I'm bipolar and can't keep a job

Well I commend you on doing what you CAN do to support yourself with bipolar. Unfortunately I don't have quite the "young thang" body that you probably have, anymore. So that option is out for me. But you go girl! I am intrigued that they even have web cam models though. That's interesting...

Thanks for what you said about my son and how children feel. Gosh, I really hope he isn't judging me. But it doesn't help when my husband tells him that his mom SHOULD be working and not just sitting at home.

I just wanted to tell you that I am not being judgmental at all. It sounds like you've had pretty good outcomes from having that sort of job! If only I were young again or even had the body I used to have up till 6 months ago, when I packed on an additional 25 pounds because of depression.

I appreciate that. I don't tell many people what I do because they can be very judgmental and assume I'm a "*****" when im reality I've slept with 2 guys lol...
It's a bit of a mind numbing job but it's nice to be able to work on my own schedule... I feel really blessed that I look good enough to be able to do something like this because of my mental illnesses if I didn't have this opportunity then I'd be absolutely lost...
I'm just doing what I need to to get by and be a somewhat productive member of society... stimulating the economy.

I'm not sure how to reply but i also can't keep a job. I'm 42 and have never been able to hold down a job. I usually get so anxiety ridden I walk out and then usually regret it. My husband also does not understand, he is the bread winner here. I have a hard time finding jobs considering I can't put down any past experience because i was never there long enough. I can't get disability because they say i never paid enough in to get disability. Not being able to work for so long I apparently haven't paid enough into the system to get anything back out. So I feel lost. A virtual shut in. I have a couple close friends but they don't understand my in ability to work.

I don't know if i'm answering correctly. But does your daughter hold down a job. It is a very cruel condition and I finally feel somewhat better with my meds. Hope your daughter does alright.

Tait, you are not alone. I've been on SS Disability for quite a few years now since I have not been able to hold a steady job, or have been fired due to excessive medical absences due to my emotional instability. Some days I am simply just too depressed and miserable to get up out of bed and if I am feeling as if I literally want to die and can't stop crying, it's a little hard to consider going to work that day when you can't even catch your own breath and don't want to live.

First off, keep trying for disability. I worked for a SS Disability lawfirm and know a bit about the application processes and also got my own disability as well as my father's disability on the first try... I also got my sister-in-law's mother disability due to bipolar disorder by simply helping her fill out her appeal paperwork after she had been denied twice. Usually getting disability on a psychiatric basis is a bit simpler and easier than on a physical disability simply because if your mind is not clear and able to function in an everyday workplace, there's really no other option for you when it comes to employment, no matter what kind of work you want to do. However, you do need to have good medical documentation in the form of lots of medical records, hospital stays, etc. to back you up in that aspect. For example, you can't just say "I'm depressed and have anxiety attacks and because of that I can't work"... if you don't have a psychiatrist or a medical doctor that has backed you up with an actual diagnosis of some sort and medical proof in the form of a history of medical records, then you aren't going to be able to prove that your depression and whatnot is directly the reason as to why you cannot work. You need to prove that your inability to keep a job and work in general is DIRECTLY due to your psychiatric state... no matter if it's bipolar, schitzophrenia, OCD... whatever. And a doctor needs to basically be able to prove with medical records that it is his/her medical opinion that that is the case.

As for the husband situation... I can relate. My first husband was my high school sweetheart and when things got bad with me psychiatrically he divorced me... even after HE was the one who recommended that I take a part-time job and go back to school rather than attempting to hold a full time job... even after he supposedly wanted to be with me for the rest of my life, through sickness and health, and wanted me to get better. So, even those who SAY they understand don't always mean it. You just have to concentrate on you when you are at your worst, hon, no matter how selfish it sounds. You will be no good to a husband/family or anyone if you can't somehow help yourself a bit when it comes to getting medical help for your disorder.

Will you ever be able to hold a job again? I question myself all the time. I recently went back to work for the first time in 5 years and held a job for 8 months until I was fired for excessive absences... all medical in nature due to my disorder. I'm presently going in for ECT treatments in a few weeks, so I'm not worried about even looking for a job until those are over and done.... but just know that there are options out there, but only you can decide what is right for you and what you can handle mentally. Having a husband that is not supportive is not helpful, but all you can do is try... and I give you props for even attempting to hold a job!! It's not easy in our situations. You are not alone.... I've been there and am presently there right now.

Sorry for rambling... if you need to chat, I'm here.

- DH

Yes I have found what seems on the outside to be or appear selfish, well, I suppose in life, a bit of selfishness is actually healthy, it is a dog eat dog world, we can and must think about ourselves feels funny but...........

Have you heard of people who couldn't work so they never paid enough into the system to get disability. I believe i would qualify if I had enough paid in.

I appreciate all the advice you've been able to give me. Thank you much!

I would love to chat with you if you are online and I am online at the same time!! I do have a few more questions since you have worked for SSI Disability lawfirm. If not you can email me at tai.taylor@yahoo.com, I am also on Facebook as well.

every one is turned down twice then has to attend a hearing. If one is turned down there which sounds unlikely for you then they can appeal it. I think you should refile.

(((((((Nicey440)))))))
I know it is possible to get Disability or at least was possible in 1985, if you hadn't paid much in. I was 18 and had only worked part-time in high school for a year and a half, when my father applied for me and got me on disability and have been on it ever since, even through periods where I was able to work part-time.

Don't give up. Getting an attorney is your best bet. Sometimes law schools have last year students that do pro bono work.

I just want to add my opinion. I have a job (permanant) with the City of New York that since I've been out (many many times) with doctors notes, I still have my job. Today I am not at work. This is week 3 of being out, again. I don't like living this way. My T wants my on SSD or SSI but my pdoc says I should work. Problem is here I go again, out of work. I try to go but when I wake up it's so hard to get up cause I can't wake up . I tried taking sleeping pills so I can sleep at night and they don't put me to sleep. I changed sleeping pills and this one has my dizzy today. So I'm afraid of going back to work cause they'll ask me where I've been (coworkers). I don't want to tell them my business. I told in my other location and I was sick and tired of explaining. What should I do?

That's me. I only will get $710 a month and my rent is $950. How could I live...and now I'm living off my savings...cause I haven't been to work in 3 weeks....

Yes i was turned down twice both times they said I hadn't paid enough in. So how do you get help when you've never been able to work? If it wasn't for my husband i would be on the streets. Luckily i've been married for 20 years and my husband tries to understand my reason for not working. Somewhat resentful though i'm sure. We could be in a much better place if I could work.

All I gotta say is this disease BITES!!!!!!!

I am fortybloodythree and have NEVER had a full-time job and only a couple of times had a part-time job. The longest lasted two years, and that came to a big end when ten years ago, out of the blue and with no discussion with anyone, I sold my property and a few weeks later moved 5000 km away.

I didn't look back.

Over the past ten years I have gained university qualifications and have built up a good little business from home - linking up with several other professionals. Of course it is part-time and you can hide a lot of your illness when you don't have people in your face all the time. Plus you can set your own hours.

I have had bad reactions/responses to clients at times and made embarrassing comments and shown odd behaviour choice - but what do you do? It's all part of trying to fit into this world with a brain that reacts strangely to 'normal' life situations. I guess we have to get over our mistakes. And quickly, not dwell on them and beat ourselves up over it forever.

About eighteen months ago my business associate and I became official business partners. I was only diagnosed Bipolar about eight weeks ago, but she has taken it in her stride and 'holds' me down when I am starting to get hypo ...

So I guess there are other options than working for someone else.
Especially in the current economic climate.
But I think the road is going to be tough no matter which way we go. We'll all be forsaking the smoked turkey and instead cracking open the baked beans and boiling up the spuds!

Yes, I think it's safe to say that struggling with employment issues is pretty common among bipolar sufferers. I got to the point where I couldn't even hold a menial job. My attention span and judgement was just not good enough anymore.

SSI can be a struggle. I was fortunate that mine came pretty quickly, but I would have to agree with some of the other posters that the key is to make sure that they have every scrap of paper a doctor or therapist ever wrote about you.

I wish you the best... you're definitely not alone here.

How could a pdoc dx you with bipolar and then call you lazy? And when I say I'm lazy at another session he says "yes you're lazy! You don't have mental illness and then writes a prescription for a mood stablizers?" I don't get it....and don't tell me to find another pdoc cause he's been there whereas I can't even get an appointment never mind come in at a moments notice...help! Maybe he's trying to play psychology games with me to snap me out of my depression....

I am also struggling with work issues. Again I was off for 3 weeks, I finally got back to work this Tuesday....so it isn't even a full week. I tried for SSI and as the process of going on the pdoc said he thought I'd be better off working cause it would be good for me. So I went back in July and it was great until they started changing things...and around Dec. my depression made it hard to make work everyday....and then I went to visit my granddaugher and when I came back to work..in Feb I started missing again up until 3 weeks ago I didn't go at all. I'm back for 4 days....Please help me stay on track. Any words of support are highly appreciated!!!! Thanks....I want to keep my job!!!

Hi, its me Tait, the initial poster of "I'm bipolar and can't keep a job" thread. I wanted to know if I even stand a chance at getting SSI disability because of my 37 year old age and because I am married? I also want to know if having part time jobs while waiting for SSI disability will affect me getting approved?

It's very difficult holding down a job when you can't think half of the time, when you're up one moment, and down the next...I can barely hold down my life! I guess I was lucky getting disability on the first try and without it I'm not sure what I would do. It's extremely difficult communicating with people and trying to act "normal" while they whisper quietly in the corner....

However, I must say it is very, very sad! I had a great career and feel ashamed that I may never get that back!

TJ

I'm following this after being fired yesterday from the second job I've had in7 months. It's very discouraging.I'm struggling with my bipolar today from the stress. It isn't right. I have an eeoc complaint on the first one.well see how it goes.