Question:
I was just wondering if bi-polar is considered a disability, and as a result
of bi-polar, how many people are unable to work?
Answer:
Most can get stabilized on meds and are able to work....
often not as well, or in same jobs as they had in
the past.....since stress is big trigger for most
they go into low stress jobs...(if they are smart)
Some never get completely stabilized and for that
reason are completely disabled....it is a legitimate
disability....
Do not know the percentages..
I was on disability for two years when I was in my early twenties but
still worked a part-time job. (as a counseler in a halfway house for
delinquent teens if you can believe it). Since then I've gone on to
earn two universty degrees and a masters which has been oh so helpful
in my career--not. I've worked low functioning jobs and high
functioning jobs, depends on where I'm at.Right now I'm at the lowest
of the low.Been hospitalized twice since I started. Not happy but
can't imagine working up the energy to do anything else. However, I do
know bps who work in very high pressure jobs and seem to do well.
I have been working for 20 years now without disability, until this go
around. Went a bit too manic and cracked up, crashed, lost my job.
When I got to the hospital they pronounced me disabled for 3-months.
Until this episode I had been highly functioning and working high
paying jobs. (even though I changed jobs every 2-3 years or so).
Ultimatly the stress got to me and it is causing me some problems, but
I am getting back on my feet.
Lower stress jobs are a great idea. I am loking into that for myself.
Well no, it is not,that is unless you get too nuts with it. Seems that
the main creiteia is the so called quality of life index and a few
other crieteria they use to evaluate you. Rule of thumb is if this so
called disease effects your family life and job it can become a
disability.
I have been considered manic, so much so that I was hospitalized
recently. I lost my job and almost lost my marriage.
The meds brought me down from it but it took 3-weeks and the shrinks
said I am now disabled for 3-monthsThat is bull -I am already back up
and running for the most part.
So in short it canm be disabling but it is not a disability, it is a
disease.
