Coping With Work and/or School

Thanks to Kate D. for this submission :)

I just want to encourage anyone who is thinking of school...I think it is wise to get as stable as possible on your meds first, but I went back to school after being diagnosed and am almost through my Ph.D. now (and I am bipolar)...so it can be done...don't be discouraged. The key for me has been good time management and realizing that some days are better than others, and I may stay up later than some folks to get a paper done, but then I have to sleep more the next day to avoid getting manic...and I picked a schedule that forced me to go to school most days so I couldn't just hang around the house and get depressed. If anyone has a specific question or concern you can email me at the address above.

I would encourage anyone to go to school because I think people who are bipolar can often do work more quickly and creatively than their classmates...this has been the case with me and it gives me one thing to hold onto no matter what else happens in life...something to be really good at, and that is important in a world where you might not always fit in.
--Kate

Thanks to Scooter for this submission :)

Do not under any circumstances work night shift. I did, and the damage was irreparable. A regular sleep schedule is so very important to coping with bi-polar. If you are currently being treated for BP and you are working a night shift, I would strongly suggest that you discuss how this might be detrimental to your treatment with your doctor. It is not worth it. I didn't understand how sleep disrpution was making me more crazy. It almost killed me. It has taken me a long time to find a job that works for me. I now work only days, sleep on a regular schedule, and have a happy life.

Thanks to BC for this submission :)

When I was working in the hospital somehow I knew instinctively to keep my mouth shut. If you ever admit to a mental disorder when applying for your nursing license, it stays on your record and they want updates from your pdoc about how you're not going to kill anybody, etc. To me it's not worth coming out of the closet.