Bipolar Disorder and Work

I'm actually supposed to be working right now, but thought I'd take a break and write down some of my thoughts.

I worked as a professional office temp for 13 years, which was an easy way to disguise the fact that I couldn't stay at any one job for longer than 6 months because of my bipolar disorder. I was also a respiratory therapist for 7 years, and then a medical transcriptionist up until I was diagnosed with BP.

I was one of those over-workers, however. I would go in early and stay late. And my OCD, at least the perfectionism of it, hurt me in my work, and in myself.

When I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, though, I could no longer work outside the home at a regular job. It just became too stressful for me to work. It's hard to try to be perfect like I did.

You've heard of the expression "work smarter not harder?" Well, I was one who worked harder, to my own detriment. I was stressed all the time.

At my last job, working as a medical transcriptionist, I had been going into work, grabbing my coffee, going into my office, shutting the door, and crying for 8 hours a day. I still got my work done, but I cried all the way through it.

After 2 weeks of this, my supervisor walked into my office and "caught" me, and the next thing I knew I was at the institution, where I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

It's not that I can't work, but I just can't work outside my home. Too much stress. Not just dealing with the job, but also the people as well.

So I went on Social Security Disability. Which, of course, is not enough to live on, so I got this job writing for www.bipolarcentral.com. The best part is that I get to work from home, where I feel safe and secure, and rarely get stressed. My hours are flexible, so I can take all the breaks I need to tend to my disorder.

If I have a bad bipolar day, I can be honest with my boss, and I feel lucky that way. If I have to take the day off, he understands, because he deals with bipolar disorder and people with it every day.

If I didn't have my job, I would still have to be productive in some way or another, or I'd go batty! I need something to do with my time so my thoughts aren't centered around me, but are instead focused on other people, and how I can help them. So I would do more volunteer work. I still fit in some now, but I would do more. It helps me feel productive and helps with my self-esteem.

I usually tell people who ask what kind of job is best for someone with bipolar disorder to find a work-at-home job or to start your own home business, where you're the boss. That way you have all the flexibility you need to work and still control your disorder.

What about you? Do you work? If so, what kind of job do you do? What do you do when you're stressed?

Wishing you peace and stability,

Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele