Bipolar Disorder and Work – reader question

bipolarhappens.com reader question

Julie,

When you say you have trouble finding a comfortable place to work, do you mean creating good physical surroundings? Finding an appropriate setting? Balancing solitude with working with people? Just curious.

Hi!

It’s all of those things. I guess my main problem is brain fog when it comes to focusing on thing I have to do in order. For example, I have a ton of deadlines in the next week. A book chapter is due. I have to get ready for my DBSA (Depression Bipolar Support Alliance) presentation for the September conference and I have to get copy ready for a class I’m teaching. If I have one project- I can complete it very easily. Having five or six projects jumbles my mind. I make a lot of charts! Another problem is that a lot of my work brings money in months and months later- such as writing a book. So I have to work on what is financially viable first, but sometimes that is not what has to get done!

I like working in crowds while I listen to my ipod. So that is not a problem.

I often find chairs and the height of tables a problem. I never work at home as I get too distracted! It’s for all of these ridiculous roadblocks is why I wrote Get it Done When You’re Depressed. The reason I WILL meet all of my deadlines is because of the tips in that book.

I’m excited that I can work again. It’s a miracle. But no one told me the scheduling would be so hard. My brain just stops and if I’m not really careful the depression comes back pretty strongly!

Julie

1 comment to Bipolar Disorder and Work – reader question

  • Tena

    I was fired last year several months after being promoted from a job which fit my skill set perfectly. My job was assimilated by the tier of management performing the new duties I was promoted into. I wasn’t able to manage all the components – more varied paper components, more deadlines, fewer relational aspects. I’m still licking my wounds, and have settled on a relatively low dose of one, and only one, mood stabilizer. After my longest depression yet, and menopause too, I’m now interviewing again, hoping to find the right fit. Ready to say I know my limitations, I know my personality and work style. I am intelligent and organized, but may focus and prioritize projects differently than the 8-ball-juggler (whom I deeply admire). I do one-thing-at-a-time-perfectly, and no longer try to be all things to all people all the time.