Hey, y’all –
Well, I’m back from visiting my parents in Florida, so it’s back to work! I don’t think I’m ready yet, but I guess I’d never be ready — I’d rather be on vacation all the time.
No, that’s not true, either. I think we all need to be productive in some way or another. Especially people who have bipolar disorder.
Most people without bipolar disorder work at a regular job. I was talking to someone who has bipolar the other day, and she wasn’t able to keep her “regular job” after she found out she had the disorder. I could relate to that, because I wasn’t able to keep mine, either. Actually, they fired me.
I really can’t blame them, because the stress had really gotten to me, which is why I went into a bipolar episode to begin with, which led to my diagnosis and, thank God, at least I was finally diagnosed! But I guess I was acting kind of flaky at work, if you know what I mean, before I was diagnosed. So I got fired.
But even if I hadn’t gotten fired, I think I would have quit shortly, because the stress was really getting to me. But the question remains — was it the stress strictly at that job, or would it have been the stress at any job? I think it’s the latter.
Because I know that right now, I couldn’t handle working outside the home. Maybe a few hours part-time, but anything more than that, and my bipolar disorder would kick in. I think the stress would be too much for me. That’s why working from home, writing for www.bipolarcentral.com is the perfect job for me.
Anyway, the point of all this rambling on is this: Job outside the home, or no job… if you have bipolar disorder, you MUST still be productive. If not, you’ll get depressed, and we all know what THAT leads to!
We all need a reason to get out of bed in the morning. If you don’t have a “regular” job, why not start a home business? That way, you can still make money in spite of your bipolar disorder. And, you can be your own boss. Work your own hours. Be home with your family. Even if you’re on disability, it’s ok, because you’re allowed to make a certain amount above your disability income.
If you don’t do that, maybe you can volunteer. I used to work for Literacy Volunteers of America, and I loved it! See, I couldn’t be an English teacher any more, but I could still put my skills to work, anyway. And it was so rewarding. I also taught English as a Second Language. It was so important, because if you can’t read a medication label, how will you know how to take it?
I’m not saying you have to work for Literacy Volunteers, but you could find something that works for you. Whatever interests you, wherever your own skills lie, or for wherever you think is a worthy cause, or for your church or wherever. It uses your time, energy, and gifts; it’s productive, it makes you feel so much better about yourself, and it definitely gives you a reason to get out of bed.
Even if you stay home, you can still be productive. Many people just putter around the house or garden. Others keep a To-Do List (we call it a Honey-Do List down south). Keep it simple, tho — too much on that list could make you feel overwhelmed. But if you keep it just right and you can finish what’s on the list, it will make you feel like you’ve accomplished something at the end of the day. You’ve been productive!
Like my husband, for example — I work all day, so he does the shopping, cooking and cleaning, and he loves it! (he does all the things I hate!) Remember, he has bipolar disorder, too. So, work makes me feel productive, even tho I’m doing it at home. He feels productive, because even tho he’s at home, he’s still working around the house. He has great self-esteem, where a lot of men wouldn’t. But he’s so good at it, where I’m terrible at it, now that the kids are grown.
He calls himself a Domesticated House Husband, and he takes his job seriously! So, in a sense, we both work.
The point is, you’ve got to stay productive if you have bipolar disorder. Especially if you don’t work outside the home, which many of us don’t anymore.
How about you?
What are some of the things that you do to stay productive?
Wishing you peace and stability,
Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele
Glad you got back safe and sound. I hope you really enjoyed your vacation. I am making a trip to Vermont on the 29th. Going back for a friends funeral she passed in February but they are burying her ashes on May 1st. I am going to enjoy the week away from all my health stuff and hopefully it will allow me to not stress while waiting for the biopsy results on my cervix. They are doing the biopsy on the 27th and I leave on the 29th and will get back on the 6th of May.
Hope all is well with you and you didn’t have to much trouble trying to go from vacation mode to work mode.
Melissa
Melissa –
It’s so hard to cope with bipolar disorder alone, much less deal with physical problems on top of it, as you know. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with everything you are, but it sounds like you’re handling it all pretty well, and still keeping your disorder under control (good for you!). Let me know what happens, ok?
Michele
Question for all,
When did your BP start?
They say BP is a adult illness but I think I had it as a kid.
I always felt that something wasn’t right about me.
School counselors would come around but couldn’t pin point it because my mother was very protective. My mother told me to keep my mouth shut when the counselor came by to talk. Who wants to a mentally ill child especially during late 60′s and 70′s? I think my mother was afraid of being found out she was mentally ill too.
I just put my nice face on.
Tell the counselor everything was great.
Be polite and be cooperative.
I taught myself how to hide my problem but its hard when you are discovered.
I work for a public school now as a teacher.
My old BP started to act up.
Team Meeting with a school psychologist in room.
The Team knew I was having a bad day and under doctor’s care but
I didn’t appreciate the intern looking at me like a Curiosity piece.
The school district have been real dolls helping me with my disability when it flairs up.
I can’t work full time and I work as a sub.
Work for 21 days and take a week off.
Liz –
I think I had BP when I was younger as well, although I wasn’t officially diagnosed until my early 40′s. I was diagnosed with chronic major depression when I was 16, though.
Bipolar disorder is commonly first diagnosed between 17-21 years old, but now researchers are finding it even earlier in children as early as toddlerhood.
I had my son diagnosed when he was only 12.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m sure a lot of people can relate (including me).
Michele