Work and Bipolar Disorder: It has been nine years! Why do I keep thinking this illness is going to change?

Here is what I've learned regarding bipolar disorder and work. 

1. It's hard to work when you have mood swings. So, decreasing the mood swings with a treatment plan (I use my Health Cards system and my books to remind myself how to help myself!) will help you work more.

2. Bipolar Disorder mood swings can be productivity killers. Especially the ADHD components of  the illness.  Mania is seemingly great for productivity- but only if you can harness it into real work!

3. Work abililty may not get better, but YOUR ability to work around your mood swings and the other odd stuff that bipolar throws at you can get much, much better.

So, here I am.

I was diagnosed in 1995. Didn't get relief from meds- in fact they made me worse as I was given anti depressants like candy!  When I created the Health Cards, I was able to work a lot more- but still only part time.  Then, in 2002 I found my calling- eBooks. I know, that was a long time ago. BipolarHappens.com was the first site on the web to sell self help eBooks!  Times have certainly changed.

But I digress. Here is why my title to this blog post is so true… I'm 47 and there is a still a HUGE part of me that believes my bipolar work issues are going to just go away one day. Becuase of this, I'm way too hard on myself when I can't 'get my act together.'  Nine years of hard work to finally realize- this is it! I think I'm at my work apex in terms of bipolar- in other words, all I can do (and it's what I now do) is work around my mood swings and do my best.  I never have trouble with appointments such as with my coaching clients, but it's the  nebulous stuff I find hard! Thus, one of my tips is to have places you must be and clients you must see.  It's not about quality of work at all!

I am lucky if I can work 25 hours a week. You probably think I work more! I just do all I can on the days when work is pretty easy. Today, bipolar is being kind to me and I'm going to work as much as possible!

I hope to offer encouragement to all people with bipolar disorder: we CAN work, we just have to find out what WORKS BEST for us!

Julie

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