Accomodations for Bipolar

I think a lot of us struggle with the idea of what our actual limit is, and when we need to ask for help, or explain to others about our mental health. Accommodations aren't just for the workplace, we have to make for our illness everyday and re-evaluate and assess it sometimes even daily what we're able to achieve.

My questions:
1) How comfortable are you expressing to others about your mental illness? Do you only do it as necessary? When do you deem it necessary? For example, when it's a significant other or a close friend?

2) Do you have a solid support system in place? (includes anything such as psychiatrist, therapist, close friends, family members, perhaps religious figures etc.)

3) In terms of work accommodations, have you ever had to request them? If so, how honest, or upfront, where you about it ? Did you share everything they may need to know or just the pertinent details for that moment? If you have never had to ask for an accommodation or at least divulge some aspect to maintain/improve your work -- would you?



I'll answer my own questions.

1) I'm pretty secretive about my mental health. I have lots of diagnoses and I am a firm believer while the DSM or ICD are tools to help navigate symptomology and sort through areas of struggle... people are people and disorders are organic, and people manifest them differently. They differ in severity and the way they present that is completely unique to the person. Stigma is a huge issue especially with some diagnoses I have. I appreciate having the label, it makes me feel seen because MY REALITY manifests the way it does, and it may not be the PERCEPTION of the lay person, or even someone else with the disorder. I don't like having to "explain my illness" to others. If I have to dilvulge, I keep it simple, I keep it short "I struggle with mental health. You may see X Y or Z from me. I something act in X manner or Y way. I try my best to combat it."

2) My support system is scarce, but I do have the core psychiatrist, therapist, and a few friends. Family is another story... but I'm working on expanding my friend group and adding them as scaffolds as I rebuild my life after a pretty traumatic event a few years back.

3) I've asked for accommodations for anxiety related reasons. They were helpful for that type of job but it with a lot of reservation and I don't think I was treated fairly after divulging my issue. I was definitely looked at as a "weak link" and felt like it was a "terminate as soon as it's applicable" situation. It didn't get to that, because I quit. So, in general -- I don't know how I feel. I have a hard time asking for help when I need it in the first place, let alone when you're looked down upon for asking.

Can't wait to read your experiences!

My responses above in italics

My general tune with work and my bipolar disorder is that it's not anybody's business until it is their business, by which I mean my job performance might be affected or I might have to miss work. In that case, I advise the appropriate supervisors about what's going on and hash out what needs to be done, if anything.

I take the same track with acquaintances. Unless it becomes their business for whatever reason, I don't feel an obligation to volunteer that information. If they ask, I'll tell them. Close friends, confidants and family already know.

My support system is small, but it is there. I have my PsychNP as well as my mother and a pastor who has also been a long time friend. They're my sounding boards if something feels off.

When I worked I never asked for special accommodations. But once when I was suicidal and had to miss work and then started IOP I was manic and foolishly told my immediate manager that I was bipolar. It spread around the entire workplace. I never mentioned it again. I don't tell people about my bipolar anymore! I had to quit my job after eleven years and go on SSDI because I couldn't work anymore. It was too stressful.

I have told people about my anxiety however. One person was particularly curious about it and asked how it felt.

I definitely have a solid support network, between my immediate family, my pdoc, my therapist. I truly feel blessed to have such caring people in my life.

1) How comfortable are you expressing to others about your mental illness? Do you only do it as necessary? When do you deem it necessary? For example, when it's a significant other or a close friend?

I don't tell many people about my diagnosis. When I was first diagnosed, I told some close friends but I wish I wouldn't have (at least at that time). I think the hypomania drove me to tell them more than anything else and, looking back, I'm not sure I would have told some of the small group of people that I did if I had been in the right mindset.

2) Do you have a solid support system in place? (includes anything such as psychiatrist, therapist, close friends, family members, perhaps religious figures etc.)

My main support system consists of my counselor and psychiatrist. They are both fantastic about getting me in when I need it. Right now, I see my counselor about once a week which helps a lot, especially since I can't seem to remain stable for more than a couple of months before hypomania, depression, or a mix kicks in. The head pastor at my church knows as well. I chose to let him know what was going on after my symptoms interfered with my ability to go to the youth group event (a group I am in charge of running).

3) In terms of work accommodations, have you ever had to request them? If so, how honest, or upfront, where you about it ? Did you share everything they may need to know or just the pertinent details for that moment? If you have never had to ask for an accommodation or at least divulge some aspect to maintain/improve your work -- would you?

I have not had to ask for work accommodations but I'm not really sure how I haven't had to, and sometimes wonder if it will get to that point. No one at work knows about my diagnosis but there were times I was barely getting by at work. I especially get nervous about the 3 day, 2 night field trip I have to plan in the fall because the extreme stress I have throughout the planning process-and actually going on the trip-takes a big toll on my mental health. Last fall, I also wasn't the most stable when the trip occurred. I was really worried about getting some bad mania symptoms while I was out of town, leading this trip. I wish I could ask for someone else to run the trip, but it fell on my plate for the first time this school year because I became the only grade level teacher of the subject this trip is connected to...For me, I think the only way I would consider letting anyone at work know about my diagnosis is if I had to be hospitalized and, even then, I wouldn't really want to tell them. There are a couple of times I was worried things were going to get bad enough I was going to have to check myself into the hospital and, each of those times, I tried to think of how I could tell them I was in the hospital without saying what for but couldn't think of anything. If symptoms ever cause me to miss work (which hasn't happened yet, but I've come close), I'd just say I was sick and nothing more.

1. Very few people get to know this. I don’t really have close friends so it’s not really an issue. I would only divulge if necessary, which it has been in the past. I tend to keep people at arms length. I did recently tell my fishing partner because I think he noticed some erratic behavior between med changes and in general and I have alarms on my phone to tell me to take meds. I don’t think normal people do that, I may be wrong.

2. Pdoc, therapist and wife. Is that enough? I don’t know.

3. No, I would never and for a very specific reason. My last manic episode was very public. Once I was stable I realized I was probably going to get fired so I disclosed and apologized for my behavior. I was barely stable even at this point. I got the feeling it did little to help, so I went home, updated my cv and started looking for a new job. Found one 3 months later and moved us halfway across the continent. I don’t think people understand. I’m completely harmless to everyone but myself but I still feel like people would walk on eggshells and I don’t want to be treated differently.

Answered within the quotes

1) How comfortable are you expressing to others about your mental illness? Do you only do it as necessary? When do you deem it necessary? For example, when it's a significant other or a close friend?

By now I have become very comfortable saying that I have bipolar. But I am high functioning and currently asymptomatic.


2) Do you have a solid support system in place? (includes anything such as psychiatrist, therapist, close friends, family members, perhaps religious figures etc.)


I have a rock solid support system but I've worked very hard on it over the course of many years and I had to exclude some people, including family members, who were the opposite of being supportive. I have a psychiatrist who is also a therapist, I had a sleep psychologist in the past when I needed that support, I had an executive function psychologist for some short term help and I can go back to him if I need him on an ad hoc basis, I have terrific close friends, I have distant family members who are awesome (some know about my mental illness and others do not), yes there is a religious figure, so basically I have everything. I also have a wonderful internist who supported me through bouts with suicidality and anxiety in the past, and a host of other medical doctors who, together, have figured out breakthrough advances in my care. I am also very proactive and involved in my medical care.

It was not always like that, but now it is.


3) In terms of work accommodations, have you ever had to request them? If so, how honest, or upfront, where you about it ? Did you share everything they may need to know or just the pertinent details for that moment? If you have never had to ask for an accommodation or at least divulge some aspect to maintain/improve your work -- would you?

I have not requested them, but my manager who knows about bipolar, on his own initiative, changed my work responsibilities to make it less stressful for me. I am very appreciative.

My family all know that I am mentally ill because everyone in my family knows everything about everybody in my family. I don`t tell other people though. I am diagnosed as bipolar 2 and in the past, I have been a self-harmer and my scars are still very visible. A couple of people asked about my scars, and I always have to explain why I don`t want my blood drawn off the arm I self-harmed on. I don`t share about my self harm because I`m deeply ashamed that I did that to myself and a lot of people don`t understand mental illness and can be judgmental.

I have my family as a support system. Mainly my Mom and sisters. Other members of family also are supportive. One of my cousins who has a degree in psychology and worked with mentally ill people who were really bad off also is understanding. My Mom and sisters have also become informed about bipolar disorder and understand it better. Things are a bit difficult for my family right now because my Mom is also ill though not mentally.

I`ve never had accommodations made for employment because I became ill while I was in college, and I have never been able to hold down a job.

I am 74 and worked many different jobs. I have 3 degrees, always worked. DO NOT TELL ANYONE BUT THE MOST TRUSTED PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE. Even then, they may not understand since bipolar is so complex. My highly educated family members still dont get it and are mostly assholes about it.
The worst for us bipolars are the school and other mass shootings that cause prejudice against behaviorally challenged folks. Yes, there have been big movements to destroy the stigma around depression and anxiety since so many people faced these challenges during covid. Kudos also to British Princes Harry and William for boldly speaking out about mental health challenges because of their challenges after their mother Diana's death and her own mental health challenges. These courageous royals spoke out before it was the accepted thing to do so.
This forum, local online support groups, and any folks experiencing bipolar that you meet in real life will be your best sources of support.

Ive been bp2 for decades. I worked my whole life until retirement as a teacher, school librarian, photo editor, etc.
Stigma is less for depression now because a lot of folks experienced it from isolating and anxiety over covid.
However, due to school shootings and other mass shootings, people are still wary around bipolars unless they have known a high functioning or any bipolar personally. I worked hard to get 3 degrees, but always loved school possibly because it's so structured.
I would NEVER ask for work accommodations for bipolar because of the level of prejudice and ignorance about it. I am thinking about getting a part time job so this subject is relevant to me. Before all this inflation, when I felt I would never have to work again, I became overconfident and decided to be open about it at my own doctors offices. What a mistake that was. I am medical advocate for my ex and the drs who know dont take me as seriously. With the ton of malpractice Ive seen in Phoenix (It's boonies. We dont even have a medical school.) they should look to themselves first for any judgements. It's hard living a double life with bipolar, but LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS!!!!!!!

What a shame that you have unenlightened medical doctors in Phoenix. I have never had an issue in NoCal being open about my bipolar with various physical medicine doctors over the years, and have never had an issue not being taken seriously.

I’m bipolar 1 when I moved back to my hometown( small) there were no pdoc available, so I had to tell my general Md doc about the bipolar and ask him to continue the meds. He was amazed I was bipolar cause I was “sane” calm rational. I told him I was stable on my current meds and doing well. I think he always had some level of doubt that I was really bipolar. Even though I signed papers for my medical history to be transferred and my hospitalizations were on there. The ignorance is sad.