[Jennyanydots]

Hi,
For those that work, what type of work do you do? I'm a business analyst/project manager and have continuously worked since I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 10 years ago.

Have you found certain jobs easier/harder to work with bipolar? What do you find to be the most challenging?

For me, just getting out of bed and going to work when I'm feeling depressed. Luckily i work for a large corporation that covers 3 months FMLA/disability ever 12 rolling months so I can take off a month if needed or time off when I'm manic and hospitalized. I'm pretty lucky to have that benefit.

[bpcyclist]

I am retired but wld love when the plague is over to volunteer at the homeless shelter cleaning maybe or something a few hours a week.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Im a direct support specialist for a local community mental health system. I work in a staffed residence for three guys with mental illness and intellectual disabilities.

[FluffyDinosaur]

Researcher. The closest to ideal I can think of because I can make my own hours and work when/where I want. Goals are mostly long-term. Makes it easier to compensate highs and lows.

[*Beth*]

I used to work in a cafe, worked there for 15 years - p/t. Until covid I was facilitating a NAMI support group for several years.

Can no longer work, so I'm on SSDI. I do help my husband run his online book store, which he's done for twelve years. For me, that involves typing.

[Jennyanydots]

I'm just curious, are you no longer able to work due to bipolar? What became difficult to not be able to work?

I've been laid off 3 times and was on unemployment each time. During those times I became so depressed that I thought I would never be able to work again so I applied for SSDI twice during two different periods of depression. I was awarded SSDI both times first try (without a Lawyer) but I decided to work both times. i have very severe bipolar I so getting approved was not hard for me. I've been hospitalized over a dozen times in the past 10 years.

For me, working from home has helped me a lot to work while having bi polar.

No judgement on those that can't work, I was initially posting in regards to what jobs people do work while having bipolar. I've read that some jobs are better than others for people with bipolar.

Originally Posted by BethRags

I used to work in a cafe, worked there for 15 years - p/t. Until covid I was facilitating a NAMI support group for several years.

Can no longer work, so I'm on SSDI. I do help my husband run his online book store, which he's done for twelve years. For me, that involves typing.

[Trippin2.0]

My Pdoc put me on disability in 2018, (here your Pdoc applies and younger it, you don't need lawyers) so haven't worked since then. It's an annual temporary arrangement so will be reviewed again in October...

Before that I thrived in administrative type jobs, not just because the hours were stable (working shifts landed me IP) but because I genuinely like organising everything and making sure things are running smoothly.

For now I am volunteering for an NGO which my sister is a member of, so I am not only an active volunteer but also helping out with their admin and I charge them a small fee for it because it's nothing hectic.

I am currently looking into working from home, as I can't stand being unemployed. Not only does my personality not allow for me to be perpetually broke, but I get so bored I feel my IQ points dropping

If it wasn't for my brother discussing his Quantum Computing course with me I'd be a vegetable by now. Hehe

I lost my last job after showing up to work in a tiara and subsequently firing my boss.
Bwahahaaaaa

He told me "Ophelia, you're manic as all eff, I think you need a week off"

I was so out of it I declined his offer and quit instead.

The mania was triggered by high amounts of stress and being completely overwhelmed by my job and my life (mom with breast cancer and dementia)...

So Pdoc said it was time for me to take a break from the work force.

Hopefully I will be able to freelance doing transcription, as I feel working my own hours will do me the world of good, and pdoc agrees.
Also I can't stand the thought of working front office again (too much pressure to look and behave perfectly allllll day when I'm depressed, I and can't find a back office job for some unknown reason)

I work on a small farm. It's my boyfriend's family's so they're all very nice to me and very understanding. This week I needed some time off because the cycling is just too much, and I need a break, and it's really no problem. I love everyone there

[Treyfrancis21]

I work as a general manager at a multi million dollar a year climbing hold production company. Been here 6 years and things have improved with work as I have gotten my illness better reigned in. I manage several departments, do all the design work, photography, social media, backend website work, and several other production related positions in the building. I've found my place. My boss is a firm supporter of positive mental health, so I fit in well.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Jennyanydots

I'm just curious, are you no longer able to work due to bipolar? What became difficult to not be able to work?

I've been laid off 3 times and was on unemployment each time. During those times I became so depressed that I thought I would never be able to work again so I applied for SSDI twice during two different periods of depression. I was awarded SSDI both times first try (without a Lawyer) but I decided to work both times. i have very severe bipolar I so getting approved was not hard for me. I've been hospitalized over a dozen times in the past 10 years.

For me, working from home has helped me a lot to work while having bi polar.

No judgement on those that can't work, I was initially posting in regards to what jobs people do work while having bipolar. I've read that some jobs are better than others for people with bipolar.

Hi Jenny, First of all, I loved my job and I was an excellent employee. I was the night shift manager at a funky, indie cafe and felt like I really fit in there.

I was able to work only part-time because of delusions caused by severe anxiety that made it very difficult for me to be away from home. I don't think that was about BD as it was about trauma issues. The exception to that (PTSD) is med side-effects...i.e., cognitive difficulties (which have become a real problem) and other med side-effects.

So I've been approved for SSDI for BD, PTSD, for med issues, and for a physical reason. The job I worked at for so many years beat the heck out of my body. I have many chronic pain issues but specifically, I have had tears in my rotator cuff (shoulder) and in my achilles tendon. I had to have surgery for my achilles in May and it will take about a year before my achilles is healed enough to walk normally. But I would not be able to "do my usual work" anymore.

[hurricaneroll]

I am a hospice nurse. I enjoy working and find that keeping busy at work helps me a lot with my disorder, it gives me less time for my brain to race.

[Crook32]

I am a Materials Scientist and lost one job because of my mental health but found a better one. Unfortunately the three years of abuse I took at the old job left me with ptsd.

[Living in LaLa Land]

Teacher/writer (on the side)

[bizi]

I am a registered nurse, self employed....give pedicures to the elderly in their homes. same job for 21 years. having a boss again would not be possible.
bizi

[Jennyanydots]

I loved reading about all the different type of jobs you work. I find for me, having a lot of flexibility in my job (flex hours, wfh and avail time off for episodes) really helps me work while managing my bipolar symptoms.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Jennyanydots

I loved reading about all the different type of jobs you work. I find for me, having a lot of flexibility in my job (flex hours, wfh and avail time off for episodes) really helps me work while managing my bipolar symptoms.

Yes, thanks for starting this thread- it's really interesting.

[HopeForChange]

I work for a university as a research coordinator. It's the best job I've ever had!!

[scatterbrained04]

I'm a practice manager for a podiatry group. I think the hardest thing for me is working quite as many hours when I get in episodes. Also my ability to concentrate can suck at times, so I've had to learn to juggle my work load around that.

[Aviza]

I work part time as a chiropractor assistant. I'm on SSD. I've tried working full time stress gets to me, too political can't handle it.

Debating about trying again. But i have good brain days and off brain days. Been advised I should get into mortgage sales, but it's commission. Not sure if i can handle the pressure.

[all74]

I’m a paediatric neuropsychologist, self-employed. I love my work, though it can be very stressful at times. Thankfully I have a great psychiatrist and an awesome therapist. I see my therapist twice a week, which is very stabilizing.

I have wondered how long I can keep going at full-time. I’d rather cut down to part-time voluntarily rather than b/c my illness forces me to.

[Jmayfair]

I've been working at my local phone company for the past 24 years.

[Scooter9]

I currently work at a hospital and I'm a developer. At the moment, I help improve patient outcomes by making treatment data available at the right time and place.

I'm also a writer having authored a few technical books and working on one now.

I get short term relief from my depression when I'm deep into writing.

But my job is pretty stressful and doesn't help my bipolar, but I manage somehow.

I love my job and want to answer your question here, but as many know where I live and it is a small industry, I'd feel a little too exposed. But for any wondering, it's not a job that particularly lends itself to being a good BP choice, at least for many, so you're not missing anything lol.

For me, it is about perfect though.

I'll PM you.

[Gabyunbound]

I'm a certified Spanish Medical Interpreter.

Most people don't know what that is. I interpret for Spanish-speaking patients that we refer to as LEP (Limited English Proficient).

I have worked at different hospitals all across the country, always large teaching hospitals. But what I do is always the same: I serve as a bridge of communication, lessening the language barrier that exists between these patients and their health care providers.

I interpret for inpatients and outpatients.

It can be very stressful, going from one patient to another all over the hospital. Because you interpret everywhere, you need to know medical terminology (and some medical knowledge) from every specialty and regarding every malady there is. This includes interpreting for psych: inpatient and outpatient.

The most stressful part is giving bad news. That never gets easy. And I have been present at the moment of death. It can be heartbreaking.

About 5 years ago I decided to start working part-time instead of full-time. I had become pretty unstable, having episodes closer and closer together.

Working part-time has been a godsend. I'm still doing what I love, but with tons less stress. It was the right decision. I have been far more stable since.

Lastly, I have never revealed what I do on PC because it's pretty unusual and I don't want to be 'outed;' being anonymous is very important to me. But here goes!

[Merlin]

I work part time as a health care aide in a psychiatric hospital. I’m a casual float, so work occasionally on many units. I would like to get my heath care aide certificate so I can work at another hospital on a med-surg unit or similar, still as a casual worker or 0.4 or less of full time. I’m on disability since I don’t work many hours and am sometimes off for months and not eligible for EI.