Managing bipolar disorder in the workplace

Bipolar disorder is a medical condition that seriously affects a person's mental health. It causes unusual changes in mood, such as depression or mania. In addition, this disease also significantly reduces the patient's work performance, and adversely affects the relationships around them.

People with bipolar disorder can face a lot of the stress and unexpected challenges that everyday work brings. This can cause great damage to the mental as well as the health of the patient. Therefore, the management of bipolar disorder in the workplace is extremely necessary, helping to reduce the patient's manic and depressive levels, thereby increasing work performance.
According to the results of a recent survey, 9 out of 10 patients with bipolar disorder report that the disease has greatly affected their work performance. And most of these people tend to want to change careers or jobs more often than others. Even so, many people with bipolar disorder find that they have few opportunities for promotion or big responsibilities at work.
If not detected and treated early, bipolar disorder can have a negative impact on work performance and patient relationships. It is often treated with a combination of medication and other therapies to help patients manage bipolar disorder symptoms and find the right balance of work.

People with bipolar disorder tend to do high-intensity, short-term, project-based jobs. While this may sound consistent with the "ups and downs" of illness, experts say patients with bipolar disorder should seek out jobs with a more fixed, regular schedule. Irregular or prolonged working hours can disrupt your stability and productivity. In addition, shift jobs, sudden or frequent changes in schedules, or frequent circadian disturbances can also negatively affect your mood.
However, sometimes full-time jobs can be challenging for people with bipolar disorder. Therefore, it is best to discuss with your boss about the amount of work that is suitable for your own pace, as well as working hours.
In general, regardless of work or other activities of the day, such as eating, resting or exercising, a regular schedule is required. This will help you increase your ability to anticipate challenges and better manage the disease.
MORE: Bipolar disorder: Who is at risk?

In fact, there is no one specific job that is best suited for all people with bipolar disorder. However, you can base on some of the following criteria to determine the right job for you:
Working environment: Do you want to work in a quiet space to increase concentration? middle or not? Working hours: Generally, the daytime is the most ideal work time for people with bipolar disorder. Colleagues: Do your co-workers have a lifestyle that suits you? Creativity: Many people with this disorder often find they need creative spots. To find out if the job is right for you, you need to see if it involves creativity. And does it help you pursue creative pursuits outside of work? In addition to the above criteria, people with bipolar disorder may also use some of the following to determine their occupation:
Tasks Hours Working conditions, such as stressful or demanding physical or not Some skills needed for the job Salary and benefits Current and future workload Opportunities for advancement MORE: Is bipolar disorder dangerous?

People with bipolar disorder often worry that they have little chance of succeeding at work. However, you can actually increase your productivity at work if you know how to manage the symptoms of mania and depression.
You should turn work challenges into experiences and opportunities to learn. When you persevere through difficult times, you can completely "record" yourself many large and small merits in your work.
Here are some ways to help you manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder in the workplace, including:

4.1. Managing stress You should spend more time resting at home. This is especially important if your stress levels are rising. In addition, you can also reduce stress through deep breathing exercises, going for a walk or listening to music. You should also talk to your loved ones and talk to your doctor about any problems you're having.

4.2. Healthier lifestyle changes In addition to managing stress well, you should also make some changes in your daily lifestyle, such as getting enough sleep, exercising every day, and eating healthy foods. nutritious food.
MORE: Are frequent thoughts of the past and crying a lot a symptom of bipolar disorder?
4.3. Treating Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder Sometimes the manic symptoms of bipolar disorder help you feel most productive. However, you should still treat them, because during a manic phase, you are more likely to make mistakes, make you irritable, and even damage relationships at work. If mania is not treated early, it can lead to depression in the long run. You can use medications prescribed by your doctor to treat the symptoms of bipolar disorder. However, you need to take the medicine according to the correct schedule and store it carefully.
4.4. Seek help from a therapist You can talk to a therapist to help you work through difficult situations and manage your stress.
4.5. Managing medication side effects People with bipolar disorder usually need 8 to 12 hours of sleep each day. Some medications can make you feel jittery or drowsy at work. Talk to your doctor about changing the dose and duration of your medication to help reduce sleepiness and other side effects at work.
4.6. Pay Attention to Suspicious Symptoms Even when you feel fine, symptoms of depression and mania can still occur. After a period of depression and mania, you should take a certain amount of time to rest and recuperate.
4.7. Increase concentration: People with bipolar disorder should choose a work environment with less distractions, less noise, and lots of natural light.
4.8. Make a work plan Not only people with bipolar disorder, but everyone needs to make a specific work plan for themselves, including:
Use alarm clocks to remind about work specific for the day Make a to-do list for the day and tick off the items after completing them Break down large tasks to increase work efficiency

4.9. Developing teamwork skills You need to accept that each person has their own limits in life as well as work. Therefore, sometimes conflicts between relationships are unavoidable. Instead of building up stress, you should create a mentality ready to deal with problems that may suddenly arise. In addition, you should also be more open to hearing other people's opinions and try to absorb them instead of vehemently disagreeing.

Reference source: webmd.com