stir crazy and quit, if I couldn't create my own projects. I would get furious at having reprimands because of my manic behavior. If I decided I didn't like something anymore, I would quit, even if it meant losing a lot of money. That happened to me when I was working in Taiwan R.O.C. There, I became depressed and the boss had to take me to the hospital. Then they gave me medications that clearly triggered a mania. I quit the job and started traveling by myself in Hong Kong and Thailand. I thought I would work in Thailand, then I got robbed and decided to go back to Taiwan, which felt safer. Then I got depressed again, and came home, but bought an open-ended ticket back to Taiwan. I ended up staying in the US because I met my husband. I had a few temporary jobs, then I settled at a couple for a few years before the 10-year job.

I somehow managed to get through college in 4 years, but had to really take huge course loads in my senior year because of a depression in my sophomore year. That summer I had two different jobs in my college town. I got fired from one, then quit another and went to Poland to teach English. I'm glad I managed there, but recall being at least hypomanic. I was manic for part of my senior year. It's amazing I got through it like I did, but I did a horrible thing. I stole my best friend's boyfriend and was a little crazy with hypersexuality. I was hypersexual in Hong Kong and Thailand, too. Part of the reason I moved on to Thailand when I did was because a young women kept screaming at me because she thought I was stealing her boyfriend. [The boyfriends weren't that innocent, either.] I mention this because manic behavior can make one "move on" for various reasons.

Is there a "shaking my head" emoji?

[Thriving101]

Originally Posted by BethRags

Up to a few years ago I worked at a job for 15 years (same job). But I worked part-time. I could not have held down a full-time position, no way.

Full time jobs are very hard for me i have fibromyalgia along with bipolar one and it’s so hard to work

[Thriving101]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

Hi Thriving! I've been on disability for my bipolar disorder for a long time. I've collected SSDI for about 8 years? Before that, I was on and off short-term and long-term disability for 3 1/2 years, attempting to return to work on a number of occasions. I had had that job for almost 10 years before I became fully disabled. However, I had lots of mood issues occur during that period. Usually my productivity and work quality were excellent, but my behavior was up and down. Just prior to my 1st hospitalization, I was so manic that six of my work colleagues went together to HR to wage a complaint/concern about me. They threatened to fire me, but didn't. I was in the hospital then IOP for over 6 months. Then in and out of hospital/IOP 11 more times. Scary! Scary!

I'm one of the bipolar types that experiences elation, extreme irritability (to put it mildly), grandiosity, impulsivity, disinhibition, etc. That's problematic in life. Really, those symptoms affected past jobs in various ways. Also, sometimes my mania made me so extremely project-driven, and in overdrive (taking on monumental efforts), that I would basically be driven to a major crash. That's what killed my last job, and likely my work life. It was a combo of glory and tragedy.

If a job was too slow, I got stir crazy and quit, if I couldn't create my own projects. I would get furious at having reprimands because of my manic behavior. If I decided I didn't like something anymore, I would quit, even if it meant losing a lot of money. That happened to me when I was working in Taiwan R.O.C. There, I became depressed and the boss had to take me to the hospital. Then they gave me medications that clearly triggered a mania. I quit the job and started traveling by myself in Hong Kong and Thailand. I thought I would work in Thailand, then I got robbed and decided to go back to Taiwan, which felt safer. Then I got depressed again, and came home, but bought an open-ended ticket back to Taiwan. I ended up staying in the US because I met my husband. I had a few temporary jobs, then I settled at a couple for a few years before the 10-year job.

I somehow managed to get through college in 4 years, but had to really take huge course loads in my senior year because of a depression in my sophomore year. That summer I had two different jobs in my college town. I got fired from one, then quit another and went to Poland to teach English. I'm glad I managed there, but recall being at least hypomanic. I was manic for part of my senior year. It's amazing I got through it like I did, but I did a horrible thing. I stole my best friend's boyfriend and was a little crazy with hypersexuality. I was hypersexual in Hong Kong and Thailand, too. Part of the reason I moved on to Thailand when I did was because a young women kept screaming at me because she thought I was stealing her boyfriend. [The boyfriends weren't that innocent, either.] I mention this because manic behavior can make one "move on" for various reasons.

Is there a "shaking my head" emoji?

Bipolar is a pain I’m sorry you went through all of that! It’s hard for me to keep jobs too I too get bored easily or I’m super tired or overwork myself Bc I work really hard when my mood Is up. I’ve had many little jobs I could never seem to keep a job for too long though just small jobs here and there I haven’t worked for a really long time I’m scared to get back In the work force I don’t want to get fired or can’t show up Bc my moods can be all over the place. I feel bipolar gets worse the older I get as well. I don’t know I don’t want to fail I know how bipolar is.

[Thriving101]

Thanks for sharing your story and experience

[HALLIEBETH87]

I worked full time for a long time. Longest I was at a job was four years. Things either are bad at the workplace OR
I became very unstable and had to quit which is what happened earlier this year. I get ssdi and work part time. 16 hours.

I actually have an interview Thursday for a better opportunity. Right now I’m struggling to even get 16 hrs. I get like 4-5 a week using my own gas...$47 bi weekly paycheck is nothing. My new opportunity is for a company I left due to instability and I know the clients already. It’s 16 hrs exactly on sat/sun.

I feel like I’m job hoping but I can’t survive on 4-5 hours. I’m
Highly stressed.

[wildflowerchild25]

I was symptomatic when I was 18-19 and I managed to keep my part time job while in and out of the hospital, barely. I had ECT in 2006 which “cured” me (so I thought). Switched around through part time jobs while getting through college. After getting through college I got my first teaching job and bipolar came back with a vengeance. I took several extended leaves from teaching. Finally got a job at a public school. Was let go. Hired back for the next year. Let go after two hospitalization. Finally got a job as a one to one aide. I did well that year, even though I was working full time it wasn’t as stressful. This year I tried teaching again and had to resign within a month. I now have a full time job as a one to one aide again at a different school. It’s very stressful only because the student I’m working with is tough. He’s very disrespectful to me.

My point is I haven’t had a stable job In my field since 2013. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to teach again, which is very upsetting to me. But I’m hoping this particular job will be my career. I won’t know for years though. I hope I don’t throw it away for something else. That’s what my problem is. I keep quitting or getting fired.

[cashart10]

I held down jobs easily until I had a major psychotic break about 8 years ago or so. Since then I haven’t had any stability for greater than a year or so and the longest I’ve held down a job is 1 year and 1/2 (and that was with a long IOP in the middle). I had to leave my last job in sept due to a manic episode. I am taking my time going back to work and whatever I do will obviously have to be extremely low stress.

[~Christina]

I wasn’t diagnosed until age 43 but looking back Bipolar me and employment ??? Wow

I worked in medical, id take a job and start to do 2-3 peoples jobs so I accidentally cost people there jobs, I didn’t really pay attention at the time tho I was getting raises for doing so much.

I got bored after a year or 3 and would wake up and decide “ I need something new” I knew all the drug reps so I’d ask them who is hiring, I’d call for an interview and on average I’d have a new job with in days or a week. And I’d repeat the cycle over and over. I’d have times of terrible depression but I had bills and a child to raise so somehow I was able to go to work and do my job. I was lucky back then.

I was fired by one Doctor he insisted I pick up his dry cleaning at lunch time, I said okay I just won’t punch out, he said no punch out and do it , I replied “ wow your a **** thinking I’m going to do this, I bet your wife secretly loathes you but stays for the money” yep fired ...... but sooo worth it

Then 9 years ago I woke up in tears from pain.. after months of testing and referrals I simply was told “ it’s Fibromyalgia we ruled out everything” here’s some neurontin and find a pool for exercise. Physically I was unable to work and became suicidal. Got a T and Pdoc and with in 6 weeks or so got my Bipolar label. But it really explained my employment history.

[Jennyanydots]

Before I was diagnosed with bipolar (after my first "psychotic break" I worked at a corporate job for almost 10 years never taking sick days. Once I was diagnosed, and I started having episodes, I lost 2 jobs from my medical leave going past 90 days (FMLA only protects your job up to 90 days, every rolling 12 months). The 3rd job, I was laid off but my boss knew I had bipolar. I struggle in my new job, I take a lot of sick days due to depression. I've been working really hard not to take sick days for the rest of this year and then i will have 40 hours of paid time off. I haven't taken a real vacation in like 10 years. Side note: my goal in 2020 is to save up enough PTO to take a European Group trip for 2 weeks or travel with a bf if I happen to have one at that time...I digress. But yeah, working is very hard with bipolar. Its a struggle.

[Thriving101]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

I worked full time for a long time. Longest I was at a job was four years. Things either are bad at the workplace OR
I became very unstable and had to quit which is what happened earlier this year. I get ssdi and work part time. 16 hours.

I actually have an interview Thursday for a better opportunity. Right now I’m struggling to even get 16 hrs. I get like 4-5 a week using my own gas...$47 bi weekly paycheck is nothing. My new opportunity is for a company I left due to instability and I know the clients already. It’s 16 hrs exactly on sat/sun.

I feel like I’m job hoping but I can’t survive on 4-5 hours. I’m
Highly stressed.

I’m sorry I hope things get better for you! Thanks for sharing

[Thriving101]

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

I was symptomatic when I was 18-19 and I managed to keep my part time job while in and out of the hospital, barely. I had ECT in 2006 which “cured” me (so I thought). Switched around through part time jobs while getting through college. After getting through college I got my first teaching job and bipolar came back with a vengeance. I took several extended leaves from teaching. Finally got a job at a public school. Was let go. Hired back for the next year. Let go after two hospitalization. Finally got a job as a one to one aide. I did well that year, even though I was working full time it wasn’t as stressful. This year I tried teaching again and had to resign within a month. I now have a full time job as a one to one aide again at a different school. It’s very stressful only because the student I’m working with is tough. He’s very disrespectful to me.

My point is I haven’t had a stable job In my field since 2013. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to teach again, which is very upsetting to me. But I’m hoping this particular job will be my career. I won’t know for years though. I hope I don’t throw it away for something else. That’s what my problem is. I keep quitting or getting fired.

I’m sorry teaching can be tough as it is without having bipolar both my parents are teachers. I have tried to substitute before and it was so hard to even do just that and the kids were pretty ruthless to me Bc I was a substitute and They acted out. Hoping for the best for you and the position your at now hope things get better for you I’m sorry that one kid is disrespectful. It takes a special person to teach and stick with it. Just try to Keep looking up! Thanks for sharing!

[Thriving101]

[QUOTE=cashart10;6704529]I held down jobs easily until I had a major psychotic break about 8 years ago or so. Since then I haven’t had any stability for greater than a year or so and the longest I’ve held down a job is 1 year and 1/2 (and that was with a long IOP in the middle). I had to leave my last job in sept due to a manic episode. I am taking my time going back to work and whatever I do will obviously have to be extremely low stress.[/QUOTE

I to am trying to find something that isn’t too stressful I’m looking into trying to find something I can do

[Thriving101]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I wasn’t diagnosed until age 43 but looking back Bipolar me and employment ??? Wow

I worked in medical, id take a job and start to do 2-3 peoples jobs so I accidentally cost people there jobs, I didn’t really pay attention at the time tho I was getting raises for doing so much.

I got bored after a year or 3 and would wake up and decide “ I need something new” I knew all the drug reps so I’d ask them who is hiring, I’d call for an interview and on average I’d have a new job with in days or a week. And I’d repeat the cycle over and over. I’d have times of terrible depression but I had bills and a child to raise so somehow I was able to go to work and do my job. I was lucky back then.

I was fired by one Doctor he insisted I pick up his dry cleaning at lunch time, I said okay I just won’t punch out, he said no punch out and do it , I replied “ wow your a **** thinking I’m going to do this, I bet your wife secretly loathes you but stays for the money” yep fired ...... but sooo worth it

HAHAHAHAHAHA ^^^^^^^ epic!!!!!!!



Then 9 years ago I woke up in tears from pain.. after months of testing and referrals I simply was told “ it’s Fibromyalgia we ruled out everything” here’s some neurontin and find a pool for exercise. Physically I was unable to work and became suicidal. Got a T and Pdoc and with in 6 weeks or so got my Bipolar label. But it really explained my employment history.

Im sorry 😐
Thanks for sharing your story
So are you working now or are you unable to work ? I have fibromyalgia and bipolar

[Thriving101]

Originally Posted by Jennyanydots

Before I was diagnosed with bipolar (after my first "psychotic break" I worked at a corporate job for almost 10 years never taking sick days. Once I was diagnosed, and I started having episodes, I lost 2 jobs from my medical leave going past 90 days (FMLA only protects your job up to 90 days, every rolling 12 months). The 3rd job, I was laid off but my boss knew I had bipolar. I struggle in my new job, I take a lot of sick days due to depression. I've been working really hard not to take sick days for the rest of this year and then i will have 40 hours of paid time off. I haven't taken a real vacation in like 10 years. Side note: my goal in 2020 is to save up enough PTO to take a European Group trip for 2 weeks or travel with a bf if I happen to have one at that time...I digress. But yeah, working is very hard with bipolar. Its a struggle.

Thanks for sharing your story! I hope you get to take your trip!

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by Thriving101

Im sorry

Thanks for sharing your story

So are you working now or are you unable to work ? I have fibromyalgia and bipolar

I’m unable to work due to BP and Fibro but I also have spinal stenosis and PsA so lots of debilitating chronic pain. I’ve always had insomnia but it’s so bad now that I often don’t trust myself to drive when I go more than 2 days without sleep.

Fibromyalgia is notorious for having sleep issues and any sleep we get is typically lousy sleep because our body are always in a “fight or flight “mode. I think that is what researchers need to focus on. Sure neurontin and Lyrica work on hopefully “taming “the nerve pain but that’s more a bandaid and not focusing on the real problem. One day I suspect they will find a cure but I’ll be long gone by then.

I hate not being able to work it’s demoralizing.

[Nevvy]

Before my BP really showed it's ugly head I had a job for 3 years, then worked freelance for...11 years?

Also, off and on at stores and cafes, but nothing steady until now really.

Going on 6 months at my new job, and it's going well. My boss knows everything though and we talk about adjustments when needed (got in there via a special job program for the disabled). I work 32hr weeks and it's okay because I have the flexibility to work from home if it's just really bad for some reason...and I also have the flexibility to give myself insane structure and block my agenda.

Not sure if it's long term going to work (because I'm a hot mess) because it's hard, and if I see how my family is with their BP, I know that this isn't going to work til I retire, but I will hold on as long as possible.

[Thriving101]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I’m unable to work due to BP and Fibro but I also have spinal stenosis and PsA so lots of debilitating chronic pain. I’ve always had insomnia but it’s so bad now that I often don’t trust myself to drive when I go more than 2 days without sleep.

Fibromyalgia is notorious for having sleep issues and any sleep we get is typically lousy sleep because our body are always in a “fight or flight “mode. I think that is what researchers need to focus on. Sure neurontin and Lyrica work on hopefully “taming “the nerve pain but that’s more a bandaid and not focusing on the real problem. One day I suspect they will find a cure but I’ll be long gone by then.

I hate not being able to work it’s demoralizing.

I understand I have fibromyalgia as well it’s really hard to work. Especially during a flare up and any job that has to do with being on my feet to long really hurts me later. I take gabapentin for my nerve pain. I don’t know what the other two diagnosis are but I’m so sorry you have those too 😔 I’ll have to look them up. What’s hard for me is my family makes me feel horrible because I don’t have a job right now. I just feel stuck in a rut.

[Thriving101]

Originally Posted by Nevvy

Before my BP really showed it's ugly head I had a job for 3 years, then worked freelance for...11 years?

Also, off and on at stores and cafes, but nothing steady until now really.

Going on 6 months at my new job, and it's going well. My boss knows everything though and we talk about adjustments when needed (got in there via a special job program for the disabled). I work 32hr weeks and it's okay because I have the flexibility to work from home if it's just really bad for some reason...and I also have the flexibility to give myself insane structure and block my agenda.

Not sure if it's long term going to work (because I'm a hot mess) because it's hard, and if I see how my family is with their BP, I know that this isn't going to work til I retire, but I will hold on as long as possible.

I’m glad your doing well in the workforce! Thanks for sharing! Also I need to find a disabled program so I can have some help if I get a job. I’m just a little worried if I can keep one.

[unicornlady]

Yes, definitely. I haven't been able to keep a regular job for more than 6 months, ever. That said, my current occupation as a freelancer I've had no trouble with, and I've been doing it for a year consistently. At the regular jobs I had trouble showing up when depressed and when manic, had lots of anxiety at work also. Got fired for being a no call no show when I had a panic attack, which I sought medical treatment for and provided a letter, but they fired me anyway. Now I know that there are rights under ADA, you just have to invoke them. You can even use ADA to get your job back after you have quit, if it was due to your mental illness. That would have been good to know at the time - I quit several jobs due to mania, and wanted them back later but didn't know you could call up ADA and get help. So my suggestion is, either exercise your rights and resources as a disabled human, or find a job that is absolutely perfect for you.

[Thriving101]

Originally Posted by unicornlady

Yes, definitely. I haven't been able to keep a regular job for more than 6 months, ever. That said, my current occupation as a freelancer I've had no trouble with, and I've been doing it for a year consistently. At the regular jobs I had trouble showing up when depressed and when manic, had lots of anxiety at work also. Got fired for being a no call no show when I had a panic attack, which I sought medical treatment for and provided a letter, but they fired me anyway. Now I know that there are rights under ADA, you just have to invoke them. You can even use ADA to get your job back after you have quit, if it was due to your mental illness. That would have been good to know at the time - I quit several jobs due to mania, and wanted them back later but didn't know you could call up ADA and get help. So my suggestion is, either exercise your rights and resources as a disabled human, or find a job that is absolutely perfect for you.

Thank you for this and what exactly is ADA?

[unicornlady]

Originally Posted by Thriving101

Thank you for this and what exactly is ADA?

Americans with Disabilities Act, check out ada.gov