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How many jobs have yall had with BP?

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Posted 1/29/2009 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Just out of curiosity, how many jobs have yall had since you were diagnosed with BP? I am asking this because last month, when I went to the Social Security office to apply for disability, the lady had a huge stack of paper and from where I was sitting, I could see that they were my past jobs listed. I asked her how many jobs I have had and she said that I had 48 jobs in 15 years!!! Ya know, I would always notice a pattern with me and jobs- I would get a job and the boss would think I was awesome for a few weeks and WHAM, I would bottom out and get fired. I thought that maybe a profession change would help me so I went to school to be a Medical Assistant and did really well in school with a 4.0 gpa but got in trouble many times because of attendance issues and cussing out teachers. Anyways, in 8 month's times after graduating, I had 5 medical assistant jobs! My advisor at school is the one that really made me start looking at myself as being crazy.

I knew that I had alot of jobs since I graduated high school but I never knew that I had 48 of them! I hope that helps me to get disability- heck, it couldn't hurt.
Posted 1/30/2009 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Don't feel bad, my husband has had a lot of jobs in the last few years too. I lost count.
Posted 1/30/2009 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
I am 26 but I have 7 internships and 2 jobs on my resume. I had trouble holding on to my second job and sat at home for 5 months after that. Then I decided to do an internship at a school and now I am contemplating switching careers. Nothing excites me for too long...I tend to get bored pretty easily. I have been more confused since I got diagnosed. Before I was diagnosed, everything looked exciting to me. Now, nothing does.
Posted 1/30/2009 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
From what I know about people with BP, they are some of the most brilliant, creative and interesting people you could ever know. My husband certainly fits that bill. It breaks my heart that with SO much potential, it is hard for many to stay employed.

My husband's manic side seems to dominate his personality, so he tends to be a "type-A" kind of guy at work. He is constantly driving himself to achieve the next goal, then the next. Luckily, he owns his own business and does not have a "boss" to answer to. This seems to help, but I can see how stress can seriously affect his symptoms. In fact, for a long time (during our denial phase) we chalked most of his symptoms up to him just being "stressed out." Before he settled into his current line of work, he did waffle quite a bit and had a number of jobs for the first 3 years out of college.

Y'all hang in there!

(((HUGS)))
Posted 1/30/2009 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
^ falling apart, can i ask what your husband does?
Posted 1/30/2009 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
Great question and I'd add another.

Wife goes through them too. If she makes it past a month she can usually last about 7 or 8 months total before the bosses are evil and out to get her. In the last four years (after 4 years of not working), she's on her 6th, with about 8 months of unemployment time in those 48.

When she's ready to quit, she wants to file for disability or has some huge dream to pursue. After she quits (always burning that bridge), she always goes into a lengthly depression cycle. Is this another common trait?
Posted 1/30/2009 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for responding! I thought that I was the only one who had ALOT of trouble with jobs because of all the stuff thats wrong with me. So hearing everyone's story really helps. I did reach a point in my job searches where no employer would give me a good reference at all. Just wish me luck on SSI and SSD!
Posted 1/30/2009 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Jondoe,

I went into a lengthy depression cycle for five months after I quit my job. I am now looking for another job and I hope it helps me get out of depression.

Sheeba
Posted 1/30/2009 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, Jondoe it is a trait of BP. I was fired from more jobs than I quit, but yeah I quit from a job because I was convinced I was going to med school and then I quit one because I was convinced I had a way to work from home and make more money than I could by working in an office. After I would quit or get fired, I would go through an INTENSE self-hate phase that made me extremely depressed and sometimes suicidal. From what I have read and been told, delusions of grandeur are very common for bipolars. If it weren't for my doc's office telling me that I needed to sign up for disability, I would still be going through job after job.
Posted 1/31/2009 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Dude:
Liked your response to Johndoe. Glad that you are settled with the disability issue.
We all can learn from each others' questions and experience.
My personal problem with BP is that I can't recall the highs, but sure do feel the lows. As an old guy, I can cope with it, but I doubt that I would be in great demand in today's job market.
Hang in there, all.
Pops
Posted 1/31/2009 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi popster,

Just wanted to say hi and welcome you to our board. Thanks for joining HealingWell, and I hope you find the community and discussion you're looking for here. Welcome aboard.

serafena
Posted 1/31/2009 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Serafena:
Nice to be on board.
RE; concern of many on job pressure/changes, it occurs that a half-way between full time work and full time at home might be volunteering for a non-profit.
It offers the satisfaction of being productive, without the hassle of bosses and production quotas.
Volunteers can generally name their own hours and come and go as they please. Opportunities abound.
Jost a thought.
Pops
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