Bipolar Support Group

So this morning I told my immediate supervisor that I am being treated for MDD and BP. The only reasons I chose to tell her were because a) We have a mandatory meeting scheduled this morning that I will have to miss for my emergency pdoc appt to get my meds tweaked (and I have missed other meetings), and b) Because I didn't want her to think I was pregnant with all the work I am missing the appointments I have.

I didn't have to tell her - I lied to my previous employer - but for some reason I trust her. She was very understanding and told me that she would work with me and to let her know if there is anything that I need. Now I found out that the mandatory meeting this morning is cancelled. I feel a little sick to my stomach that I told her now. Part of me is wishing I could take the words back. I really do trust her, but I hate having more people know unesscesarily.

These last few days have really been crappy and I had a bad morning - maybe I am just worrying too much. I do have quite a tendency to project.

Oh well, nothing I can do now. Off to the pdoc for more drugs!

If she is someone you can trust then it's not a bad thing you told her. Now she can work with you and if you need time off she will be more understanding and willing to work with you to achieve the help you need.

That was my thinking too. Which is why the "logical" part of my brain convinced me to tell her. I hope it works out that way.

I am back from the pdoc who "officially" says I have BPII. He has put me on depakote to replace the Seroquel. Anyone had luck with depakote?

I think, if she is trustworthy- and she sounds like it, then you did an okay thing. You can't take it back. Trust your instincts and maybe start enjoying someone else on your side. You may occassionally provide her with some literature on BP disorder- she can read it or not, but it may help educater her on what she may expect. I wish you the best with this situation.

I too think you did the right thing under your circumstances. Though, in one of my past situations, when experiencing a sever bout of depressions, I went to a supervisor and explained my circumstances (even cried in his office). He was so supportive of me that he even gave me his home phone and personal cell phone numbers if i ever needed to just talk to him. Then ... corporate restructuring came about. As a self insured company, they had all the payments made to the therapist. When the 'new' guy reviewed my personnel file, he saw me as 'the weakest link' in the department regardless of my seven year successful tenure, including three promotions, with the company. To make a long story short, three years after the change, I resigned and moved onto another company. Simply could not handle the necessary (and probably illegal) environment he created and how he put a stop to my transferring to another department three times. He had to have the control over me ... the narcissistic individual in him ... and I was 'weak' so I was a prime target. the only thing left that he could not control was my resignation ... and he even wanted to interfere with that.

A word of advise: Use caution!

I'm sorry you experienced that 2ofme... my heart feels you.

Picking who to tell is hard. Who do you trust, will they tell? You just never know. I usually go with my guy instinct and pray it's right. I'm not one to hide my illness, so people know. I was diagnosed while I was working at my job and just let everyone know. They don't treat me any different, I'm not that different than what I showed of myself. I'm glad I told because I can educate them. People ask me questions and I answer to the best of my knowledge. One girl even asks for advice about her schizophrenic sister in-law. It could be a good thing, especially if she is willing to work for you and is so understanding. I wish you the best of luck. There is a lot of discrimination against us at times and I hope you don't experience it. I pray she will keep her word and work with you. You did what you felt was right. Try not to worry too much.

Thank you for all the support. I really do feel in my gut that it will be OK in the long run. I had to go with what I thought would be best. I feel better about it now and she is not treating me differently.