working full time

[cheeklollipop]

Hi everyone
just a little question doesn everyone work full time ?
I do and i find it such hard work getting through the day and the thought of going in the next day and doing another shift just makes me so depressed.Im find it more and more difficult to do my job without making mistakes Ive be doing this job for 3yrs i should know it like the back of my hand but i dont cause my mind starts playing tricks on me.
Telling me member of staff r talking about me and watching me waiting for me to do something wrong then i cant do my work as im thinking about that......Also the longer im away from home the more parniod i get that something bad has happened.
Does anyone else have this problem?
Does anyone think i should go part time?

[misslilly]

I work out of my home. I worked in a professional career for many, many years(16) as I was a single, poor mom. I also went to college and worked weekends. I do believe this had an impact on my mental health. I would have to work overnight shifts(on call) and often go back the next day by noon. Of course like most places the facility was short staffed. This nearly killed me and I started meds. The first thing that I noticed regarding stress was I could not sleep and my thoughts were racing. I have read a great deal about how this stress and life stlye actually changes the chemicals in the brain therefore people need a med at times to help build up the destroyed chemicals to boost mood, relax them etc.... Thankfully as a single mom I learned how to be the queen of thrift. Now recently married I was able to leave the work place to start designing jewelry at home.  I went from some income to no income. Talk about a risk.Now most people can't do this but I learned how to budget in such a healthy, empowering way that my husband is in shock. He tells me I probably could have done very well during the Great Depresion. He is so funny. People are forever asking me how I can be home when our income is not that great. Well I teach them how to live well on the money they bring in.  I knew that for my mental health I would need to use my personal strength of strict budgeting and saving in order to stay sane. We all come to this world with various strengths. I can't do algebra, understand or play sports, fix the car, understand the computer/technology but I can budget. Yes I make sacrifices but they are nothing compared to the sanity of leaving the stress of certain work places. Find your personal strengths and build on them. Lilly FYI-I can play badmiton

[BipolarBear75]

I work 37.5 hours a week. This is so hard. Alot of weeks in a row, I worked three days out of 5. It is increasingly harder but I am trying to get in full time in the government here so....because right now if I take a sick day, I don't get paid and I am a single mom.

When I worked overnight in a nursing home.....that lasted two weeks before I went spiraling down. I lost that job fast and never told them it was because I couldn't handle their hours because I was bipolar (first...I didn't even know then...but I know I didn't/couldn't handle it at all)  I understand what these ladies are talking about.

What about going on some sort of sick unemployment insurance.....and they pay for school?? Don't know if that is an option for you.

[Crystlas]

I am on this newsletter at about.com for BP and this article came to my mailbox.  I wanted to share it with you, I think it will help you some with working and all.  Take care!

http://bipolar.about.com/cs/workplace/a/bl_wp_weez01.htm?nl=1

[Crystlas]

NP!  I understand not handling the pressure of both school and work.  I have to do one or the other, always been like that.  If I have to work full time I take just a few part time classes.  More than that I can not handle!

[cheeklollipop]

I would love to go back to school but i cant take the pressure that comes with it.
I did start a course in electronic engineering but i had to pull out as the stress got to me.
Im not a very clever person due to drug use through high school i dunked off school alot so i missed valuable learning.
Sorry for not replying crystlas i did know you sent a message i only just read it now

[Crystlas]

Yeah, retail is bad.  I was so manic working retail.  Never again!  

[Venora Moonwind]

I work fulltime and I have to admit this is the longest I have held a job for 9 years now.
crystlas is right about the consistant schedule. It is vital to bi polars to work regular daytime hours so we can get rest at night.I have a government job thjat enables me to do this. I used to be in retail and the hours were so inconsistant that I was manic all the time. I went through a 6 month period that  I didnt sleep at all except for catnaps on my lunch and breaks. I burnt out in retail so when the Air Force base here was hiring jet engine mechanics. I went for it. I used to do that in the Air Force and I really loved it. I t is great to work on the engines. LOL when I first went in the Air Force I wanted to work on F15 engines. well be careful what you wish for cause here I am 30 years later working on F15 engines haha.
you know you might want to consider going back to school and try something different. do some research and give it a try. we bi polars are very smart so I am sure there is something that would interest you and keep you interested.
I do get bored after about a year but I have been fortunate to be able to work in different areas at work so I am continually challenged.
good luck.
Love Venora

[Crystlas]

Hey girly that never responded to my message.....((cough, cough))  Just teasing!  I am not working right now but I am earning money by cleaning apartments for my landlady.  Anyhow, I went through a program here called Vocational Rehabilitation.  It allows me the opportunity to have a job catered to my limitations.  I just got my degree in social work, so I am working towards that.  I am waiting for the call now to get started on picking the job that I want.  I have to have structure in order to do well in a job.  So, if you can get a consistant schedule where you can have certain hours to work you might do better. For me I have to have down time in order to sleep at night.  So I want a job that is like 8 or 9 to 5 every day.  That way I have conistancy and a routine.  That major job I had were all sorts of different shifts which threw me into mania due to lack of sleep.  That is how I got diagnosed!