#136: Are You Calling it “Quits” on Work Life?

FROM THIS SHOW:

Do you have a love-hate relationship with your job? Does the word “work” induce memories of work-less worthlessness for you?

When you live with an active manic depressive disorder, the answer is usually just as bipolar.

On the one hand you are immensely grateful for having a job while loathing the days you cannot work due to intense symptoms on the other.

So how do you get to that elusive zone of work-life stability when the “living” part just won’t leave you alone and let you get on with it?

On today’s show, Mike jumps back in on a heavily-requested topic—for those of us in the working or careered phase of our lives, how should we do it wisely?

The answer is surprisingly simple and exciting.

You don’t want to miss it!

Listen to the podcast:

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TAKEAWAYS

• Thinking about “work life” success doesn’t need to be the focus of your recovery from the worst bipolar episodes, but you do need a picture of yourself that is healthy enough to keep you going when all seems like an impossible uphill trudge back to life.

• When you increase your mastery over managing your bipolar brain, having this diagnosis no longer excludes you from finding lasting enjoyment in the life of your work.

• Doing your best work ever means leaving the image of yourself as weak and incapable behind. You must do whatever it takes to improve what you think when you look at your decisions in the mirror.

Lifer Discussion Guide

Use the questions in today’s Lifer Guide to assist you over any hurdles you may have to clear as you address your mental health. These are special conversations!

“Lifers” are people who have unwavering faithfulness. This assures you that they’ll stick by you through all the highs and lows that are normal for a life with mental health challenges. If you haven’t nominated a lifelong family member or friend as part of your non-medical support team, what are you waiting for? :-)

The Questions:

1) What’s your work situation like right now—are you enjoying it much?

2) When a signal pops up in your brain that it’s getting too sick to manage in the workplace, what’s been your typical plan to work through that?

3) Looking at your relationship with your peers and superiors or clients at work, is it hard for you to ask for time off or to ask for adjustments in your work demands when this happens with bipolar?

4) How do you know when it’s time to look for a better-fitting job or business type? / Does this apply to you right now?

5) Is there anything that brings you down when you think about yourself in the workplace nowadays? / Who could we work with to change that outlook around?

Join the Tribe!

Once you’ve had a chance to talk or journal about these things you might have a question from this episode. If so, make sure you head on over to The Bipolar Now Podcast Network on Facebook! There’s quite a few people over there who are also taking a new step in their mental health. And we’d love for you to share your story with us when you’re ready. So don’t miss out!