If I Knew You Were Bipolar....
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If You Knew I Were Bipolar....
How would you handle my job application?
See results without votingBooks about Bipolar Disorder from Amazon
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The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know
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Break the Bipolar Cycle: A Day-by-Day Guide to Living with Bipolar Disorder
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Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder
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Bipolar in the Workplace?
Bipolar disorder is actually a category of mood disorders. The characteristics of bipolar disorder are manic episodes which alternate with depressive episodes. Usually there is a period of "normal" moods in between these.
The answer to whether to hire someone with bipolar disorder is not one to be given a generalized answer. Some people with this disorder live relatively normal lives, as long as they recieve adequate treatment. Others are much more severe in symptoms, some even having delusions or hallucinations.
A person who is able to keep their symptoms under control with medication and psychotherapy should be welcome in an office or other work environment. Everyone, and I mean, everyone has some disability or another. Some have slight vision problems, causing them to have to wear glasses or contacts. Some people have anger issues. Some people don't like mornings. While these are not neccessarily good things, as long as they are kept under control people who have these issues should certainly be hired, provided they are qualified for the job.
On the other hand, it is not unreasonable for an employer not to hire someone who has an extreme case of bipolar disorder. Any workplace strives for cohesive efficiency, and this would certainly disrupt that machinery.
Employers should also take into account that recovery, while difficult has been known to work sometimes. However, even if a person with bipolar disorder does not "recover" they can certainly manage their symptoms by avoiding certain behaviors, such as smoking, getting too much or too little sleep, injesting too much caffeine, and not managing stress well. It is also extremely important for people with bipolar disorder to continue treatments, both medical and psychiatric.
An employer must weigh these variables when deciding whether to hire any person. Is their behavior appropriate for the workplace? If not, then not hiring them is not wrong.
For more information about bipolar disorder check out these links:
http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/default.htm
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bipolar_disorder/article_em.htm
http://www.forbes.com/2006/05/02/bipolar-disorder-workplace-cx_sr_0503bipolar.html
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2006/01/23/bipolar-in-the-workplace/
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Comments
I have been highly successful in my career partly because I have bipolar disorder. I have been able to work very long hours, flow with creativity and most importantly, empathise when my co-workers are not performing well due to personal issues. Hey, life happens! Of course it's not all roses but to avoid appointing somebody based on an illness? In my view that's as bad as overlooking them based on their ethnicity or race. Fortunately all these types of discrimination are against the law in the United Kingdom but unfortunately this type of ignorance is what so many mental health charities and professionals are working tirelessly to wipe out.
Let's focus on what we can do instead of what we can't do.
These comments mean the alot to me, thanyou, Dori
Some great info here, always wondered about it.
Good hub. I have BPD which has similar concerns. I found my student teaching to be a testing period as to whether or not I could do it. I can. In fact, it has helped me. Never let your disease stand in the way of what you want to do. Never use it as a crutch (and when I say that I mean in the long term. I know that day to day there are things that we "cant" and probably shouldn't do:)) I mean those comments in the way of encouragement and hope for the future:)
Thanks for bringing up this information. I never looked at it quite that way. My boss did not find out I had Bipolar Disorder until long after I had proven myself to be a valuable employee. Now that he knows I've noticed that he treats me 'a bit more gently' which is nice. (I think he's afraid I'll go beserk if he yells at me - LOL) Thanks again.
I liked your article on Bipolar disorder. I answered the question on if I would hire a Bipolar person. I am a nurse who has worked in patient psych and outpatient. I find that the people who take their medication and see their therapist regularly will usually do well. I think as a bipolar person you need a good rapport with your boss so you can discuss when you need to take time off of work to take care of your manic or depressive phases.
dr c says:
9 months ago
Hi-
I would and have, hired people with bipolar disorder and they have been some of my most valuable employee's and friends. I do, however think that people with mental health issues are routinely discriminated against - asking whether someone would/wouldn't hire an insulin dependent person based on their disability would be a non issue, yet mental health issues are treated very differently. I agree that Bipolar symptoms can be severe and interfere significantly with people's lives - but so can heart attacks, and we let people with high cholestrol levels work. I think it's great that you are bringing this topic up as it is one that is not openly enough discussed - thanks!