Can a Person with Bipolar Work?

A disease like bipolar is ever changing experience, one that can’t always be predicted beforehand. Though there comes a time the longer you’ve had bipolar the more adaptable you become, the more you learn what you can and can’t handle.

    Everyone is different; everyone handles life in a different way. Everyone can learn to cope and live a productive life, yes even with bipolar. Not everyone can handle a job, and that’s ok, but everyone can learn healthy coping skills, yet even so not all can work, but if you were to ask me is it possible, yes it is for some.

   Let me briefly share my experience with working. When it was at its worst, I couldn’t even function, in day to day activities, never mind working outside the home. It was something that I wanted to do,, felt anger and experienced guilt because I was unable to work’s couldn’t even hold a job down without getting fired from so many days off. I felt so useless in helping our family financially. I could not contribute, I honestly felt like a burden to my husband who worked so hard to provide for his family. Have you ever felt these feelings?

     My husband was so supportive most of the time; it was tough on him at times. He always told me my first priority is to take care of myself and get stable. I will provide for you and God will provide for us, that’s, what he always told me. I tired numerous times to step out into the work force, only to get let go because I d miss so many days’ wanted to feel normal and work like everyone else, but I just couldn’t. I cried a lot at night, when don was fast asleep, he never knew about those nights, not until many years later.

    My depression kept my housebound for quite a awhile, then finally after years of therapy and correct medications and a lot of support and prayers, I finally was stable enough to take that big step and start working. Then cancer struck and that took me out of the workforce again. Then finally after I beat the big C…. I was able to look to my future with Hope and started working as a toddler teacher that is until my physical health took a toll, not the tumors this time, but chronic painful disease with no cure.

      I haven’t been able to work since end of 2009. And I hate that fact, I had overcome so much after so many years with the bipolar keeping me from work, then saw my dream come true only for it to be taken again.

    You need to believe in yourself, it don’t matter what anyone else says, its not their life, and YOU know YOU best, silence all those voices that said you can’t. Show them what you’re capable of. Take small steps, you might just surprise yourself. Doors will open that you never thought would. Your confidence will soar. But remember small goals. You don’t know what lies over that horizon. I never thought id be writing, though I’ve loved writing for as long as I can remember. I never thought id be writing on a international level, God opened doors not just for this blog but for me to blog for the international bipolar foundation website.

 God has opened the floodgates of blessings to come forth pouring in. He used my story and my pain and that bipolar is not the end all. It doesn’t have to confine you or your dreams. If you believe and you work hard, it all will be worth it. Set the goals, but don’t overdo or push yourself so you have too high expectations. Much Love and remember reach for the  stars and never stop shining~

Raging Against the Bipolar Rage~

     Do you ever feel like your raging against yourself, like you’re fighting a monster within? Today’s topic is Bipolar Rage. What is it, and how do we cope when you feel so out of control. This is very real and can be very scary for anyone, for those who are just starting out on this journey, it can feel overwhelming. I’m here to explain it from my personal experiences with this, and give you positive ways to learn to cope.

   In the early days of my diagnosis, this rage was something that I really struggled with. It was like I was watching myself, act out, as if I was a totally different person. There is a lot of those days, that I cant remember because I was so out of it, so I had to ask my husband what those days, those moments were like. He told me that a lot of times I felt misunderstood, or that I couldn’t get others to understand how I was feeling, and the more they tried to help me the more I would rage, I just couldn’t see they were trying to help me. When you are going through an episode, you don’t think straight.

   I was a much laid back kind of person, so when this rage reared its ugly head, I didn’t know what it was or how to deal with it and the emotions I was feeling. Bipolar Rage is very real, its sudden unexpected outbursts of anger and aggression.

   Mine  came out on myself, It was a inward battle I fought, I raged  on the outside, while inside I screamed loudly, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears. I hated what I did, and I felt so out of control. All the emotions that I didn’t understand, or know how to process just came bubbling over. But I have to say the rage was the worst for me, I would zone out a lot, and later remember what I said or what I broke. A lot of guilt would flow since id break things that had sentimental value to me. I know id say things that hurt my husband when I was going through one of these episodes and I felt so awful afterwards, I would just cry in his arms. And yet all the while, he was so understanding and patient with me.

   Its very important to understand this rage and why it happens. It’s also important to understand the triggers that throw you into a episode, its all part of the coping process, Whether it’s a stressful situation in our lives or a person in our lives that sets us off. We need to know what to avoid and how to cope in healthy, positive ways.

   One thing that I want to emphasis through sharing my story and blog is<Bipolar can be treated, and you can learn how to deal with the inner rage. Stability is a goal that can be achieved! Its important to learn why you feel the way you do, once a therapist is able to help you work through these feelings, you will have a a better understanding of why you do what you do. Then you learn positive alternatives to cope when those stressful triggering situations arise, so you don’t act out irrationally.

    I remember the days when my rage seemed out of control, and of course there si the fear if people know they will label you crazy or will walk away. Understanding this helps you not only deal with it, but if your spouse or friend or even child has rage, you will understand where it is they are coming from. You are not alone. There is Hope and I can tell you from personal experience that Ive been stable for 11 years. And off most of my meds, with doctors approval and im leading a stable and happy life. I dealt with my feelings, I learned its not healthy to just tuck our pain inside deep in our hearts, emotions are a gift from God, and learning how to cope, is so important. We don’t need to feel out of control. God has brought much Healing into the dark crevasses of my life, and shined  Hope and light into them, and now I can share my story and offer Hope to all who need it. I’m here if you have any questions, or need a listening ear.