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Husbands Job--Night Shift

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Bipolar Disorder
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Posted 4/24/2017 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
My husband has bipolar disorder and is super healthy and stable. He takes his meds sleeps regularly and has an amazing job. However, he was told that for 30 days he would need to work night shift. He is going to request an accommodation from work to not have to do this. Is it possible that he could work the night shift? It would only be 1 time for the 30 days and he would keep the same schedule for the entire 30 days (even weekends). Has anyone done this? We don't know how his request will go and we need him to keep his job.

Any thoughts and comments are appreciated!
Alison
Posted 4/25/2017 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Alison, wounderful to hear your hubby is stable and excelling in spite of his illness. I have Bipolar 1 and tapid cycler and no where near your hubbys stability. However, I would support a consultation with your hisbands psychiatrist as soon as possible to get their medical advice for your situation. And this would be a good time if it is not favourable fpr your husband; is to request a nondisclosure about his diagnosis but a professional reccomendation that he is not able to comply because of health complexities. Not to sure what else I can offer, it is a tough situation. Sorry to hear the stress it must be causing you all.
Posted 4/25/2017 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
I’m bipolar 1, meaning I can have the full mania without the meds to help control that.

I worked night shift for 5 years as a security guard, and I never had any trouble with that.

I would have been on Lithium, which helps bring down the mania and helps lift the depression, and an anti-depressant.

30 days working night shift for a bipolar on their meds should be a piece of cake.

If he starts to have trouble, he can always take a tranquilizer to calm down. But I never had to, but I would always have known I had them in case I needed them.

The night shift actually has advantages: the bosses are all at home asleep. The pressure goes way down.

You’ll wonder why you ever worked day shift, when all the bosses are walking around.

The drawback is, Monday through Friday is going to be OK. It’s when Saturday comes, and you suddenly have to go from sleeping in the daytime, to sleeping at night. Same thing for Sunday night, but not as bad.

Come Monday night, you’ll be back to OK, going in at midnight, we’ll say.

If he’s going to work weekends, there’ll be no problem at all. There will no change of his sleep schedule, from sleeping during the day, to sleeping at night.

Does he have any tranquilizers?

He can talk to his doctor about the change to night and tranquilizers if he doesn’t have any.

If he has trouble sleeping, I would recommend Melatonin from the health food store.

I wouldn’t cause a big disturbance about your husband might not be able to handle it.

If something happens, hey, take a tranquilizer, get over it.

These are just my views from having worked at night as a manic-depressive.
Posted 4/25/2017 11:50 AM (GMT 0)
Good Morning!

Thank you both so much. It isn't just my husband I find inspiring it is people like you as well...who go out there and demonstrate to people who think those people with a mental illness are undeserving of being treated fairly.

An update since yesterday's post, my husband spoke to HR and they were extremely accepting of this candid conversation and are very willing to work with him on the night shift issue as they do not want him to go and do something that could make him sick even though he has had no relapse in 6 years. However, his former employer is claiming he is dangerous and has a grave medical condition that will impede his work. This kind of thinking about people living and coping with bipolar disorder that absolutely shatters my heart. I wish there were more I could do to break the stigma it is so unfair. If anyone met him they would never know there is anything wrong!
Posted 4/25/2017 12:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Alison,

Welcome to the forum smile

I am glad that your hubby spoke to HR and they are very supportive and accepting. Having support can be very helpful. It sounds like like they are very caring and compassionate.

I am sorry his former employer is not supportive. I guess that it why it is his former employer. Lol

I hope things work out for him at this job.

UA
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