Vannin

[Vannin]

Does Bipolar affect a persons ability to carry out a responsible job with stress elements ?

[nlr_tiff]

The short answer is yes it can.

[lindahand]

Depends. For me it does. The medication makes me too tired to work full time and if things start to get too stressful at work I have a difficult time of it. BUT there are many people I know who can work without any problem. It just depends on how well your medication works and the state of your disorder. I have worked high stress jobs successfully for many years before this last episode knocked me on my butt. This last episode has been a toughy to get free of. Still having lingering effects.

[ILADVOCATE]

  It can but one good way to help address that is for a person to think over what reasonable accommodations would help them be able to do the essential function (main responsibilities these terms are from the ADA about employment) of the job and after that are hired (it should not be disclosed until then but at that point if a person requires reasonable accommodations has to be but only with their supervisor who cannot discuss this with other employees) discus how these could be worked out. Also of course it depends on how bipolar affects each person and what the specific requirements of the job are as for what would create stress, hours, interactions with other employees, specific pressures as regards time and job performance, etc. Its best to find out about a job and see if its something that would work out within a person's specific limitations. That can be discussed with a therapist also and there are employment agencies that assist people with disabilities with work skills as well.