I am trying to get back to work and find a better job. But what is “better?” I was doing what I thought I loved to do. I have spent $30,000 on my education, and have been working toward this particular career goal for 12 years. I have tried to get out of it as it seems that my major bi-polar episodes have coincided with work. But the more I get away from it the sadder and more detached from myself I feel.
I am currently applying to a job back in my old field – am I doing the right thing? My husband is worried, he got to see things from the outside (and was terrified for me) and was relieved when I began searching for a job that would put me on a more even keel; for instance, I wouldn’t be bringing my work home. The current position I am interested in seems like it may be a compromise because it is more limited hours and it would be more of a collaborative effort with my co-workers. Advice anyone?
Hi, Sara–
Returning to work can be very challenging, but what you say in your second to last sentence about the new job being a compromise, offering more limited hours, and giving you an environment of collaboration sounds like you’re taking the right approach. Your husband has every right to be worried, but if your meds are effective, you keep taking them, and you carefully monitor the situation with your doctor and others, I don’t see why you can’t return to the work you invested so much of your life preparing for.
We have several posts in the Career category that you may find useful in planning and managing your return to work. We wish you the best.
If you’ve returned to the same job after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder or changed jobs or careers, please share your experiences and insights.
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PsychCentral (November 13, 2009)
I was lucky when I returned to work. Management was understanding and helped me find therapy to deal with stress from work. My coworkers give me a heads up when mania is coming on. I avoid triggers when I can and of course I believe in myself, that I can accomplish anything even with bipolar.
I was 10 years into my former career when I was diagnosed BP II. I can’t begin to describe how happy I was to finally have a reason for all my problems. To make a long story short, I shared my good news with the wrong people and 10 days later I was put on Administrative Leave. There was nothing I could do. They had a file documenting my “inappropriate behaviors” and my union gave up as they had a big contract fight coming up that same year. So I left and while I miss parts of my job I don’t miss all the horrible stress. My only regret is that the people that “knew me when” never got a chance to see me healthy and stable. I would live in a card board box before I would return to my former career. Now I’m about to start on my Masters in Social Work and while I’m not sure where the money will come from I know I’m finally going to do what feels right.
I didn’t learn that I suffer from bi-polar mixed disorder (not sure what the mix is), but the psychiatrist that diagnosed me didn’t say bi-polar I or II etc, just bi-polar mix. This was after I had been with a company for 25 years, I was then on 3rd shift, which I cannot handle well. My childre were 12 and 10 at the time. they were suppose to be staying with my in-laws, well they have two special needs men in the family, my children were not getting the sleep they needed for school. So they decided they could stay home by themselves, I freaked. There was no way I could get off 3rd shift for a year and then only if there was an opening in my department.
Not only did I have that problem, but a coworker there was telling everyone my job was so easy, until she had to do it when I was off. Which after awhile was quite a bit. I even had FMLA, four weeks vacation, and still got into point trouble. I went to my supervisors about this coworkers harrassment and even the union, they didn’t do anything about it. Told me that was they way this person was, and just not let it bother me. Well as you know thats not easy for us. So I did something I am not proud of, but I was in a terrible situation, no one at work helping, so I took a doctors slip and changed dates on it. Well my company checked with my docotr’s office and they told them “no they hadn’t written the slip”, which they had, but I had changed the dates to cover a longer period from work. I was fired after coming out of the hospital, no charges filed, my doctor was very understanding aafter hearing my diagnosis.
My problem now, is I have a hard time being dependable. I will go for long periods of time, without missing and then just out of the blue (or so it seems to me) I will just wake up and say I don’t feel like going in today. Or I just can’t drag myself out of bed, I just want to lay there and cover my head up and forget the world, and even myself.
I am always asking myself, why bother. I don’t have inusrance or a job now. I guess because I live in a small community and word gets around. I don’t know if I should come right out and tell prospective employers I suffer from bi-polar disorder or not. I feel that if I do, I am shooting myself down before I get a chance.
My thinking isn’t clear, I feel foggy most of the time. I can’t remember things, until later when I should have been able to tell someone that “hey I worked with autoclaves, or I managed open and closed order files, had to do problem solving, etc”. but it just won’t come to me.
I guess what I am trying to say, is I feel like I have made no progress since 2004. I am stuck in limbo or worse hades. I so want to be a good employee, but I feel like I set myself up for a fall. What can I do to improve this in myself?
Last reviewed: 19 Nov 2009
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