(This is Part III in a five-part series on bipolar. To catch up, see Bipolar on the Job Part I: “Will I Be Able to Return to Work?” and Part II: “To Tell or Not to Tell?“)

Most of the population has managed to overcome obstacles in talking about a host of healthcare issues previously considered taboo in “polite company.” Some people, however, still have hang-ups when it comes to discussing mental health issues. They can’t seem to accept the fact that the brain, like other organs of the body, can become ill. When they observe the symptoms of an ill brain – which can manifest as socially unacceptable language or behavior – they blame the person rather than the illness. Most of this is due to ignorance, and the best way to combat that is through education.

When you’re the one who’s ill, you shouldn’t have to invest time and energy educating uninformed others about your illness. They should already understand and demonstrate some empathy, if not sympathy. The reality, however, is that if you don’t educate and advocate for yourself, your situation at work (or home or school or wherever) is not likely to improve. The more others know about bipolar, the less fearful and more accepting they will be.

So, how do you go about educating your supervisor, colleagues, and others at your workplace? Here are some suggestions:

• Play the role of teacher. Take a non-confrontational approach to presenting the facts about bipolar.
• Start by disclosing your condition to the people you trust most and those who seem more understanding and open minded.
• Keep in mind that you control exactly how much you choose to disclose to each individual. You don’t have to tell everyone everything. Readiness to receive information varies depending on the individual.
• If your employer has a human resources department, consider involving the HR staff in meetings with your supervisor. HR people should know employment law and be able to ensure that you receive any reasonable accommodations you request.
• Describe the way you feel when you are depressed or manic. Nobody can argue or become defensive when you simply describe how the disorder makes you feel.
• Describe common symptoms you have. How is your behavior likely to change when you’re becoming manic or depressed? By describing symptoms, you accomplish two things. First, you let people know what to expect, so they are better prepared to handle any behavioral changes. Second, you enlist them in helping you spot early warning signs, which you may not notice when you’re feeling manic or depressed.
• Be sure to mention that not everything you say and do can be attributed to bipolar. You don’t want a bunch of bipolar police sounding the alarm every time you raise your voice. Let them know that when you’re healthy, you can be sad, angry, energetic, tired, frustrated, and so on, just like anybody else. Most people with bipolar want to be treated “just like everyone else.”
• Point out the fact that with treatment your symptoms remain in control most of the time.
• Keep in mind that it may take some time for the people you tell to absorb the information you provide and even longer for them to accept it and change as a result.

Tip: If your company has in-services or guest speakers, consider inviting a psychiatrist, therapist, or qualified individual from a local mental health group to speak or lead a discussion about mental illness – specifically bipolar disorder.

We would like to know what you think. If you have any additional suggestions on how to talk about bipolar disorder so others will really tune in and accept what you have to see, please share.

Join us next week for Part IV of this series: “Requesting Reasonable Workplace Accommodations” when we reveal reasonable workplace accommodations specifically for employees who experience bipolar depression, mania, or related symptoms.

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From Psych Central's Dr. Candida Fink & Joe Kraynak:
Bipolar Disorder on the Job | Disclose Bipolar Disorder or Not? | Candida Fink, MD | Bipolar Beat (December 22, 2009)

From Psych Central's website:
PsychCentral (December 22, 2009)

From Psych Central's Dr. Candida Fink & Joe Kraynak:
Bipolar Disorder Reasonable Workplace Accommondations | Bipolar Beat | Bipolar Beat (January 5, 2010)

From Psych Central's Dr. Candida Fink & Joe Kraynak:
Bipolar Disorder on the Job | Protecting Your Rights at Work | Bipolar Beat | Bipolar Beat (January 7, 2010)

    Last reviewed: 22 Dec 2009