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Posted 4/24/2007 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
 

I am considering accepting a job that would require me to work night shift.  However, I have heard that with bipolar disorder you really shouldn't work nights.  I think this is because with bipolar a person needs consistent sleep.  If I worked nights I might have trouble getting enough sleep.  Anyone else have an experience working nights?  Do other people think that working nights is a bad idea for a person with bipolar disorder?  I have been stable for 4 years and don't want to do anything to jepordize my health.

Posted 4/24/2007 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
In my opinion and from my own experience, nightshift can play havoc with the sensitive bipolar person. my worst breakdown ever was according to my Pdoc, caused by the sudden change from day shift to night shift as well as a deteriorating nerve injury from work. As you would well know from your own experience our systems hate sudden abrupt changes. Now 3 years later I am ironically on a night shift schedule but not working and fine. Its very possible that you will be fine on Nightshift, but do take into account several things. What is your potential new workplace like? Is it noisy or quiet? Is it for example a manufacturing enviroment such as a factory7or a quiet enviroment like for instance a security officer guarding a quiet building ect. how many hours is the job per week? what are the lengths of the shift?

Good nutrition and a solid routine are a must, as are your meds schedule and getting plenty of sleep.

I wish you luck with your new job

Grace

Posted 4/24/2007 7:20 PM (GMT 0)

I think it comes down to personal choice , some people can and some people can't. Before my daughter was born I used to work five 12hr nights a week , I used to skip a days sleep each week and only slept for 4 or 5 hours a day BUT it might have just been an extremely long period of mania AND I was in the worst relationship ever so I was screwed up at the time.

Whatever you decide to do , I wish you well.

Smiler tongue

Posted 4/25/2007 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
It's hard too because of the pressure to accept a job.  People have told me that "Well, you are young and single, you can handle it."  And things like "Just get in where you can."  They don't understand the huge concern that I have.  And obviously I can't tell them about it.

Posted 4/26/2007 6:53 AM (GMT 0)

Yeah , I can see where you're coming from , but just think , even some "well" people are unable to handle night shifts so please don't get pressured into something you don't want to do , or that might make you unwell - you know what's best for you , remember - it's your life , not anyone elses.

Take care hun ,

Smiler tongue

Posted 4/26/2007 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi again...

My dear lady Smiler is absoloutley right in his advice and allthough I've not posted much I think I've just about read healingwell cover to cover and smiler always gives really sound, understanding and  good sound advice.

if you feel ok take the job and see how you go. I'm sorry if I made nightshift sound lhorrible lol. I was just telling you from my experience. I was working in a chicken processing plant that handled killing through to the end product packaged. it was always cold, damp and the company was less than desirable as well as being in pain fron my work injury and the most annoying thing was the *clack clack clack* of the chain line. Like chinese water torture.

i hope you do well if you decide to take the job

Grace

Posted 5/1/2007 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
I worked nights for about 6 months I found it ok but the difficulty for me was med hang overs since I really tried to stick with 8 hours sleep but often if i needed to get something done in the day that was impossible so then i had med hang overs. I did however find one benifit, mainly that while alot of people have troubles getting to sleep in the mornings my bipolar meds knocked me right out and the other benifit was that i can't sleep without them so doing nightshifts were easy cause I couldn't have slept even if i wanted to lol But I did tend to suffer more manic episodes. All you can really do is try it I think and see how it goes...
Posted 5/7/2007 7:32 AM (GMT 0)
I am bipolar II and I work a late shift most of the time. (4pm - 1am) It has taken some getting used to and it is also not consistent. I am good with naps when I need them so I suppose it is what keeps me sane. It is not something I would recommend to a friend though!
Posted 5/9/2007 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Well I won't have to worry about working nights after all.  I accepted a job offere were I won't have to work nights.  Yeah!
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