Bipolar Support Group

I am curious about whether/how BP affects your career choice?

I am a type-A organized perfectionist when it comes to work, but I've been more successful with jobs and school than any other area in my life (like relationships). I've always planned on teaching. I currently work in a one-on-one tutoring environment and LOVE it, but I'm becoming anxious as I think about student teaching and my career.

I do know, however, that I function well with routine, a schedule, and an intellectual challenge, so hopefully it will work out.

I'm just curious about what careers you have all chosen:

Does BP play a factor in this?

Did you change careers because of BP?

I look forward to your responses

I did well in college and often thought about teaching, but the thought never went far because I am hyper sensitive in front of people and can't handle that. I work, currently on leave, for a collections agency. I think before my leave started I was on burnout. I had to have a structure to everything I did, which often clashed with the wants of my managers. They are not too super organized, which irritates me.

Not sure what my BP does other than trying to make everything routine whether it ultimately is beneficial or not.

I'm super-organized and can't seem to keep a job for very long at all. I've started two businesses of my own in an attempt to not go on SSDI, which is my next option. The jobs always start out great, but then they screw it up or I screw it up. Job-hopping is very common among BP's. Just some food for thought. ut

I tend to try to stay away from jobs where I would have to deal with a lot of people throughout the day. I want to do something where I can work from home, preferably running a business online. I WAS doing quite well selling coins on ebay before I went super manic and ended up in the hospital. With all of my compulsive spending and getting way behind while in the hospital I ruined that venture. I really do not want to be on social security but that is looking like a good option with all the debt I am now in.

I have no idea what I want to do, and that could be because I am always changing my mind. But I'm not sure how common that is. I don't wanna go through my life with a "temp job" because I don't know what to do.

I was the executive director of a psychotherapy office and pediatric practice. I was promoted to that position within 6 months (I started out as a receptionist and then became a "life coach" because I had not earned my certification in clinical psychology.) Need I say that this was during an extended hypomanic episode? Eventually, the suicide (by hanging) of one of my youngest clients deeply hurt me on a personal level. I lost the ability to clinically distance myself from the problems of my patients. As a result, I lost my job and my professional reputation.

So here I am, with degrees in pre-med, psychology, and fine art, (the next step was my MD), and yet I cannot even hold down a "recovery" job (ie low stress while healing). I was on track to be a psychiatrist... and now I rely on one to keep me balanced.

I am unorganized, impulsive, non dependable, and have a horrendous sleep schedule. On a positive note, I consider my bipolar to be a "cursed gift". While I have difficulty being involved in mainstream employment, I have found that I have become much more attune to my creative side. I'm currently considering teaching a belly dance class.

You know what they say... life is what happens when you're making other plans.

I just graduated with my Bachelors of Science in Organizational Leadership this May. I currently work in the finance field. I would like to work in a position that would enable me to help people. I think I could use my degree to do this by working in the health field such as a nursing home. I would love to work with elderly people. I think this kind of work would help with the depression part of my bi polar.

I'm working on my phd and will be a research scientist. I thought that I wanted this more than becoming an MD, but now that I'm a couple years into my program I'm certain I was dead wrong. I wish I had gone to med school instead, and I wish I didn't already have an MS, so that I could leave this program with one, and then apply to med school in 2 years. I feel like this is a royal waste of time, and it pains me to get out of bed and go to lab every day.

My old boss thinks that I feel this way because I've been so depressed since I got to this campus, but I'm not sure if it's that, or I just don't like what I'm doing or where I'm doing it.

The kind of thinking required for research is exhausting, and I don't know if I can face a lifetime of it. Gagh.

I am employed in a medical assistant job that requires an associates degree. I ultimately finished a master's degree in a field I never pursued, and am now investing in real estate with a partner. I believe I am performing way below my intellectual potential (professionally), but am probably functioning at my emotional potential (this is the most stress I can handle and still mostly control my mood swings and anxiety- I have never worked full time). I'm always looking for ways to reduce stress...

Post edited by: bestican, at: 07/14/2009 09:48 PM

I'm another PhD student struggling with my crazy career choice: not having a fixed schedule and a constantly absent boss is pushing me to the limits. I had many ambitious plans for the future but I understand that the price I'll have to pay for it may be too high.

One thing I observed is that I can hardly manage to be very effective at work AND in personal relationships, since this is taking way to much of my energies. I have to find a balance between the two and decide what I'm willing to give up and what not. What a wonder, I still can't make up my mind about it!