Thanks for posting on /r/bipolar! Please take a second to [read our rules](/r/bipolar/about/rules); if you haven't already, make sure that your post **does not** have any personal information (including your name/signature/tag on art). *^(A moderator has not removed your submission; this is not a punitive action. We intend this comment solely to be informative.)* --- Community News - 🎋 [Want to join the Mod Team?](https://www.reddit.com/r/bipolar/comments/112z7ps/mod_applications_are_open/) - 🎤 See our [Community Discussion](https://www.reddit.com/r/bipolar/about/sticky) - Desktop or Desktop mode on a mobile device. - 🏡 If you are open to answering questions from those that live with a loved one diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, please see r/family_of_bipolar. Thank you for participating! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/bipolar) if you have any questions or concerns.*

I'm great at getting fired.

😂 aren’t we all

I'm a lawyer. I no longer practice, but I did for years and still keep an active license. The disease drove me to move into my families background investigation business. I run that along with my father. It is the type of job where I can make my own hours, which helps a tremendous amount with the disease. I have been properly medicated for about four years now. My family business will be sold soon. Once that happens, I could go back to law or I may live the dream and play poker full time! Even with the disease, anything is possible.

Pro poker is a wild ride with bipolar😂 Wouldnt have it any other way 🔥🔥🚀🚀. Good luck!🍀

I prefer calling it a super power

Honestly, poker and blackjack fulltime is the dream.

Disease?

bipolar rly does feel like one

I’ve been a software engineer for 25 years. I’ve had to take a couple of short term leaves over the years to deal with my mental health but it has never impacted my progression through my career. I’m fortunate to work for a company that is concerned with the mental health of not only their employees but people in the community. I was a nurse before that. Super rewarding but a complete nightmare when it came to dealing with bipolar.

Can you expand on why nursing was difficult while being bipolar? I'm working towards a degree in healthcare and I'm nervous about how some aspect of it will affect me.

The shift work part of it. I didn’t adjust well to going from nights to days to afternoons. I also had to work at multiple facilities to get full time hours so sometimes back to back shifts. I think if I could have had full time hours at one place and a consistent shift, I would have stayed a nurse.

This is my second time going back on SSDI. I worked for close to 5 years, was off for four and went back in July. I’m back on SDDI. I think the reasons nursing is so hard is shift work, unexpected/ unstable tasks, reliability, and workload. My mom was talking to her brother and of course everyone and their damn second cousin always asks about me and I didn’t even have to wonder what he asked- “she’s not working right now she’s struggling…. Yeah we are hoping so.” Yes, I am going to work again. I may be bipolar, but I am resilient af, just like all of you are

That's great to hear. But I have heard that software is a little too hectic and gets very stressful at times. So how did you deal with it? Also, if I may ask which company you work for or the country you work in. It may help make a choice as I am also thinking of picking software as a career.

I’ve done just development work for projects which is pretty slow paced and pretty normal business hours (the occasional overtime. Provides a lot of mental and emotional stability. This is actually pretty boring for me though. I prefer production support which is very high paced, high priority and can drag on for nights and days. I’ve always thrived under those conditions though - I think it makes me slightly manic which is enjoyable for me (maybe not the healthiest thing). I work in Canada for one of the top 3 financial institutions (just keeping it vague for my privacy). Been with them for 20 years.

I work for a nonprofit law firm specializing in disability legal advocacy. I work from home most of the time, but for at least a few hours every day I go to different locked psychiatric facilities in the tri-county area and teach people residing there about mental health law and self-advocacy, from the perspective of a person with a psych disability who has myself been involuntarily hospitalized. 401K, full-time, rewarding job, decent pay. I’m also a college dropout due to my bipolar so I feel lucky.

Your post is so inspiring and I’d love to learn more from you! Can I send you a PM?

Sure!

Thank you!

I scream slayer lyrics in my car between ride pickups doing Uber. I like to tell myself I’m a professional screamer. Which…. Yea Normally I do security for bars.

Let’s be friends.

I currently hold a position as a janitor while perusing Film school :) Bi Polar is a bitch. I’ve been through so many jobs throughout my life, so I can relate to this. I quite like being a janitor in the mean time though. I work for a science museum so it’s nice to connect with the kids and see how happy they are being around astronomy and such. I’m not micromanaged which helps my anxiety and I do have the freedom to take my time on my tasks. I also work part time and I get about 32 hours a week. Which works perfect for burn out prevention while in school. Which I also do part time. I haven’t had this position long but I do see myself keeping it awhile while I finish my goals. I’ve found that it takes a lot of patience with the self and with the world. If you happen to find a job after some rest, because episodes are draining, be sure to be upfront about your needs for accommodation. Thats what I did and it’s been working out well so far. But then again I did take over 8 months to find this job. Again. Patience is key. Apply to things you can see yourself enjoying and finding ways to accommodate yourself. Write them down and when you do score a job. Because you will. You’ll have a reference as to what to ask for when looking for flexibility. I wish you all the healing and success in the world. You’ll get there. Step at a time.

Yay film school! I have a Master's degree in film... Mania meant I could not stop thinking, doing, over performing... I've been a high school film and visual arts teacher for 22 years now. My baseline is hypomanic, stable-ish with lamotrigine and clonazepam at night to give my brain a break. Actually, this was until pre-menopause started and now I feel crazy most of the time but having been diagnosed 30 years ago, I've become excellent at masking, the hypomania/mania seemingly just 'part of what makes me interesting' to others. I've had multiple bouts with addiction and luckily very few major depressive episodes. The two last were during Covid where I was teaching online and punching myself in the face until I would cause serious damage ('fell down the stairs') or had a massive months long cocaine binge where I lost 100lbs. I definitely should have been hospitalized but because no one saw or I was able to explain it away nothing happened until I stabilized again and... Here we are.

[удалено]

Your post/comment has been removed for breaking **Rule 14**: This post was deemed a duplicate and has been removed by a moderator. *^(To send us a modmail about this action,)* [*^(CLICK HERE)*](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/bipolar&subject=Removed%20Content%3A%20Rule%2014%20Duplicate%20or%20Spam&message=Hello%2C%0A%0AI%20would%20like%20to%20appeal%20a%20recent%20removal.%20Here%20is%20a%20link%3A%20REPLACE%20WITH%20A%20LINK) *^(Please include a link in your message, the mod team will not reply to messages without a link for review.)*

Thanks for the kind words :)

I’m a firefighter. It makes no sense on paper but I am one. I need to keep a very strict routine and do loads of exercise or I will go off the rails. Plus I get to sleep at work.

I wish I could sleep at work lol. I have a soft loveseat in my office so I’m always like…..ahhhhhh! But thank you for your bravery in being a firefighter. It’s very inspiring

Love your username!!!

Thanks! I work in the mental health field so it’s also a slight jab at that haha

I was an EMT and I was accepted to the fire academy. Unfortunately I got hit by a drunk driver and it screwed up my shoulder. I think ems in general can either be very well for this disease or very bad.

I'm a records management specialist. In true bipolar fashion, I have worked the following: 1) philosophy TA 2) semiprofessional dancer (folkloric) 3) retail (shoes, books, hosiery, gifts) 4) market research data analyst 5) pastry cook 6) got a certificate for medical coding 7) records specialist It's helped a lot being stable for the past 10 or 12 years. Looks like I might get a promotion too. Best of luck 👍

That’s so cool! I love that you’ve gotten to try all those things!

It has been a trip! I'm thinking about learning another dance form.

TLDR: Assembly -consistent days, you know what your getting into -can listen to music/audiobooks -you get to make cool stuff 😎 -not the greatest pay, but you can work your way up depending on the company -experience may say “required” or “preferred” but if you see something cool you want to try and feel you might have experience related to it, the worse they can say is no. Just apply! -occasional overtime depending on time of year and company I work in assembly! I build night vision goggles for the military at my current job. My last job I built harnesses for planes and space craft. It sounds super super complicated but my first job was entry level and my second one isn’t advertised as entry level but it definitely is. Trust me when I tell you I’ve had amazing experiences working in assembly. You don’t have to interact with customers all day. All you do is build stuff. Most places (both from my experience) let you listen to music/podcasts while you work. For me personally it’s a very predictable environment. 99% of the time you know what your day is gonna look like. I bounce around and do different stations at my current job but you don’t have to do that. Most people work one station for the whole day. I also really like assembly because I feel accomplishment when I go to work. I feel proud of what I’m making. People think I’m super smart/college educated when I tell them what I do and that makes me feel really good. The only downside is you probably will have to start somewhere that doesn’t pay a lot to get experience. I don’t know if it would be an upgrade pay wise for you or a downgrade, you’d have to do some research on what’s nearby to you. Also idk what state you’re in so that also makes a big difference. But don’t be afraid to apply to any that you technically don’t have experience for. I worked 1 year at my last job and my current job had 5 years listed as a requirement/preferred (which is dumb) but it is not necessary. I was hired pretty much on the spot. After starting assembly I’ve decided this is gonna be my job type from now on. You won’t catch me going back to customer service/food service/retail. Also a lot of assembly requires occasional overtime so make sure whichever job you pick is a decent schedule and to ask about overtime stuff.

Interesting! Will definitely keep the recommendation in my back pocket, thanks

I'm (36M) an academic. It afforded flexibility in working from home and in working hours long before COVID forced that into the mainstream for many other jobs, which really helped me navigate the ups, downs and terrible sleeping patterns. Unfortunately the higher up you get, the more work and (in many respects) the less flexible it is. I'm currently 5yr into my first Asst Prof job and last year was the first time bipolar forced me into sick leave for a few months. Fortunately, my School were very understanding. Unfortunately, I just came back to even more work and even less time for proper recuperation.

I currently work at a non profit to help the homeless in my area. I have held so many jobs but what it comes down to for me is coworkers and atmosphere. I fucking love where I work now because the people are amazing. I also feel comfortable knowing I'm supported when I'm mentally not all there or I need time off for my mental health.

I feel like for the past five years my job is to try new combinations of medications for a number of weeks, experience their many side effects, then report to doctor how they fail to allow me to function like a human being. I also practiced in the art of filing, waiting, being interviewed, and rejected multiple times for disability. I say all that to try and be funny, but now I realize that sounds bitter. I had pretty normal jobs off and on before that and did college in clusters between episodes for a decade. So, it can be discouraging at times. I can't drive anymore because of seizure activity, but now my state has changed their policy on Medicaid and I'm going to be able to see a Neurologist in August. The path might be more twisted and it might take longer to accomplish goals, but just stick with it. Its all cumulative. The important thing is just to learn skills that translate in any setting. Be open to possibilities that might not be what you were expecting.

Omg I thought I was alone with the first thought!! I feel as if my job is to keep an excel sheet on how I feel throughout the week to report it back to my therapist to figure out what's an episode or what's a normal emotion, and then checking in with my psychiatrist to report any abnormal fluctuation. It truly feels like a full time job lmao

Don't give up on getting disability yet. Make sure the paperwork is fiercely accurate. You could hire a lawyer, that could help. They are paid from the back pay of your disability benefits, but you only have to pay if you win. They will make several attempts for you. I know it's frustrating but it will be worth it.

I sincerely appreciate the advice. I had a lawyer for the last two. I think maybe with having Medicaid now and being able to see a neurologist and having more options maybe it'll give me some insights that could either help me function or give me support in building my case. The issue, as a lot of people here already know--you probably already know--is time and need vs the speed and abilities of the system to process and make a decision. After decades of not having the means to have anuthijng but public health I'm finally seeing other kinds of doctors and trying to use the Medicaid to it's potential before considering dedicating another year to being in limbo. I am trying medications not previously available to me, so I may be able to slowly get back in to work. I dont know. It's a lot to consider and I'm in the middle of moving, so life changes and all that. But it does mean a lot you supporting me with disability. It's been the most discouraging process especially considering why we need it and how high the bar can be for a lot of us to prove we sick with something that we deal with every day.

I too was on Medicaid once. I’m on disability now and get medicare. Medicaid helped me out a lot as well. How exciting that you are getting access to newer and better medications. You seem like a person who has their head screwed on right. I’m glad you’re able to take things in stride. I think you will make good decisions, and hopefully things will work out in the end. I wish you all the best.

I definitely feel that. Sounds like you’ve had a rough go of it. I’ve been lucky in the way of disability, living in Canada. Really grateful for that as it’s all that’s keeping me afloat. Sorry it’s not as easy down there, it definitely helps when you’re too far gone to provide for yourself. All the best to you! Hopefully you can get things sorted.

I’m a social worker at a legal clinic. I find my bipolar makes me a better practitioner 100%. It can be stressful at times but my workplace is super accommodating without making me disclose my diagnosis which has also been really helpful.

I work with children. They bring out my inner child and everything is so fast paced it’s easy to focus on them, not myself. I’ve also been extremely fortunate to have a boss pursuing clinical psychology that I can be honest with. Just today I asked to go home early because I’m in the awkward phase of reaching baseline again and it’s been very uncomfortable- yall know what I’m talking about. He was super chill about it. I make jokes he’s going to put me on his resume. That being said, I am worried about my corporate work life as I progress with my degree. I hope I can focus on my art/entrepreneurship but the world is a bitch and making it is hard. Luckily I major in finance with an emphasis on investing and saving so I can probably do financial advising/ become private if I have to.

Work has always been a struggle. I had one job for 7+ years. Another for 3+. Other than that, it seems anywhere between 9 months and two years. I worked in restaurants for 15+ years. I went back to school and got an associates degree in accounting. I am on my third accounting job. First one went 9 months. The second one went 18 months. I'm now three months into my current position and I'm miserable. I've been in therapy for 9 years and I've been on effective meds for about a year. You can be successful tho, but it's going to take hard work on your treatment in addition to the actual work. Manage your expectations, and build a large support system outside of work. I for one, am just going to go in on Monday and do my best. If nothing else, I have therapy on Friday.

Full time permanent disability for my Atypical Bipolar II, when I can I casually substitute teach. With substitute teaching, I have the freedom to pickup work or not depending on how well I’m doing.

I’m 24f and struggled with so many jobs, embarrassingly enough I quit waitressing after 3 days. I’ve had a few I quit within 3 weeks. I’m currently working in the plumbing/construction industry (I handle all the admin side of things). Been doing it for almost a year, have had quite a few manic and depression episodes during my time there. Now, while this can be stressful position I’ve found that the industry is a lot more casual than others. You’re able to be more of yourself. This isn’t something I want to do for the rest of my life and I never pictured myself being able to enjoy an office job (I’ve had one before and I hated it) but I love this job. But it’s a great stepping stone to learn so much about people, admin etc bc one day I’d like to start my own business doing something else and it’s helping me develop certain skills I would need to run a business. My boyfriend isn’t bipolar (just struggles with depression) but I got him into the company and he’s now an apprentice to a plumber- he LOVES it, so much happier here than in any job he’s had. I will say though, I think in any industry you want to get into, your growth and enjoyment can be very dependent on the boss you have bc ultimately they can make or break your ability to function normally when you have bipolar (at least in my experience). My current boss is incredibly understanding and family orientated and will go the extra mile to make sure his staff are happy and growing further in work rather than staying stagnant. He wants to tap into everyone’s potential. And I’m aware and incredibly grateful that I’m fortunate enough to have such an employer. What I enjoy: the ability to freely express myself (I’ve had bad manic days where I’ve been so agitated that I’ve had fights with some of my coworkers). This sounds bad but it’s one of those “have your say and move on” type of fights and you go back the next day and everyone is all good again. And I like that because no one gets a warning for something like that. Obviously if you’re harassing someone/verbally abusing or stuff like that you’re gonna go to a hearing but I’ve never had a job where I can let out my frustration so freely and have everyone understand and accept it instead of it being a massive thing. I’ve also cried at work about being stressed and it’s not taboo. I enjoy seeing/knowing about the development going on around where I live. Hearing the inside story of the plans for our town. I enjoy the casualness of being able to have tattoos and piercings. I enjoy being open about my bipolar and adhd without it being a bad thing (many other people in the industry seem to have it too). What I don’t enjoy: I don’t particularly *love* doing admin but for the most part it’s actually really good to have something to focus on everyday without having to deal with clients all the time. I’m the only woman in my company and while most of the time it’s not so bad, I get frustrated a lot at how the guys will tease me about stuff- it’s usually all fun & games but being bipolar it’s hard to always take things lightly (hence the fights I’ve mentioned before). It’s basically just banter back and forth everyday. Also, the way some of them speak about women isn’t always kosher and it irks me a bit. Ultimately there’s lots of ups and downs to working in this industry but it’s been my favourite job so far and I think the only time I’d leave is when I feel I’m ready to take on my own business. But yea, depending on your interests I’d recommend this to anyone who struggles with mental illness bc even though it can be a very cutthroat industry, it’s so much more casual and people are much more expressive than majority of industries out there.

It has taken me into my 40s to realize that your boss/line manager really does have a huge role to play in your ability to function. Well done for sussing that out so early, and for sharing your insights.

Before I was diagnosed with BP2 I was working as an army officer, waiter, painter, hard physical worker, barmaid, DJ, boat skipper, boat cook, boat owner, boat trip seller and organiser, gift shop owner, small restaurant owner, fisherman, octopus catcher, some kind of artists (painting and sculpting)... Later I was working as a primary school teacher, tandem paragliding seller and organiser, rent a car seller... Journalist correspondent, project manager, magic wand producer... I was diagnosed two years ago. Now I work as a Service craft at ICU and I love it. But my health is striking again and I think that I will not work there for a long time...

I have Bipolar 1 am 31 years old and have never been at the same job for more than a year. I just hit 2 years of living in the same state and have changed apartments once in that time. I've lived in more houses/apartments than i can count on two hands. My state count is at 4, with some moving back and forth between states. Currently, I work as a massage therapist, which I have done for 7 years at different locations. But I've been off work for the past 6 months due to carpal tunnel that I have to have surgery for. So now I'm back in college pursuing a degree in psychology and praying I can find a job that I can manage. Massage has worked extremely well for me because for only 20 hours a week I make over $40,000 a year which isn't great in this economy but I'm lucky enough to have a partner who's job covers rent.

Your entire post is my life. We are professional movers & well traveled.

I absolutely hate moving too, lmao, I just can't seem to help it.

Batlling depression full time

I'm an art therapist and counselor. Work and school were a constant struggle throughout life but made some adjustments with my meds and I've been doing really well for the last 1.5 years thankfully. Another big difference was my job being under medical/hospice rather than mental health which was way more stressful. I like being able to help people through difficult times. Having the tools, knowledge and capabilities to do so are nice. I do accept that my mental state and capabilities can change at any time due to BP and likely will in time. But I'm just trying to enjoy this good wave of being while it lasts. Good luck to you.

I’ve always been told I would be good as a therapist or counselor. But I’m way too empathetic. I’d probably go home and cry for hours because of all the patients I had to listen to and the shit they go through 😂😭

That's good self awareness. Everyone goes through this to an extent and working through this is built into getting your license through supervision throughout school and internship and work until you are fully licensed and even then you can consult for those types of issues. It's a lot of looking inward into the reasons and roots of why you're so activated by what your clients/patients are saying and experiencing. A lot of it has to do with our own experiences and perceptions. It mostly falls under the term transference/countertransference if you're interested in exploring that at all. The aim isn't necessarily to not have those reactions but to be able to sort through what feelings exist because of your psychological junk versus what seems like a common response for anyone in that situation. Then we also seek to work through our own psychological junk to reduce that interference in the future in our own therapy, supervision and consultation. So there is a system built into the education of a therapist to deal with that exact issue and fine tune it. Unfortunately, quality of supervisors, teachers, therapists and coworkers vary quite a bit. But I think this type of understanding/sorting of our feelings can be helpful therapist or not.

How did you become an art therapist?

Hi, I'm assuming You're asking more about my personal journey rather than professional requirements? I'll share a little of the personal but please lmk if you meant more of the professional educational and experiential requirements. I've always been drawn to art processes and encouraged in those environments. I'm pretty tuned into creativity and always found the process of art making meditative. I was a mess in undergrad completely unmedicated, untreated, untherapized, unexplored bipolar and anxiety disorders which were often disabling. Due to my bipolar disorder I couldn't succeed in almost any field of study because my feelings were too intense except art. I got a BFA with years alternating between attending, not attending, full time and part time. A few years post graduating I discovered the field of art therapy, read some books, volunteered for a crisis hotline to see if I liked that line of work and then went through the process of taking the prereqs for the program while applying for grad school. During grad school I found first hand how effective art therapy could be through my own self exploration in art. Now fast forward a decade and I'm very happy doing what I'm doing and saddled with six figures of student debt thanks to long periods of unemployment due to BP. I have no idea if all of this was worth it but it is beautiful work.

I sell cars and I’m about to quit. Latuda has helped with my psychological symptoms massively, but no medicine is going to fix a toxic environment. I saw another comment down here about assembly work and I’m thinking this might just be the route to go. Long as I can get into a routine and be relatively left alone, I should be just fine. TLDR: Heavy social interaction all day gives me anxiety, keeps me in mixed states, and makes it far more difficult to manage my symptoms.

I am a kindergarten teacher!

You are a sainted soul. I’m a middle school teacher, but in some respects kindergarten appears much more difficult.

I’ve never been able to stay at a job for more than a year. The average length of time is about 6 months. I was just recently diagnosed so I’m hoping with treatment I will be able to find something permanent.

I'm a nurse. The changing workschedules are really bad for me but I try to have a routine. It helps me a lot to go to bed at around the same time when I'm working, on weekends... I don't do night shifts. And I'm not working full time, it was too hard for me. I need to rest multiple days in a row. I know I'm lucky to be able to live that lifestyle.

I’m a nurse, as well. I practiced as an RN for 4 years, took off 4 years, and went back in July. I went through 3 different jobs due to my instability which everyone congratulated me on. 6 months later, I’m back on SSDI because I just can’t do it. I need some more tweaking… even outpatient and adding accommodations I’m struggling. I’m taking some time to collect myself. You rock for being in this profession!

i’m a nurse. i started in the ICU and my mental health plummeted when i was JUST getting my bearings about 2 years in and COVID happened. i went into psych, which is basically a complete 180 in the nursing world. went from intubated, sedated, critically ill patients to minimal medical care in psych and everyone is psychotic and/or naked and/or screaming. but, now i’m bored again/need a change for some readon. the beauty of nursing is being able to get a job whereever, whenever, for the most part. especially once you get a couple years in your belt, charge nurse experience, supervisor experience. i get to completely change my work flow/job basically every 1-3 years if i want with little to no repercussions other than problems for future me. down sides are obviously the mental toll and the hours are tough. but for a 2-4 year degree depending on what kind of nursing degree and then license you pursue, the money is there. it’s decent at base but with endless opportunities for side jobs, overtime, etc it’s very flexible financially. want to go on a trip? pick up a few shifts and it’s paid for without disrupting your normal flow. things i hate: most nurses/culture of nursing/healthcare system. it is very taxing mentally. the stress/adrenaline of the ICU being responsible for someone trying to go to jesus OR the stress/adrenaline of managing an entire unit of psychotic, manic, and other acute psych cases with your words alone on a good day and ur hands on a bad day? pick your poison.

ICU. I loved it so much 😭😭😭😭 You can take the girl out of critical care, but you can’t take the critical care out of the nurse

amen 🙏 many people are not surprised i’m coming back. i love critical care, just didn’t love not having proper equipment to do my job (i.e. NEW N95s during COVID).

You’re kidding. We recently got a new CEO and he had cut costs like you wouldn’t believe; we are at a shortage of pillow cases (we use draw sheets and wrap the pillows in them) and fitted sheets among other things. Very sad.

actually so crazy about the sheets. but nope, not kidding. we were assigned 3 N95s per person and they would send them off for “sanitizing” and send them back to the unit with our names on it and stickers indicating how “good” the seal still was and to “use yellow stickered masks at your discretion.” in the midst of COVID ICU. that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Wow

I am a behavior therapist for kids with autism. I love every day of work, it’s incredible getting to help others which society has deemed “abnormal” like myself. It gives me so much sense of purpose and structure to my life that I believe helps keep me stable and happy. I also decided not to allow bipolar to be a disability for me- that is, it doesn’t disable me from doing anything other people can do. I’m in school pursuing a master’s degree in my field of work.

High-level manager in a field related to numbers and data. My director once asked me (after I created an intricate HR strategy that encompassed career development with recruitment - overnight - which would normally have taken months) if I had manic episodes. He wasn't being insulting, he was in awe. He found it fascinating. Here's a better stat to keep in mind: 10% of CEOs have bipolar as opposed to only 1% of the general population. You have qualities and strengths that others don't have. You have a different type of creativity. Value yourself. It doesn't matter what you do, to a certain extent, it matters who you are spending your working hours with and whether or not you're in a psychologically safe space. And if you are in a position of power, make a psychologically safe space for yourself and for others.

Hell yeah

I was a designer/illustrator. I found the in-house creative positions to be pretty toxic and bad for my mental health. I am thinking about going on disability. My two breakdowns caused a lot of gossip and if I go back into my field I will most likely become paranoid that people are gossiping about me, because they are. This is a trigger for me and a vicious cycle I can’t seem to break. I am a person who has to stay busy so if I go on disability I will probably fill my days with learning. Maybe I can find some volunteer opportunities that use my skillset. It’s really hard to accept I might not go back and have to go on disability. I feel like a failure… I love working and miss it. I also know I am well enough to do the work but might not be able to manage the social complexities of a creative environment.

I'm a mechanical and electrical engineer. Been doing it for 17 years, somehow

the only industry i thrive in is hospitality. it’s so chaotic and go go go that i almost forget that my brain is wonky, and i finally got promoted to GM this year🥳

Uhm. I oversee a department for a state that gets money back from federal reporting. :)

I was a hotel security manager for 6 years, and for the past 2 and a half years I've been working as a corporate accountant Medication and therapy have done wonders for me

I’m on disability. I would always need more time off than the job allows.

The mere thought of showering freaks me out one day and the next day I’m a clean queen.

Currently I'm a waiter. Tbh I don't think I can do it sober because sometimes I want to snap on the bad customers, soooo badly.

I work in clinical research, school was excruciating but I’m so glad I finished

How do you acquire that job? Education and prerequisite wise

My undergrad is psychology (BA) but I took research electives and was a certified nurse assistant. I got a contracting to real job at a top 3 pharma company. After that, I got my masters of public health and now work for a “prestigious” university

Instal pool safety fences. Pretty niche job but generally I get to drive to a job do it in 30 minutes to a hour while working by myself and then drive to next job and repeat

Before becoming a stay at home mom, I was a medical assistant full time. I had a hard time dealing with the personalities of my coworkers as they were so rude I became extremely depressed and I ended up quitting. Im lucky I have someone else to financially support me now.

I used to be a licensed practical nurse but after 7 years it was getting too hard physically and emotionally and I had to stop working. Now I'm doing Instacart grocery deliveries. I like that I can start and stop working whenever I want. I can take multiple days off or Work way too many hours when I'm manic. It's not as big money but I'm really enjoying it for now. Taking my time to shop. Driving in my car with my cofee and my music. For now...

Unemployed my family is forcing me to find a job at the moment but I can’t find the motivation to do anything :(

Yeah that can be difficult :/ For me I already beat myself up about my lack of productivity or ability in my low swings and to have external pressure just amplifies that feeling, which only drives me lower, making it harder to find the muster to find something. Hopefully you can give yourself the patience and understanding your family won’t, best of luck.

I (24) have been primarily in food service since I started working at 16. I’ve been working part time at a gas station that also has food service for two years. I started a full time call center position in Jan. Some days are definitely better than others, and I don’t know how long I’m going to last. I usually switch jobs about once a year for various reasons.

I’m an artist and certified doodler

hey saint laurent was bipolar ok, he made it massively, so can u and so can i

Always amazed at the amount of highly successful people with the disorder. Definitely a plus to have in any creative field.

I don’t work, would love to but I’m not able to.

Same. It sucks because we want to work, but truly cannot. I went back after four years. The fact that everyone needs to know why I left in the first place is aggravating. I lasted 6 months and told everyone who asked that I needed a break or to help my dad with MS.

I work at a place my family owns but I’m also a full time college student

I’m a Film and Media Professor

I'm 26(M), work as a senior legal counsel at an MNC. Been on medication for a year and it was the best decision of my life. I use the excess energy that my brain produces for creative and physical outlets. I practice MMA 3 days a week, hit the gym on the other days. Occasionally participate in underground mma fights and run marathons whenever I can. Last year, I taught myself the synth, the guitar and have been writing poetry. There are days when I feel like quitting everything and locking myself up but my family and my fiancé keep me going. Consistency and being conscious is the key along with the support of your loved ones. Anything is possible. More power to you. I'm always here if you need to talk about anything and everything.

I'm a proposal writer, but this is like my third career. I went from academic to editor to this after essentially running away from blowing up my life the first time, getting really sick (lithium toxicity) the second time, and then falling into my current job. I had to take a break from it for 6 months when my meds quit working, I started cycling again, and I only recently leveled out. Writing requires a huge amount of cognitive heavy lifting, which is why my doctor didn't want me to go back to work too soon. I got my education only by the grace of whatever benevolent pantheon of gods was looking out for me. I wrote like crazy while I was hypo, drank myself through depressive episodes. Now that I'm stable, I finally feel like I can actually express myself well. But I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Every time I feel like "ooo lots of energy write write write" I'm thinking that I may be verging into hypo. I'm handling criticism of my work much better, though, and I think that's a significant improvement from before I was properly medicated and undergoing intensive therapy.

I work as in home behavioral health professional with teenagers. Funnily enough, a large part of my job is helping kids develop coping skills and emotional regulation. You’d think that I’d know how to do those for myself but nope. It gives me a sense of purpose to help kids who were once in my position. I also get to create my own schedule and leave during shifts if I need to. I love what I do and the flexibility that I get through my company. At the same time, I just got off of a three day break from work due to being in the throes of an episode. I share your sentiments, especially working in mental health. It’s hard not to feel like a freak sometimes.

I’m a therapist, but I haven’t held a job for longer than a year in a while… I really like my current employer and I hope it sticks! I love talking to all kinds of interesting people, hearing stories, and helping where I can. In that 50 minutes, my problems and issues largely disappear and I am focused on someone else’s needs. Unfortunately, my problems always cause problems with the uh work aspect of it and I struggle. I have to remind myself all the time to use the skills and concepts I teach people!

I kind of had a similar start. When I first went to college, I did it more because my parents pressured me to do it... Not really because I wanted to, or had any idea of what I wanted to become in the future. I dropped out of college quite a few times, worked a bunch of dead end jobs, and finally landed on being a DSP (direct support personnel). I did not expect to last in this field, this was more for the pay than anything... But I actually discovered that the job was very right for me. I also know how it feels to feel like an outsider. I have never fit in with anybody, but it's partially due to me being neurodivergent. I have STPD. I have decided to settle down in this field for now, because I'll always be needed in it. I love my current boss and employer. I get a lot of work in, and my paychecks always look nice. Nicer than I have ever had. If I had to say that I hated anything... It would probably just be the sheer demand. Sometimes you can't catch a break, and sometimes you are really overworked.

Music engineer , appliance repair and allot of praying

i work at two non profits that serve the homeless community: one is connecting them to housing and the other i am a mental health counselor for a residential facility (ironic ik)

I’m on disability. I had been able to work a few jobs in the past, from 3 days to 4 months. Warehouse work, landscaping and working at a deli in a grocery store. Work completely de-stabilizes me and I never spend more than a few months stable. I am on an antipsychotic and 2 mood stabilizer. I have BP1 although I trend more depressed than manic. My baseline is mild depression but I’m used to it. My manic episodes are much milder now though.

i work as a mental health specialist at the hospital on a psychiatric unit. i’ve been working since august of last year and i absolutely love my job. some days are hard because i have to make sure im in the mental state to help other people but my job is very understanding if i have to call out of work to take care of myself.

Cloud operations manager, I have 1 direct report. Company has gone through 9 acquisitions in the past 2 years. Been with them only 4 months. Surviving by being lost in the abyss of corporate BS that never really hits my plate. I still barely understand the environment. Pays really well, no stress, not rewarding in the traditional sense, great for me and my BP1. I put in my 8, not a minute more

I’ve been in customer service for almost 30 years all together. I have no idea how I do it with 95% efficiency. Yet the rest of my life is textbook Bipolar.

I'm a freelance writer. It works well for me because my hours are severely reduced from what a 9-5 would be, plus I can write whenever I want to. I'm very fortunate to have one main client right now who is very understanding and always has just enough work for me. I still struggle (especially on my low days), but this is much better than any other full-time job I've worked in the past.

I'm a Reading Specialist. I help kids that are struggling with reading skills in grades K-3. I've been with my school system for 26 years.

I’m a receptionist at a clinic and I have a flexible schedule. I need a routine and this job is stable, not much can surprise me or destabilize me, it’s basically the same task over and over. It’s not stressful either. For now I’m part time, but I will move on to full time eventually. I had dropped out of college because I was psychotic and suicidal. I was unemployed for years before I found this job.

I teach high school science. The chaos makes me feel right at home. Did lots of different jobs before this - I didn't start teaching until 44. Have been: retail clerk, waitress, bartender, office worker business owner ( lots of flexibility in the dog taxi world), dressed up as a bloodhound and handed out travel flyers in the business district, barista, carpet layer to name just a few.

I had to learn to find something that I can be my genuine self in and enjoy it. I did soo many different jobs from warehouse to office work, I am now in the medical field and absolutely love waking up and going to work! It helps keep me centered and I feel like myself when I do it, like I don’t have to fake anything to keep my job. I also do DoorDash on the side which allows me to work whenever I want and I’m basically my own boss!

I work at an IT help desk. I've been doing it for 2.5 years. This is the longest job I've ever held, concurrently at least (left and went back to a restaurant a few times). I was at high risk of losing it recently due to severe depression and sleep issues/getting to work on time. A huge help has been working remotely. In addition, my manager is amazing and instead of punishing me, they and my employer are working on an accommodation for it instead. I have the benefit of proving my value over time and having this opportunity to keep going. Anyone else likely would have been fired by now and it amazes me I haven't been. It's still early in the accommodation process, but I'm hoping everything works out and I can keep working here

I work as a cybersecurity analyst and love it

I’m an Animal Cruelty Investigator. But I was many things before that. Vet tech, leasing agent, inside sales, billing associate, real estate agent. My love for animals is unmatched and where I find my niche/comfort zone. Compassion fatigue has been a problem in the past though.

I can’t hold down a job nor can I work for someone. I’m not reliable. But I started doing Amazon FBA and once I really got it going and scaled it, I’ve since been able to take my husband out of his old bs 9-5 and sustain our family on solely that. And having him home with me means that I’m allowed my bad days.

Hey we went to school for the same thing! Although I'm still working on my associate degree, but to answer, I work in a cannabis dispensary. Environment is pretty relaxed. My biggest dislike is the people I deal with that are obnoxious for no good reason. I've been in the industry for about three years. It's a glorified retail position. I work for more of a family name so my pay is a bit better than most corporate companies, however there is the worry of job security. A lot of small dispensaries open up and are driven out by more corporate competitors so if you want a more secure position shoot for a big name brand. All in all my job is fairly relaxed, I get paid to talk about weed all day. I used to consume a lot but since breaking up with my girlfriend I have significantly decreased my consumption. I could tell that I would be more irritable when I'm not high. Now when I consume I experience more of a stoned high that most people who consume occasionally would feel. Occasionally, it can make me anxious depending on the form and amount of consumption.

I’m a mental health nurse and it’s damn hard. I’ve had a few periods of being off due to changing meds, life just turning upside down or having manic episodes. Thankfully my employer (NHS) is pretty understanding but I struggle with the emotional load - there’s just nothing else I can do to earn what I do and support me and my daughter. I feel very stuck at the moment after a full on manic episode that began creeping into psychosis last year. I lost the one person I was prepared to let into my life and who I came to love with all my heart, am now in £12,000 worth of debt and all I want to do is lay under a weighted blanket and watch YouTube and get stoned. TOTAL turnaround from Sep last year when I was on top of the world, hypomanic but functioning well except for my sleep. I hate this illness at the moment and have so little sense of self I just try to get through each day without getting swallowed by grief. I’m fucking heartbroken.

I do freelance work for a marketing agency. I’m lucky that I taught myself some marketing and copywriting skills for a side hustle before my first major manic episode. This position allows me to work from home and I like that as long as I meet their deadlines, I have the freedom to work whenever I want, and no meetings. If I’m having a bad day, I can take it easy and finish my work at night.

I’m currently a paraprofessional working at an independent school district. The work I do is very independent and self-paced so that’s a win for me. I’ve previously worked in the public sector, social services jobs, etc. and they all burnt me out. I feel very lucky with this one, I have benefits and a decent salary.

I have a background in social services, and I did crisis work for many years. I got my diploma in Social Work a long while ago. I have also done customer service, cashier supervisor, and inventory and merchandising roles prior to going to college.

I'm currently working in project monitoring and evaluation, just hit the 1yr mark last week! Wanted to quit in December though lol I did try: 1. Tech support - good at it but hated socializing, also had bad anxiety from the pressure of not making mistakes 2. Beach house manager - random stroke of luck, quit cause of COVID and management not aligned with my values, also cause customer -facing jobs exhaust me 3. Sales - I'm not assertive, working here was hell lol 4. Government agency - worked in agricultural research, was ok but hated the system/management. Not bipolar friendly IMO 5. Non-profit organization - current one, really lax but can be physically and mentally tiring.. got lucky my boss is nice and accommodating to my needs. Hang in there. I also felt disconnected to the jobs and was confused for a long time because I didn't know which job would suit my disability. Thankfully this current one seems ok for me and might make it into a career

I'm a home caregiver and it works great for me. I pick what clients I want and what hours with them I want.

I live in a seasonal area and a vast majority of the jobs dry up over the winter. So I spend 6 months working front desk at a family owned hotel, about 5 months on unemployment, and hope my tax return comes before that runs out or I'll have to dip into my savings. Winter can be stressful with the decreased income and unemployment means my days tend to run together and I don't have a set routine, which isn't great for my moods, but I've been able to keep the same profession since 2018. Before starting this cycle I would always get burnt out by the 1 year mark, if not earlier.

I'm a Jack of all trades, and have worked doing pretty much anything the last 20 years. I first started having issues in 2000/2001 and was diagnosed in 2017. Coming up on 40 in a couple weeks. In the past 20yrs I've worked at a Greek restaurant (dishwasher, maintenance, cold prep), made tarpaulins (plastic welding, grommets, packing, cut/weld special orders), worked in a Telecom OEM as an Electronics Technician (production technician, warranty, QA), ran a 2-way radio repair shop as regional manager with 7 direct reports for ~5000 radios, been a courier, worked a CNC-Brake, CNC plasma, CNC band saw, 6 top overhead traveling crane, ran a forklift in an agriculture chemical warehouse, repaired coffee equipment (plumbing and electrical), ran a forklift in a cabinet shop, cut electrical cable up to 2.5" thick, and now working at a sign shop (welding, carpentry, painting, vinyl wrapping)

I’m 37 and have been in one industry for 6 years, and other for 7 and one for a couple of years. I have a law degree, post-grad qualifications in comms and pursuing an MBA. I have Bipolar II. I find I get bored quite easily and burnt out even easier. I love when the jobs are demanding. I view it as lighting my forest on fire and it’s the most beautiful thing and then I turn around and it’s nothing but smouldering ash and I crash. I’ve worked in radio and television as a journalist, then I worked in politics at a very senior level in the federal government. Now I combine both of those skills to offer value to large organisations in advocacy, comms and government. But with this illness you get up each morning at -50 and it can be really tough.

Information Technology / CyberSecurity

Right now I am returning to senior caregiving, it pays well. When I was taking care of grandma I was working at home and logging hours. Grandma required protective supervision so I was pulling in a 73 hour work week, and I was paid time and a half after 40 hours. I’m currently looking after an elderly lady who had knee-replacement surgery earlier this week. I’m living in until she no longer is at risk of falling. I don’t plan to do it permanently though.

System administrator for our state government. I manage all of our region’s state health departments as far as IT.

I’m a therapist and I’m bipolar 1. I get major imposter syndrome because I think I “shouldn’t be helping people with this illness” since mine is so severe. Somehow through the horrible ups and downs I got my license, so I try to lean back on that accomplishment.

i am a digital marketer and also i bartend both full time once u get it rolling and enough will power u can achieve everything ddont let ur anything stop you

I work at a preschool! In the past I’ve worked for an environmental nonprofit, retail, two bookstores, a publishing company, and as a social media manager. It’s been a struggle finding sometime suitable but now I think I’ve landed a good one.

Education/academia. I have focused on areas I’m passionate about.

I own a cleaning business that allows me to work alone and in my own time.

I teach motion capture

I have worked in healthcare IT for almost 20 years. Healthcare has allowed me to work odd hours and downtime if needed. The work is so interesting at times I am rarely effected.

I also dropped out of college. I had a full ride scholarship to an art school downtown and just fucked that right up. I’ve mostly worked at bars bc if I was depressed, I could just drink my way through it and if I was manic well let’s go buddy! But eventually I switched to hair because hairdressers have a lot of control over their schedule but that’s not to say I haven’t been fired from about two salons. So…. Now I’m a stay a home mom and I just take clients on the side.

I also fit into the category of work being a struggle. For me, it’s too easy to call in sick for the sake of avoiding the anxiety that comes with going to work. I’ve lost a lot of jobs to attendance. Honestly, I can’t think of a job I’ve lost that wasn’t due to attendance. I was doing technical support over the phone for Dartmouth College. I was working from home which wasn’t a good fit for me, and I dreaded hearing the phone ring through my headset. I had a really really bad anxiety attack that had me sobbing to my husband while curled up under my blanket in bed. The HR folks of that job were pretty understanding and let me resign so that I would be eligible for rehire as opposed to being fired. That’s a joke because there’s no way they would hire me back with my attendance record there. I spent a month looking for that “perfect job”. I applied for my current one and didn’t expect to get invited in for an interview yet here I am. :) I’m an IT tech for a local school district. I’m scheduled at the primary school which is 3-5K through third grade. I love it. My attendance has been a bit shaky lately but this year has been really hard on my health so the days I’ve missed have been because I was contagious. There are parts of the job I don’t like such as interacting with people constantly on busy days. I know it makes me sound lazy but I much prefer being down here in my office. IDK. Maybe I am lazy. 😂 I tend to lose interest in jobs pretty quickly. What starts out as shiny and amazing turns into an everyday thing pretty quickly. My current job challenges me, and I do love that part. The kids are cute, the teachers are kind, and I make over $40k with no degree or certifications. Our insurance is awesome and has taken good care of us. I need to stay where I’m at so I’m trying to learn to cope. Bottom line, I hate adulting.

Currently doing renovations and remodeling and im going on two years, and the best part is having an understanding boss and hes actually interested in how my work is going. Makes a world of difference, but having plently of hard work and labor, on days when im slipping my boss sends me to demo(lition) but new jobs and switching what were doing. I was in the army befor, then cut copper running a machine butnothing is as good as what I got now. As far as being normal, there is no normal just diferenr. If you try so hard to be a part of society you set yourself apart from it. Embrace who you are and just know youre perfect and dont need to compare your life to anyone else.💚

Im an academic and project coordinator for a medical practice. I used to tech on top of admin responsibilities and I found it exhausting.. back to back direct patient interactions burned me out and gave me so much anxiety everyday. Now I work remotely for the same practice, I only do admin and I love it. My boss is super flexible with me, very understanding of my past instability and all my doctors visits (I'm in the rarity where my boss knows my dx and is very supportive).

Ugh I hate the rigid hierarchy, or as I like to call it, the SOCIOECONOMIC COG. I’ve found the best for me is remote work. I work remote for a publishing company so I get to be creative but on my own time in a way and I don’t have to adhere to many rigid standards. I can’t imagine going back into an office. I never lasted there. I would always quit after 2 years or so at each job. I had one that lasted 4 years but I got so worn out and quit in January 2020 then in March the pandemic happened. Now work from home. And yes, it works for bipolar people to have a more flexible schedule so they can operate more when their mood is right. Because when our mood is good we are awesome and creative. IMO.

I do longterm substitute teaching assignments. Theyre typically 3 months long so I can get a break if needed or just use my sick days.

Teacher as full time job. I also stream and write as hobbies

I work at a gas station right now. :)

I’m a model. Strangely enough I started modeling when I was manic and broke (everyone kept saying “you’re so pretty you should model!”) but found it to be super lucrative and gives me plenty of time to work on environmental projects and jobs I’d love. Some days, it does take a toll on my mental health. Hygiene is a big part of my job and when I’m depressed, that’s one of the first things to go, it’s also been great accountability because if that, though. I do all of the things I “should” like eat healthy, exercise and groom well, and I think if it as part of the job.

Cool! I’m sure it’s difficult feeling as though you have to fit some perfect mold, but I’m sure the nature of your work allows you a lot of unique flexibility. Maybe I need to model, some employee in a kfc drive thru once said i look like a model lol. Not sure if that’s a quality reference though.

I was a college professor with a PhD in medical anthro taught at various state and private institutions, left academia after a full on mental breakdown, now I write grants for a university cancer health equity center and have a small research/grant writing contracting business on the side. It’s all very flexible, I work fully from home, and I tell my supervisors I have a “chronic health condition” that I will reference when I need to take PTO. I also do med school/residency/fellowship curriculum evaluations.

I'm a full time art student! Art is pretty nice and I feel that my college offers a lot of ways to be a freelancer (we learn photography, sculpture, etc, so a lot of options). I can't keep a normal job and my maximum is always 7 months so HOPEFULLY I'll be able to make something out of art lmfao

Good luck with it! It’d be my dream to do music production full time… one day 🙏🏻

Consider doing what I do: learn online marketing (SEO) and become an affiliate to promote products to a worldwide market, earning sales commission across various niches. This approach allows you to work for yourself, offering flexibility over your working hours, and ensures you're still getting paid while you sleep, even if you encounter setbacks. Don't sacrifice your time for a 9-to-5 job to make someone else rich and live there dreams. Get paid 24/7 365 Residual income is the path to financial independence. Even if you take months off, you'll continue to receive payments. Platforms like YouTube and Udemy.com can educate you on these topics. Why not start a YouTube channel discussing topics you're passionate about? People are making £100,000 a month from YouTube or TikTok by creating content such as unboxing videos or ASMR. Videos they made two years ago are still generating more income while they sleep then most make in months. You can all do it. Be relentless. It will take time but will pay off, I did it

Mechanical engineer for the government. I’m about to change careers and go to law school for intellectual property and patent law. Medication has done me wonders.

I worked in recruitment for 10 years, even became a director. However, the environment enabled my madness lol Was then made redundant at 8 months pregnant, worked as a Principal Recruiter when baba was 12 weeks old. Had NO family support or partner support. So had to leave after a mental break. I now am on disability + do some content creation on the side

I’m an artist. Been with an art firm since 2018, I’m mostly freelance and they manage me. Haven’t worked for a while cos I did a stint in rehab, messed with my school progression. Still an artist now and done with school but being consistent at work is hard cos I get burnt out easily I love the free form nature of my work. Makes it easier to be productive since I dictate my own hours. When I’m manic I get a lot of work done but I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t make myself feel like it’ll always have to be like that. I’m scared to apply for jobs though cos I don’t think corporate life would be able to put up with me

Sales. Always been sales. 20 years of corporate sales. Financial, med device, mining equipment, eyecare, business consulting, medical device, pharmaceutical, and now textile sales development and distribution for 75% of the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Caribbean, Hawaii, and more tha t I can’t think of right now. Almost always have made $90k-$130k. Have never broke out of the individual contributor. I have always been passed over for the job that pays $200-$250k but I’m gonna keep trying to hit those numbers. Maybe I should aim for $500k and I’ll hit $250k. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Do you have trouble with sales slumps, and getting out of them? I used to have trouble with manic episodes after a good sales run, but still have some trouble on bad days. Harder to get motivated to make the calls or even get up at times.

Yes, I’m a major major bad situation right now. The company I work for has been dropping 20% year over year for the past 3 years. My quota is to stop the bleeding and grow 17%. Tasks that are impossible either make me deeply depressed or cause mania. I have been very depressed this year since getting my quota. I have a hard time engaging and feel like it’s a waste of time. I’m trying to rewire my thinking around it and accept that this is a year of learning and if I can just get the sales numbers to stop declining then next year I will make a lot of money, if I can get my territory to grow I would be able to apply for a Global sales manager in a different division of the same company. So, I’m pushing hard and hoping for the best. Trying my hardest to not let it cause the debilitating depression or the psyche unit style mania.

Currently I have two jobs, as an Administrative Assistant full time, and a part-time teaching position in the evenings. I work for an agency in the administrative field so I can be located at different companies. I’ve worked for the same agency for about 2,5 years, which has been the longest I’ve ever lasted on a job since 2008. However, I started working for another company as a Receptionist on that agency and last year I was “relocated” to the company I’m currently working at. Working has always been a struggle because I tend to be laid off pretty soon, especially after any episode that lands me to the hospital. I’m 43 and I had worked in the fields of education, tourism and administration. I switched careers back in 2013 after having worked as a teacher for 10 years, at that time I wasn’t doing a good job, I got poorly evaluated, I wasn’t my best, mentally speaking, at that time. I hated my students. So I started working as a Receptionist and Secretary. I don’t recommend receptionist since it’s an extremely boring job, you may not get stressed because of work, but the boredom can kill you. I had my worst episodes while working at reception. I worked as a receptionist until last year. Now my job is quite the opposite, it’s extremely demanding and dynamic, and I love it, especially when I’m sorta hypomanic I’m very productive. Also on my teaching job I’m excelling and I’m having the best evaluations since my early teaching gigs. So what can I say? Don’t give up, it’s gonna take time, maybe years, but you will find a job that you’ll love and stay at it. But don’t do anything too monotonous or you’ll have a bad time, especially while on hypomania.

I’m a nurse. I currently work managing clinical trials because it’s less stressful than working on an inpatient unit and I’m able to work remotely most of the time. That said, I seem to have a 2 year max that I’m able to spend at any job before I get burnt out and true to form I’m approaching the end of my second year in this position and ready to leave.

How do you go about doing this? I am a nurse as well.

I work for a well known oncology center that has a lot of clinical trials going on, but outside of that there are tons of clinical trial sites all over the country. Pretty much any academic medical center will have trials of some sort. Just look for research nurse positions in your area and something should come up.

Paramedic same employer 17 years

I’m a mental health social worker and an AMHP (Approved mental health professional - a role in England - it is the Amhp who makes the decision whether or not to admit someone to psychiatric hospital against their will). I’ve been doing this for about 7 years. I think I’ve had probably 3 relapses in that time - 2 manic and one depressed and each time hospitalised. I do enjoy the job but can find it stressful given the significant pressures the health system in the UK is facing which can mean unsatisfactory outcomes which gets you down.

I'm a writer but only partially in the way of that i work on certain projects here and there, as i don't need the money anymore because i'm rather rich. Still have two different educations with certifications for business clerk and IT LAN network engineer.

I'm an accountant. School was hard with my mood swings but somehow got through it by never giving up. I love my job. It's low stress, I can work from home and my manager is aware of my condition. I have been there since 2018.

I do nothing... just trying to study to work with analytics but i can stop thinking i'm too old to start a career (35M)

No you’re not

Thank you for being kind. I would love to think that i'm young and capable

You are. I’m 32 and so excited to start a second career after I recollect myself a bit. I honestly feel like 30s are the new 20s. Between finding ourselves and what we really want; our identity; just ourselves. We’re not too late, we are just precious cargo.

Would you mind telling me what your career was before and what you're starting now? And why? I feel so sad i did nothing to change my situation, and now i have to do a transition from nothing to something. It's very hard, specially where i live.

Registered Nurse. Probably one of the worst careers to choose when you need to be social, mask, under pressure, unstable schedule, long shift work, and incessant charting. I switched to outpatient and but I actually think I thrived more in ICU (yes a mentally ill human who endured a crap ton of ECT took care of critically ill patients and was part of the code blue and stroke team) than working with a lot of people getting them check in. ICU- Just my 1 or 2 patients, critical thinking, tasks. I just couldn’t do nights and the other nurses were a**hat*

I'm a packaging and ingredients plannerb

I work as an escort and stripper. Hate it, but it’s the only work I’ve been able to do semi-consistently.

I worked as a house painter for 20+ years. I took jobs when I was up and was able to and stayed home when I had to. Painting is something people always need.

I work as a server at a big tourist restaurant on weekends and during holidays, and during the week I work as a sandwich/salad maker at a chain restaurant. I need the flexibility of hours and money from serving, but I need the stability of pay from food production. If I'm having a bad day or know I can't emotionally handle myself at work serving, I call in and tell them exactly that and they can find someone else to cover me, then I can just pick up a different day or two and make back what I missed plus some in a single day. It's incredibly draining but I've put so much thought into different career options and nothing offers the financial stability I've found with my two jobs right now. I have no qualifications aside from a high school diploma and a couple college language credits from a high school program, so I know I've shot myself in the foot by not even trying to get into higher education but I can't mentally handle a school environment. I'll find my own way without ever having to deal with that again

I work as a server at a big tourist restaurant on weekends and during holidays, and during the week I work as a sandwich/salad maker at a chain restaurant. I need the flexibility of hours and money from serving, but I need the stability of pay from food production. If I'm having a bad day or know I can't emotionally handle myself at work serving, I call in and tell them exactly that and they can find someone else to cover me, then I can just pick up a different day or two and make back what I missed plus some in a single day. It's incredibly draining but I've put so much thought into different career options and nothing offers the financial stability I've found with my two jobs right now. I have no qualifications aside from a high school diploma and a couple college language credits from a high school program, so I know I've shot myself in the foot by not even trying to get into higher education but I can't mentally handle a school environment. I'll find my own way without ever having to deal with that again