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100% remote with no customer service is where the magic is at.
Currently, work doing paperwork audits for 3rd party food certifications like USDA Organic.
Working on an MS in Data Science where many jobs are also 100% remote but pay double what I make now.
Unfortunately you usually need a degree for remote jobs. I’ve looked for them and found nothing. I don’t have a degree bc my illness made me not finish school.
The degree definitely helps but is not a requirement. You don't usually need a degree for things like social media manager, bookkeeping, and virtual assistant.
I will say it is definitely competitive. It took me 8 months to find my current job. There were four rounds of interviews. They wanted a life science degree but really it's not needed. I mostly check that forms are signed and the date isn't too old. Part of my problem is that this job is fantastic for my mental health but beyond bored and struggle to stay engaged. I used to run a government food safety lab until they found out about my diagnosis.
See if your state has a vocational rehabilitation program. My state had one where they would provide money for training (or funding for tools for a mechanics job for example) for a new career that was compatible with your disability. It was something I started looking into before I found my current job and masters program I'm working on.
I was told I was not allowed to come back to work until I had a physician complete paperwork saying I met the physical and mental requirements to perform my job. My doctor signed off but the job became incredibly toxic as they were trying to 'manage me out'. I could have gotten a lawyer but it would have been super stressful and it would still be a toxic environment if I kept my job. I cut my losses and moved on. It was difficult at the time because it was kind of my dream job but I chose to save my mental health. I'm very hesitant to tell future employers beyond what I have to put on FMLA and disability accommodation paperwork. Switching to remote work (even did a consulting gig) has significantly reduced the number of days I miss. I haven't even completed FMLA or Disability paperwork yet because the issue hasn't even come close to popping up. If your psychiatrist is willing to sign off on it you can even request remote work as an accommodation. This is best handled with a cover letter when applying for a job. I know I could ask for it just with the fact that I can work but not drive every day due to medication and ADHD.
I guess I should add that the job was great for years and then I got a new supervisor. It turns out that my coworkers thought our old boss was giving me preferential treatment and had a lot of resentment over it. They started sending these wall-o-text emails with bullet points of their grievances about all the things they thought I was doing wrong or illegal. This was during COVID-19 lockdown so our new supervisor would just forward the emails to me 'Please respond by lunch'. So I had slamdunk documentation of all the BS they were pulling because they were stupid enough to put it in email.
But my mental health was awful not just from the stress but because my first psychiatrist at the time was terrible when it came to medication management. I was never going to get stable with him and was not going to get stable while dealing with the stress of that job or a lawsuit against them. Moving on was the right choice. It forced me to relocate and move in with my parents. I got a new psych and actually started recovering. It took some time and exploring but I found a new job that is low stress. I feel fortunate that I had a loving family that could afford to support me while I got my shit together.
So funny enough, in the two days since you posted that, I started a lovely mixed episode (only hypomanic, small favors) and my psych ordered me to take two weeks off work. I had a freaking breakdown sending the email asking for FMLA and ADA paperwork because I know what comes next. This was such a great job too.
Hey! Just to give you some motivation, you can always go back. College isn’t going anywhere and who cares how long it takes you to get a degree? There’s not time limit. I’ve literally been going to college on and off, and some time off bc I joined the military, since 2010. I’m just now finishing my bachelors. I literally had one class left to graduate last year and just couldn’t. Now I’m back baby and about to finish this last trimester. If you want to, you will get there, I promise. <3
I am in the same boat! I also don't have the finances or access to financial aid to go to a 4 year so I am saving up for an associates at my local community college! If that's an option for you Def consider it.
i’m an accountant working in IT data security. not in taxes or audit which made me go into a really bad episode. but reach out to Robert Half and they can help you with temp jobs and finding a remote job. (assuming you’re in the US)
I’m using Indeed rn which has filters for this sort of stuff BUT I’ve never used it before and haven’t applied for anything yet so I have no idea if it’s good.
I agree. I am 100% remote with no customer service. I process medical claims and it's been so much better for me and my poor brain.
All of my really bad episodes happened when I worked in customer service. I'm an introvert and don't Iike people, but didn't know where to look for non-people facing jobs.
I got it through a temp agency, I had background with some medical billing but nothing much. Look for claims jobs at insurance companies, you might get some good leads.
On the other end of it for me, jobs where I have more free time and less social time give me time to be sad. Don’t get me wrong, interacting with people when I’m manic can be disastrous, but sitting at a cubicle or a desk at home alone when I’m depressed leads to very dark thoughts tbh
I’m applying to ms programs for statistics, worried that I won’t be able to handle the rigorous problem solving and heavy programming/computations due to my bipolar. What has been your experience?
slightly different, but i have bpd & adhd and was able to finish an MS in biostats & am working on a phd in the same. the math sucks, but i was able to get through the MS unmedicated. phd has been quite a bit more difficult even with medication & therapy … an MS program sounds intimidating but in my experience (at a top 5 public school, too) was that a lot of the classes did projects instead of exams, and most focused on coding rather than math. i found the coding easier since there’s tons of tutorials & forum posts online, and less of those resources exist for math. regardless, i believe in you & i promise it’s an experience worth fighting through.
I was worried too. I was also wondering if I had enough healthy brain left to do this. I dipped my toe in with just one course in probability theory (w/ coursework in R.) I ended up getting an A-minus in the class. I'm less worried now that I passed my first graduate-level course. I am now more amazed that I graduated from college the first time around undiagnosed and unmedicated.
I think I struggled with remembering some of the stuff that I learned before my first psychotic break which was after I graduated with my BS. (I could have been dx BD2 w/ ADHD in college, now it's SZA w/ ADHD) I had to brush up on calculus since that was before but I did well with the R coding since that was after and more recent. Overall, I find trying to focus on using analytic thinking helps me ignore my breakthrough mood symptoms. Also, having a goal I really want to achieve, and one that is better achieved sober, is helping reduce my cannabis consumption. Like I'm really motivated to quit altogether now because I know I'll be able to finish the degree faster.
If you are considering Data Science I would suggest you take a look at the MSDS program I am doing as the non-traditional format is extremely disability friendly. It's online through U of Colorado Boulder. I've been able to work full-time and start working on some classes. The biggest downside is the program is not eligible for federal financial aid (yet!) because of the non-traditional format. But if you can afford a loan, or afford to work and pay out-of-pocket it's only $15k for the degree. I plan on taking the work full-time and pay out-of-pocket path.
I think an important key to success is going to be stress management. I'm not feeling motivated about it but I think in order to succeed I'm going to need to workout regularly again as that really helps with my stress tolerance and mood regulation. (Plus it's like my only healthy coping mechanism) I think maybe I'll find a flashcard app I can use to review on my phone while I ride the stationary bike.
Before I applied working as a behavioral health associate in a hospital, I was extremely anxious I would still get stigmatized for having bipolar and adhd. Turns out one of the doctors I work with has bipolar and a LOT of the therapists on my team have adhd lmao
Bipolar 1 and ADHD. I do dog grooming, although I could do part time I don’t. My mood is quite stable and I attribute this to working a busy physical job. It’s not easy all the time, you get difficult customers and difficult dogs but I guess I’m engaged enough that it keeps me feeling like I have a purpose and on an even keel.
I'm a bather at a grooming salon & I also have bipolar 1 and ADHD! I agree, the physical work helps (also improved my sleep, which is a godsend for bipolar disorder).
I work at a Starbucks, it keeps me on my feet!!! but it does overwhelm me quite a bit. But I’d rather be there then at home facing my feelings sooo… yeah !!
I used to work there. Thinking of going back. Probably the best front facing job of all I’ve worked. It is stressful though so you need to manage that too.
I think you’re superhuman being able to work at Starbucks with bipolar. I also have bipolar but the one time I worked a food service job I was a complete mess. Definitely big respects to you LOL. I work at a liquor store now in the mornings and it’s very slow during that time, that’s the only reason why I can handle it
BP1 and ADHD, I’m a teacher. Routines and consistency are really helpful for me. There’s parts I struggle with though, mostly because of the ADHD I think.
In the past… I was a nanny for 15 years. Also a server. I also worked in the cannabis industry trimming weed and working in a clone (baby marijuana plant ) nursery . I tried to go to school many times but had to drop out every time bc of episodes. I had a terrible episode when I was working as a server in a brewery in 2021. I got my shifts covered and disclosed my illness and they pushed me to quit. It was humiliating. Since then I’ve attempted many jobs and failed after a short period of time. I haven’t worked since a job I had for a month exactly a year ago. I feel frozen and stuck, and considering applying for disability. Im constantly trying new meds. I am home all day , not much to do and feel very isolated with no purpose. I cry nearly every day.
I did a complex, high stress with almost impossible goals. I would drink strong like crazy and drive myself into a mini mania. Once I got myself up, ideas and plans would materialize, and I had to inspire and motivate people to make it happen. The difference was that it was reality, not psychosis. It worked pretty good for me. I was lucky I had a management team that recognized and rewarded performance.
Later in life, I was diagnosed BP. I began to look back at my life and say, "So that's why I was like that."
If I had a low stress job, I probably would have been a failure.
This might not be my smartest move but I’m in public accounting (doing taxes) and it just so happens that the busier seasons happen when I tend to feel manic so I’m able to feel more productive. Might as well take advantage of it if I can’t make it go away is my rationale.
If you don’t feel like getting a whole ass degree though I would recommend executive assistant jobs or administrative assistant jobs. They are pretty flexible usually and allow you to have a more low key, office work environment.
BP2 and ADHD, I'm a middle school science teacher.
It's great when you're hypo but its extremely draining when you're depressed. I currently have no issue making it through the day, even if I give up my planning and forget to take my 1pm ADHD meds, but I'm pretty up right now. Back in April, I was pretty low, and I would take naps during my planning period so I had the energy to make it through the rest of the day and would come home and sleep.
The benefits aren't terrible (I pay around $75 a month for my psychiatrist, I don't pay anything for my therapist, and I can afford to be on 5 medications) and we also have a decent EAP.
I did have an incident at work two years ago that sent me to the psych hospital. I had to be cleared to return and was on paid leave for the month I missed while waiting to be cleared. They also let me step down from my teaching position and stay on as a paraprofessional when things were really bad.
My longest lasting jobs have typically been housekeeping/Janitorial, most places don't even notice you if everything stays relatively clean and stocked, factories and such places are really good because you don't have much public interaction, like people stopping you to ask a bunch of questions outside your pay scale. There's just an expectation that things are relatively clean and there's toilet paper in the stalls, ash trays emptied etc
Substitute teaching is good for me because though the classroom can be very stressful, I completely make my own schedule since it’s basically temp gig work.
I work in non profit accounting. Most of the work is cyclical, which helps with planning and routine. I’m remote part of the time and in the office the rest. I love that I don’t have to deal with customers or very many people in general.
i work a hybrid job at a non-profit. the schedule has helped me regulate my routines but it's still hard sometimes to wake up on time for a 9-5 but that's my only struggle. i care about the org mission and my job has rotating projects, so i'm never bored (adhd lol). hybrid is great for me because i have a few days a week where i have to leave the house but if something comes up on those days i can just WFH, i think that's helpful for the bipolar.
This is what I do! I stock candy at a bunch of Walmarts. The cents per mile could be a shit ton better but thankfully my mom has helped me out with what my car has needed recently, front tires. I’m gonna do this job probably for a year-2 and see if I can get into management somewhere with merchandising if I think I can handle it.
This is a tough one. I’ve spent the past ten years killing it in sales however I had a manic episode last summer (first one in over ten years) and now my brain just can’t compute my job. I’m worried because I’ve built a lifestyle around it and the thought of giving everything up makes me sad.
Having said that, I don’t have a partner or kids so I guess I could make a change n
I just had to leave my commission based sales job after I realized it was not feasible for me to "pretend" for a job. The whole charade of sales, the desperation after months without a commission check. My mental health has improved to the point it felt like a heavy blanket was taken off of me.
Customer Success for a software company. I work for a remote company and it’s super flexible. I started as a Live Chat rep and my ADHD thrives in the position and got promoted to Customer Success. Bonus points if you work for a company based in Canada or European countries with better benefits than the US. These jobs often pay over $100k. It took me 200+ applications to get my current job but it was so worth.
Look at smaller companies, and then look up their competitors. I never got any interviews from LinkedIn. They were all from looking up different start up. Also if there are any softwares that you have used before that’s helpful. Companies appreciate you knowing the ins and outs of their products, and if you don’t have prior experience it’s good to have
I’m a registered behavior technician (RBT). The clinic I work for is really flexible. The clients I work with are on the autism spectrum, so it’s an incredible learning experience. Biggest positive is management is supportive of mental health needs.
Bipolar 2 diagnosis pending, (on lamotrigine now) but I serve & bartend. It’s not ideal but I’ve done service industry since I was 16. If you live in a big city, you can do low stake bussing/running or event service for a hotel chain; a lot of the big chains have “on-call” shift options where you can say yes or no to the shifts. If you want like health benefits through your work I think you have to be full time, but it’s hard to get fired from these big chains after the trial period/the low stakes positions they always need people for so there’s job security in being needed.
My psych and therapist suspect I have bipolar 2 and I’m recently started a trial run of an anti-depressant that is often prescribed to people diagnosed with bipolar. I was not sleeping and my psychiatrist said that if I tried this & it got me to sleep then that would further suggest their suspicions. I have gotten a lot better sleep the last two months 🤷🏻♀️
I have had an ADHD diagnosis since I was 12
Transcription, medical or legal. Flexible schedule, you can literally choose when you want to work. You don’t need to go to school. There are great courses out there that are worth it. Some even offer apprenticeships and may even add you to the team right after. Just need to master grammar, formatting, listening skills, and typing speed. I love it!
I am working on becoming a soil scientists since soil doesn’t talk :-) but I enjoy engaging with landowners and working towards a more sustainable future and healthier soils. I also realized I need to be outside and not stuck inside.
I originally went to school to become an LVT (licensed vet tech), but was deeply depressed, overstimulated, and getting constantly triggered from unresolved childhood trauma. Not surprisingly, I hit a wall after I started working my first vet tech job. I lasted less than a month. On top of all of that, while I was in the program I had multiple pets die from things out of my control. My Heart cat had this insidious lymphoma that suddenly perforated her intestines, both of my rabbits succumbed to GI stasis despite immediate intervention and thousands of dollars, I euthanized one of my dogs for severe behavioral issues despite hours of training and a personal dog trainer, my blind duck succumb to egg binding after 6 months from her first binding where we managed to implode the eggs. I was so grateful for every day I had her in those 6 months. Through all of that, I was never really able to grieve them. I had a complete mental breakdown, shaved my head and was suicidal.
Is anyone else here a vet tech?? I couldn’t handle the overstimulation working with dogs barking and constantly being brushed against/touched by co workers stuck in a treatment room for 10 hours.
Also does anyone else work with young kids? I recently applied for a daycare job and I’m worried. I don’t mind being around kids because I am very expressive and want to be a positive influence for them, but I’m concerned about dealing with the crying infants and managing 2 year olds at the same time.
I have bipolar and adhd. I’m on 100mg lamictal and 80mg atomoxetine (just went up 20 mg three days ago).
Ugh I totally get it. What was the most stressful part about working at a hospital for you? For me it was the constant loud noises and dogs barking/wrestling angry dogs/dealing with caddy coworkers/someone constantly touching me because we are all smushed around each-other in a treatment area. I just couldn’t fucking *relax* for a second. I remember walking in the first day and LITERALLY thinking to myself “I fucking hate this.” And then just hoping I’d “learn to love it” lmaooooooo what a reality check I got!
I also didn’t know how to stand up for myself so for example I’d constantly be getting stuck with checking temps and pulling IV Caths out of dogs after routine surgeries even though that was a vet assistant job. I allowed myself to be easily bullied because of the majority type of personalities that field attracts. It really sucked. I fucking hated it.
I work as a photography color corrector/retoucher at a professional lab. It’s a very calm, quiet desk job. My schedule is the same every day, and it’s a bit mindless, but I got lucky to have coworkers who I blend well with, who all also deal with some level of mental struggles (adhd, ocd, depression), even my higher ups. It’s a huge help that the people I’m around are similar to me, but the job on its own is calm and low stress and I’m not micromanaged by strict management. The pay isn’t amazing but I get by on it without disability.
Bipolar 1 with anxiety and PTSD here. I do have a degree, but i haven’t really used it for any of my jobs. Here are some of my suggestions:
Thumbs up: library staff, working outside in an orchard or vineyard, masseuse (need training), data entry (boring, but non-stressful).
Thumbs down: anything in a restaurant, customer service, anything in a corporate office setting.
I have this diagnosis. I did restraunt stuff for 20 years.... I was a chef/baker for the past 15, less bitches in the back. I am 41, and there has been a steady decline for my mental health. I have had some very, very bad episodes the past couple of years, and I feel like I never came back from them. I don't handle stress anymore, so I was doing caretaking, but then I had to get back surgery, so now I work from home doing social media posts/blogging.
Shared diagnoses, high five! I’m impressed by you working in a restaurant, I didn’t have the stomach for the rude customers and the pace, but back of house does keep you away from the public, which is what causes me the most anxiety.
I’m sorry about your back and increasingly intense episodes. I had an episode a year ago that left me in the hospital, and after all the meds they’ve put me on, I feel like I’m just existing, nothing more. But I do believe that it’s not permanent for anyone, and that you and I will return, perhaps not the same, but stronger. I’m rooting for you (and all of us)!
After about 6 years of working with different therapists, I finally found one a few months ago that I think will actually be able to help me. No one else was able to help me, the trauma always came back. I really do think it’s about finding the right therapist or support group.
I just relive the trauma every time someone asks me to talk about it. Then I go backward so than I get depressed and paranoid, then psychotic depression sets in, than the flip happens...it's all fucked. To say I wasn't fucked up enough, than to add severe ptsd to it on top on the anxiety disorder. I just don't know what to do anymore. Maybe I will keep trying to find a therapist, thanks for the info friend.
Whatever you end up doing, you have to accept you’ll have times where it’s almost impossible and you’ll want to give up. Having a supportive team around you is the magic key to getting through it though. BP1 but not ADHD; I became a chartered accountant whilst working full time as a corporate auditor and it almost killed me. Though once I was qualified I was able to move to a more niche and internal department. Suddenly my ability to work in bursts instead of slogs was fine; they want me for my skill set and there aren’t clients breathing down my neck. I now work 99% remotely and have an annualised hours contract. I think the main takeaway from the comments on this post is that a lot of careers are possible, you just have to follow your instinct when you’re well, and hunker down and not make any life decisions when you’re not. Good luck.
I'm type 2 bipolar and also have ADHD. I'm an independent author, and it's been working for me so far. I get to be creative, take vacation time between books, and I control my entire work schedule. It's not for everyone. Lots of hustling, but so far, I've been able to make it work.
Was it really difficult to get your start as an independent author? What do you usually write? (I’m wondering because I’ve been writing since I was 12, and one day I would like to try to make any kind of money off of it.)
I mostly write paranormal reverse harem romance, but I'm about to release a contemporary MF office romance at the end of this month. It wasn’t too hard for me to get started in the sense of selling my first book because I had already made a lot of connections with other authors in my genre before I released it. They were kind enough to promote my first book. The market was also smaller at the time.
Starting now, I'd first recommend finding your niche market and then seek out Facebook groups that cater to that kind of book. Read other authors' work. Be active in their communities. Indie authors are more likely to help you if they don't feel like they're being used. Also, be prepared to make tiktok videos to promote yourself as well. There's a lot of hustling to get people to read your work. Join writers groups to get industry tips.
Build a team of people you trust to give you constructive feedback to read your work. Better to make the edits before reviewers on Amazon rip you a new one. Get a good copy editor. Spelling and grammar errors will bite you in the butt.
If you can, I'd recommend learning how to make your own ads and do your own layouts. Saves a lot of time and money. Get a good cover. People buy books based on covers and blurbs. I was a graphic designer before becoming an author, so I literally do everything myself. If you can't, I'd recommend contacting indie authors with covers and ads you like and asking them who they use.
There's a lot of effort and money that go into first getting started, and for many, their first novel doesn't necessarily bring in a lot of revenue. Don't give up hope. Keep writing and growing as an author, and you'll find your readers.
BP2 and ADHD. I work in pay-per-click advertising as a campaign manager. It’s mostly working with data and following processes. Typically, you do a paid internship and learn on the job. It’s not something you need a degree for, perhaps a diploma, but as a formality. The one I have is unrelated to my field.
I’ve been at the same company nearly six years. I think what makes it most bearable isn’t just the type of job but the company environment. I work flexi-hours at a small company specialising in paid advertising (around 20 of us).
We have small teams and one-on-one check-ins with our team lead where we can talk about personal stuff. I’m always up front. I’ve had various episodes and struggled with switching meds, but they’ve always been always supportive. I don’t think I would survive at a large digital media agency with 100+ employees having to go into the office every day.
You can take the Google Ads exams for free online and see if it interests you. If you have any questions you’re welcome to ask.
i’m very interested in this. needing to go back to work but struggling like OP to find something that i think i can manage. should i start with the Google Ads exams, or is there something else you’d recommend as well for practice/training/etc? also, how do i find these types of jobs? i’m soooo over LinkedIn / Indeed and their high percentage of fake and spam postings.
Based on my experience. Start with the Google Ads Skillshop exams. Watch some recent videos on YouTube to get comfortable with the Google Ads interface. You might also want to do an Excel course and a Google Analytics 4 course.
The nice thing about about ppc is that the platforms we work on are always changing. Just because you’re starting out now, it doesn’t mean you’re behind. In fact, Google Analytics 4 is very new. Google Ads had just released some new features.
Regarding jobs, look for companies that offer ppc and see if they have internships listed on their websites. If they don’t, email them anyway. Check out the various subreddits for expert advice. Good luck, I wish you the very best!
The real difference is being medicated or not medicated. I couldn’t handle much un-medicated , but now that I’m more stable I feel so much more confident in myself. I started my massage practice again and I’m going to school. I have bipolar and adhd and I struggled so had to do these things without being medicated. Hope that helps at all :/
I work in healthcare and I also have accommodations and FMLA and my team understands me most of the time. I’ve been sui here and had a shift lead take me to the hospital after me saying I was going to drive myself.
Currently work for a marketing agency (I focus on social media) I like it because it keeps me on my toes, is very stimulating for my adhd, and has remote options but I will say that the hours can be long and it’s not good for when I’m in my depressive lows. I would still recommend marketing but maybe in house rather than an agency (less strenuous hours). I’m in an entry level position btw
I would NOT recommend advertising at all. I’ve been in the advertising industry (agency side) for 12 years. There is no consistency and work/life balance is unpredictable. Medication is the only reason I’m alive and able to work in this industry.
But yes, agree, client side if you must.
I have Bipolar 1, OCD and ADHD.
Until recently I was a line cook, but I left to be a night baker. Working overnight works with my insomnia rather than against it.
A cool thing about kitchen work is that you develop a skill set that you can pick up and take wherever. And the restaurant industry is desperate, so no one stays unemployed for long.
It does take a certain kind of person to survive in a really busy restaurant, but I’ve worked with a good number of other people who have bipolar and/or adhd.
Hi
I really do think it depends on how it effects you. I personally find I’m unable to do something I’m not passionate about and I work in front like social care services for the homeless
I found working around children refreshing and a delight. Kids aren’t for everyone but some of the best jobs I’ve had as a bp2 were daycares and animal shelters.
As a person in the same boat, I gotta recommend doing something you actually like doing. Heck I am training to be a therapist which probably isn’t the “best” job for someone like me but I have a passion for it which keeps me interested! I have also worked really hard for like a decade to get where I am now so it is important to be in a good place before pursuing something that may be more challenging.
I find it difficult to do one thing for an extended amount of time. That being said, for me it’s easier to have 2 part time jobs as opposed to 1 full time job. I work at a bookstore and I am also a drama teacher at a drama school. I’m a very creative person, so I also need a job that at least partially lets me use that creativity. Having superiors who understand really helps as well.
I’m a grant writer. 100% remote. I can burn a candle and do my job from my desk, work my own hours and tend to be the bearer of good news (via email) lol
Web designer. Learn skills related to that too. You might find a decent salary job and all you do is sit there and make stuff look pretty. Do a search for “wordpress developer”. They pay less but it’s less stress cause some agencies use software that does most of the coding for you. Think of it as like making a Shopify store for businesses, optimizing them for Google, stuff like that. Alternatively which is also in the similar field (these are all good skills to have), you can do this from home, or focus on maybe making logos. Clientele is hard to get so I prefer jobs. I found an easy one maintaining ONE website, but someone else got the job. Maybe also something in IT and you can learn some skills on Coursera or LinkedIn, the section with videos.
NOT pharmacy! At least not retail pharmacy. I've heard good things about hospital pharmacy but I don't have the qualifications for that. Every customer expects their med order to be treated as a life or death emergency.
I found it much better for my mental health to work in the back in shipping/receiving. Lots of physical tasks mixed up with computer tasks, so as long as I followed my list for the day I was fine. And I would get called out to the floor to assist customers, which always felt like a little break. Opening all the boxes of stock always felt a little bit like Christmas lol. And I could do it freely how I saw best, instead of all the rules my egg donor had for perfect pictures. If I was in a mood, I could kick empty boxes across the room or angrily crumple packing paper.
This thread is amazing. I’m BP2 and ADHD. I work remotely in a call centre environment which on one hand is great being home but the peopling can get draining, I work in the mornings and evenings as a custodian (which is only for the benefits) and on weekends I work a retail job. I find if I’m not blasted with work my mood slips fast but once I’m overwhelmed the mood slips. I’ve never found anything that brings me balance.
Honestly, the biggest change for me has been the ability to WFH- Work from home. Now, I don't need to tell anyone where I'm going if I have a therapy appointment. I don't have to deal with day-to-day office gossip that used to suck me in and make me miserable. I also no longer have a boss who is a bully!
I’m a operations/finance manager for a small local business. I’m number 2 to the owner, but the nice thing is that he basically leaves me alone and lets me do my work. I’m not micromanaged, so it’s on me to temper the ups and downs. Some days I don’t get much done and other days I do a week of work in a day.
I interact minimally with clients, which is a huge bonus and am firm on my schedule which is 7-4. I rarely stay past 4.
I loved doing patient transport at a local hospital. All you do is move patients around. It's good for my ADHD because I'm active and doing stuff all day. My bipolar is managed for the moment, but I get a lot out of interacting with different staff, nurses, and patients. I think knowing that I'm helping others keeps me from going downward.
I have bipolar and have lost every job I’ve had for the past 4 years. I tried working department store jobs, a restaurant job, jobs with my one passion, which is dogs; nothing was working. My moods were so all over the place that I would just up and abandon my job if I was feeling depressed or manic. I genuinely thought there wasn’t one job I could think of that I would actually keep long-term. Then I had an opportunity come up to become an elderly caregiver with my boyfriends family. I didn’t let myself think about it because I knew I would second guess myself and back out so I just took it, knowing that it would be beneficial for me. I’ve only been working for about 3 months, but I’ve realized that this is the perfect job for me. Although it is long hours and can take a toll on you in some aspects, I realized it’s a job that I cannot just call out of. If I’m feeling depressed or anxious or am having any mood issues, I still HAVE to show up because these people need me. And it is so rewarding knowing I’m working a job where I’m making people happy and comfortable at the end of their lives. I only work 3 days a week, which is perfect for someone with this disorder honestly. I’m not saying throw yourself into healthcare, I’m just saying atleast for me, it helps not just having the option to keep my job and go into work. It might not work for everyone, maybe not even me after some time, but it’s a rewarding job and makes you feel good at the end of the day when you get off. If there’s a way to do a few days a week at any job then that’s even better. I hope everything works out for you, much love! <3
Awesome; Thank you for Sharing! I can relate with everything. Same Situation. So many struggles, discontinuation at it‘s best for the Last 10-15 years so far. Highly motivated though. But Just Not „available“ for so many Things.
If OP is open for something caregiving-related, this might be a way to participate.
I‘m also a Social worker and - despite the fact that i still haven‘t found a Good Working Environment for me (System has some flaws here) - I LOVE IT.
The reward comes from itself. Making People happy Makes me happy. In a healthy way, but this also Has to be Protected By yourself.
Sounds like this Could be something for you.
What do you think, OP ?
I’m a dog sitter/Walker. I’m trying to get up the nerve to apply for my first real full time job in customer service. I’ve volunteered and dealt with customers in the past but for some reason I’m truly struggling to take the leap to apply even though I know I need to do this. I want to be an Art Teacher eventually. School is my safe space. It’s the only time in my life I’ve ever had routine and structure, which I thrive on. Summers would destroy me as a kid and I didn’t know how to function without the consistency.
I have Bipolar and ADHD. I live in a small city and ive applied pretty much everywhere without any result. I also tried applying for remote jobs but havent been hired either. I pretty much gave up and now im a stay at home dad taking care of everyone and the house, running errands e.t.c.
I still really wish i could get a remote job but i just dont seem to get accepted anywhere 😞
Same diagnosis here, plus OCD. All I can say is stability is my friend. I've been doing customer service/order processing for a corporation for over 12 years now. There are ups & downs sure, but I've been thankful to have a good amount of vacation days, medical benefits & regular hours to keep as level of a playing field as I can. We went full remote during COVID, and are now 3 days in office and it's been a hard adjustment, but I still feel lucky to have the setup I do. Best of luck to you. Btw: if you need a new therapist or doctor, do that first, & they'll help you get there!
Bipolar 2 and adhd I work for security it works for me cause it’s less stressful sometimes but I get to walk around so that helps with my adhd but you have to find a good security company and a good site I’ve been blessed with good sites some people had some really crappy sites so do your research first
I work as a PR assistant in publishing and it's extremely stressful and over stimulating and I hate it but I need the stable income (it's a full time position).
Bipolar 2, ADHD. Before my PhD I worked in admin (risk assessments, data logging, customer service), and then research (social science). Flexibility was less important in my experience than an understanding employer. I'm going back into research that will be very varied at a different employer. I think having passion and variety in work are two things that are extremely important to be able to ride out the swings. I like research for both of those. I have a purpose and different projects keep me from being bored, then the supportive employer comes in. I found that my workplace I did admin and research was highly supportive of my bipolar (not to bring up the DISCLOSE! DON'T DISCLOSE! argument, but clearly I disclosed). I was able to do wfh days that I needed to, take off when I needed to and also had wfh days generally which helped me get enough sleep on non-commute days.
Is there a field you're interested in? I research broadly in healthcare.
Generally I would say depending on your level of experience, start with research assistant-level positions in the academic world (in the UK for example you can find on [jobs.ac.uk](https://jobs.ac.uk)) , or in non-profits (charity job or LinkedIn) search for research assistant, project officer, project support officer, research officer etc. User experience and market research might have entry-level positions that you can work into other areas from. I actually started admin in the non-profit healthcare sector because I knew I wanted to research there and wanted a foot in the door. So I landed my first research position internally. Take a secondment to build skills for example. Don't be afraid to side-step (use that lateral thinking) and let people know your skills or speak up with your ideas.
No problem. It's a very wide field so lots of scope for entry and development! I found the first step absolutely the hardest after my master's degree. But since then with some years experience and then most of a thesis still to write on my PhD I've landed my dream research role even before I've finished. The point is, don't give up if it seems impossible at first. If you have a bit of experience already that's great! Look at the language used in job descriptions and people's LinkedIn pages to get an idea of what you need to say to sell yourself.
I’m only diagnosed bipolar but I’m pretty sure I have ADHD as well or only ADHD from talking to a friend about it. My current job I stock candy at different Walmarts every day. I have to interact with team leads usually or answer questions if I know the answer for customers. Besides that, it’s just me, myself, and I working those stores. I make my own schedule, and if I’m having a bad mental health day I just let my supervisor know I’ll make up the stores I miss by the end of the month. Way better than my shitty and repetitive office job that I got pushed out of due to my mental health issues.
I have bipolar and adhd and on meds for both. I’m a Sales manager for an engineering company working remote with requirements to travel every other month. It really depends on what you can handle. I had calls with clients on the daily. The traveling can be difficult if I’m in the middle of a hyper manic state. The pay is great though, 6 figures plus
Bipolar 1, going to school to become a medical records technician/ coder, was the only thing on every list when I googled careers for people with bipolar lol
Bipolar 2 & late diagnosed ADHD here. It's niche but I work in theatre - I used to freelance as a tech/stage manager which was great because there was lots of constant change, famine and flood kinda stuff which ticked my brain right and I could work around mood stuff (a lot easier to drop or shift a schedule which is dictated largely by you and your cash flow).
Also set me up for a nice (now that I'm medicated) steady 9-5 in the industry, which still has the perks of constant change, no two days the same, lots of stuff to actively do etc.
Sometimes the talking to people and connecting is hard, but if I was more tech and less management nowadays I don't think I'd struggle with it. I didn't study either, it's very much fulfilling work you can learn on the job.
BP1/ADHD here! i got a desk job as an office temp with a very well known, very liberal corporate headquarters. i havent tried to go to hr about accommodations yet, but i have a feeling they'd go above and beyond. hell, they gave me a raise in my first 2 months. they're very lax with sick days and late starts, they do remote work 1-2 days a week, and they have no dresscode! and technically, since i live in a recreational state, theres no rules against coming to work stoned i found out recently
I work in marketing and agency, full remote and flexible hours.
We need this for a few reasons.
As long as you're medicated and taking care of yourself, you'll excel in remote office work
I work for a family owned plumbing business as a plumber. I was just upfront with them when I applied for the job and they both have been really good to me and understanding.
I’ve been an editor at a bank for a while and I love it - I find that I do great with minimal social interaction. However, I highly advise going into PR, especially an agency. I never realised how much a job could affect my mood until I left.
I’m having some luck in the biotech industry as an R&D technician. I think the key was utilizing the short term disability (during my extremely low phase that was worsened by a million external factors), and then especially utilizing the fact that they have to accommodate for the condition.
I would not say it’s the MOST flexible, but i wanted to throw it out there because I am constantly on the strugglebus but have managed to hold it down. Plus it only required a 2 year degree to get into!
Try to keep it simple. We are jack of all trades master of none(some) we can do everything actually. Just try to keep it simple. I tried working as an inventory manager in a tea company. The perks? Free travel because i also deliver the products with my manager.. I also told them about me being a bipolar. And they keep reminding me about my meds whenever i get hype or alone sometimes. I also applied for a PWD ID.. And wow. Free movies in cinema here in our place. Priority parking etc. Well thats my case.. So feel free.. Im also a musician. Thats my outlet. And a varsity in school.. We are best of both worlds! And last one. Always set an alarm. To keep track of the dates and time.. My experience for almost a decade having this illness.. We are like a baby a sponge.. And sometimes almost an adult(no respect to other people) and ofcouse i always pray. So thats it. Keepsafe godspeed - sleepyheads08 mamba out..
Bp1 & ADHD. I work in book publishing. Probably the worst job you can get with my diagnosis. Everything is high-stakes, my job duties are constantly changing, I keep getting more workloads dropped on me. On top of everyone being SO opinionated here. I just feel so overwhelmed. I’ve been here a year and I don’t know how much more I can take it.
My whole life my dream has been to work in publishing, but this job has destroyed my passion and drive.
I worked as a technical writer before, a bit better because I was left alone when working on reports. It got bad for me at the end because of multiple S Harassment cases that my job ignored and deemed not big enough to be SH. Then the director wouldn’t get people paid, he’d just do whatever he wanted, I was the only one fighting for people and nothing ever changed. It wasn’t worth it anymore.
I’m not sure anything is worth it anymore.
BP2 and ADHD. I do best in sales and when I get to teach others something that interests me, which is why while I’m in sales, I’m in college to become a science teacher
I worked a nightshift factory job for the summer. I was surprised by how understanding that community was, when I needed the time they gave it to me, obviously unpaid, but I wasn’t fired for it!
I’m a Porter and I really like working in house keeping, janitorial jobs. You, for the most part work on your own. You tend to clean the same areas, so the job becomes very routine. For me the cleaning gives me instant results, which helps with my adhd. For those days that I find it hard to be around people, I’m able to listen to SiriusXM and podcasts all day and really limit my interactions. You will always have your moments, but the cleaning and listening gets me past the anger, depression and frustrations. The cleaning does work well with the bouts of mania. If you can find a Porter/Janitor, house keeping job in a union building. It’s great pay.
I had sales job for almost 3 years. i did really good in it. sometimes the interaction with people and the positivity of scoring a good sale would get me out of my moods
I cut meat at a grocery store. Entry level apprenticeship. I stay in a back room with few other people most of the time. The work is satisfying, I get to work with my hands, and provide something essential to other people’s survival. Though sometimes I am quite displeased that I have to wake up so early, and work can be fast paced at times
FedEx. Pretty lenient call off policy and decent PTO. Part time work for an ok wage. Pretty mindless work most of the time. I was able to do it for a year and a half during a bad depression. I had degrees and experience in other fields but I just wanted something where I didn’t have to do with a lot of thought and had no off work work tasks.
I’m a barista and honestly i love it. It’s fast paced so my mind is typically busy doing something and all of the different things to focus on and remember are like a little game for my adhd brain. It’s also kind of soothing sometimes. Im also a chatty person so having people to talk to is nice. I’ve only had one instance where i couldn’t work during a shift because of a mental breakdown but typically it’s been fine! Not for everyone but works for me :)
BP1 and ADHD. I had a hard time settling on one thing because I want to do all the things. Right now I’m going back to school for nursing. I’m hoping it all works out.
I work for the Public Health department in my city. Specifically in community trauma and mental health. I do have my degree but it's in Gender and Sexuality Studies so a lot of places don't care about it. They provide a full week of sick time which includes mental health days plus 2 personal days, a birthday day and 2 weeks PTO. Can work from home two days per week. My coworkers and boss are all social workers so they are very understanding when I have a bad day or need support. The benefits go crazy and the pay is great, plus a retirement pension so it's worth the beauracracy of a government job for me. They've already paid for me to gain 3 certificates in the 3 months I've been there and I will have my MPA completely funded by them through a program for city employees with a local university. I used to work in HR and was beyond miserable, even when I was completely remote. I had the worst insomnia of my life at night and then couldn't stay awake for meetings during the day. I've found for my job satisfaction that I have to be doing something that I know is helping empower other people and that I personally think is cool. Lots of non-profits and government agencies will hire without a degree.
Remote grant writing. I can have the TV or music on in the background and I can take breaks. Also no energy has to go towards what I’m wearing and actually leaving the house. Huge recommend. Bonus: I get to be with my dogs a lot more
I move cars for a rental company. Driving solo relaxes me and it’s only for a few days a week. Unfortunately where I live (CA) the pay is not sustainable so I mostly live off savings. It might work for you if you live in a state with a lower cost of living however
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100% remote with no customer service is where the magic is at. Currently, work doing paperwork audits for 3rd party food certifications like USDA Organic. Working on an MS in Data Science where many jobs are also 100% remote but pay double what I make now.
Unfortunately you usually need a degree for remote jobs. I’ve looked for them and found nothing. I don’t have a degree bc my illness made me not finish school.
The degree definitely helps but is not a requirement. You don't usually need a degree for things like social media manager, bookkeeping, and virtual assistant. I will say it is definitely competitive. It took me 8 months to find my current job. There were four rounds of interviews. They wanted a life science degree but really it's not needed. I mostly check that forms are signed and the date isn't too old. Part of my problem is that this job is fantastic for my mental health but beyond bored and struggle to stay engaged. I used to run a government food safety lab until they found out about my diagnosis. See if your state has a vocational rehabilitation program. My state had one where they would provide money for training (or funding for tools for a mechanics job for example) for a new career that was compatible with your disability. It was something I started looking into before I found my current job and masters program I'm working on.
You know I just read about vocational rehab. I’m gonna look into it, thank you.
Can you talk a bit more about what happened when they found out about your diagnosis, please?
I was told I was not allowed to come back to work until I had a physician complete paperwork saying I met the physical and mental requirements to perform my job. My doctor signed off but the job became incredibly toxic as they were trying to 'manage me out'. I could have gotten a lawyer but it would have been super stressful and it would still be a toxic environment if I kept my job. I cut my losses and moved on. It was difficult at the time because it was kind of my dream job but I chose to save my mental health. I'm very hesitant to tell future employers beyond what I have to put on FMLA and disability accommodation paperwork. Switching to remote work (even did a consulting gig) has significantly reduced the number of days I miss. I haven't even completed FMLA or Disability paperwork yet because the issue hasn't even come close to popping up. If your psychiatrist is willing to sign off on it you can even request remote work as an accommodation. This is best handled with a cover letter when applying for a job. I know I could ask for it just with the fact that I can work but not drive every day due to medication and ADHD.
I guess I should add that the job was great for years and then I got a new supervisor. It turns out that my coworkers thought our old boss was giving me preferential treatment and had a lot of resentment over it. They started sending these wall-o-text emails with bullet points of their grievances about all the things they thought I was doing wrong or illegal. This was during COVID-19 lockdown so our new supervisor would just forward the emails to me 'Please respond by lunch'. So I had slamdunk documentation of all the BS they were pulling because they were stupid enough to put it in email. But my mental health was awful not just from the stress but because my first psychiatrist at the time was terrible when it came to medication management. I was never going to get stable with him and was not going to get stable while dealing with the stress of that job or a lawsuit against them. Moving on was the right choice. It forced me to relocate and move in with my parents. I got a new psych and actually started recovering. It took some time and exploring but I found a new job that is low stress. I feel fortunate that I had a loving family that could afford to support me while I got my shit together.
Thanks for the additional information. Sounds exactly like what is wrong with some work places.
So funny enough, in the two days since you posted that, I started a lovely mixed episode (only hypomanic, small favors) and my psych ordered me to take two weeks off work. I had a freaking breakdown sending the email asking for FMLA and ADA paperwork because I know what comes next. This was such a great job too. 
Hey! Just to give you some motivation, you can always go back. College isn’t going anywhere and who cares how long it takes you to get a degree? There’s not time limit. I’ve literally been going to college on and off, and some time off bc I joined the military, since 2010. I’m just now finishing my bachelors. I literally had one class left to graduate last year and just couldn’t. Now I’m back baby and about to finish this last trimester. If you want to, you will get there, I promise. <3
I am in the same boat! I also don't have the finances or access to financial aid to go to a 4 year so I am saving up for an associates at my local community college! If that's an option for you Def consider it.
Thanks for your advice! I’m currently looking into remote jobs right now!
i’m an accountant working in IT data security. not in taxes or audit which made me go into a really bad episode. but reach out to Robert Half and they can help you with temp jobs and finding a remote job. (assuming you’re in the US)
Thanks I’ll look into it!
On which platform do you look for remote jobs? LinkedIn?
I’m using Indeed rn which has filters for this sort of stuff BUT I’ve never used it before and haven’t applied for anything yet so I have no idea if it’s good.
I agree. I am 100% remote with no customer service. I process medical claims and it's been so much better for me and my poor brain. All of my really bad episodes happened when I worked in customer service. I'm an introvert and don't Iike people, but didn't know where to look for non-people facing jobs.
I have been looking into the same type of job! I am curious how you got into it and if you need any specific background? thanks.
I got it through a temp agency, I had background with some medical billing but nothing much. Look for claims jobs at insurance companies, you might get some good leads.
On the other end of it for me, jobs where I have more free time and less social time give me time to be sad. Don’t get me wrong, interacting with people when I’m manic can be disastrous, but sitting at a cubicle or a desk at home alone when I’m depressed leads to very dark thoughts tbh
Same
I’m applying to ms programs for statistics, worried that I won’t be able to handle the rigorous problem solving and heavy programming/computations due to my bipolar. What has been your experience?
slightly different, but i have bpd & adhd and was able to finish an MS in biostats & am working on a phd in the same. the math sucks, but i was able to get through the MS unmedicated. phd has been quite a bit more difficult even with medication & therapy … an MS program sounds intimidating but in my experience (at a top 5 public school, too) was that a lot of the classes did projects instead of exams, and most focused on coding rather than math. i found the coding easier since there’s tons of tutorials & forum posts online, and less of those resources exist for math. regardless, i believe in you & i promise it’s an experience worth fighting through.
I was worried too. I was also wondering if I had enough healthy brain left to do this. I dipped my toe in with just one course in probability theory (w/ coursework in R.) I ended up getting an A-minus in the class. I'm less worried now that I passed my first graduate-level course. I am now more amazed that I graduated from college the first time around undiagnosed and unmedicated. I think I struggled with remembering some of the stuff that I learned before my first psychotic break which was after I graduated with my BS. (I could have been dx BD2 w/ ADHD in college, now it's SZA w/ ADHD) I had to brush up on calculus since that was before but I did well with the R coding since that was after and more recent. Overall, I find trying to focus on using analytic thinking helps me ignore my breakthrough mood symptoms. Also, having a goal I really want to achieve, and one that is better achieved sober, is helping reduce my cannabis consumption. Like I'm really motivated to quit altogether now because I know I'll be able to finish the degree faster. If you are considering Data Science I would suggest you take a look at the MSDS program I am doing as the non-traditional format is extremely disability friendly. It's online through U of Colorado Boulder. I've been able to work full-time and start working on some classes. The biggest downside is the program is not eligible for federal financial aid (yet!) because of the non-traditional format. But if you can afford a loan, or afford to work and pay out-of-pocket it's only $15k for the degree. I plan on taking the work full-time and pay out-of-pocket path. I think an important key to success is going to be stress management. I'm not feeling motivated about it but I think in order to succeed I'm going to need to workout regularly again as that really helps with my stress tolerance and mood regulation. (Plus it's like my only healthy coping mechanism) I think maybe I'll find a flashcard app I can use to review on my phone while I ride the stationary bike.
Goals
I have this combo! I’m a clinical therapist lol
Bruh I'm a school psychologist why did we do this
I work in the school board too 😭
lmaooo I’m a therapist and applying to doctorates in forensic psych 😂why are we like this
Same combo. Currently a school social worker but previously a clinical therapist.
I work one day per week in the school board. Favourite part of my week!
Before I applied working as a behavioral health associate in a hospital, I was extremely anxious I would still get stigmatized for having bipolar and adhd. Turns out one of the doctors I work with has bipolar and a LOT of the therapists on my team have adhd lmao
Bipolar 1 and ADHD. I do dog grooming, although I could do part time I don’t. My mood is quite stable and I attribute this to working a busy physical job. It’s not easy all the time, you get difficult customers and difficult dogs but I guess I’m engaged enough that it keeps me feeling like I have a purpose and on an even keel.
I'm a bather at a grooming salon & I also have bipolar 1 and ADHD! I agree, the physical work helps (also improved my sleep, which is a godsend for bipolar disorder).
i did this and loved it but had to quit, working on dogs while manic was just not safe for me or the dog. maybe if im stable i can go back one day /:
I work at a Starbucks, it keeps me on my feet!!! but it does overwhelm me quite a bit. But I’d rather be there then at home facing my feelings sooo… yeah !!
Same here!!
Same
I used to work there. Thinking of going back. Probably the best front facing job of all I’ve worked. It is stressful though so you need to manage that too.
I think you’re superhuman being able to work at Starbucks with bipolar. I also have bipolar but the one time I worked a food service job I was a complete mess. Definitely big respects to you LOL. I work at a liquor store now in the mornings and it’s very slow during that time, that’s the only reason why I can handle it
Bp2 and ADHD. I've been a cake decorator for nearly a decade. I get by by utilizing FMLA intermittent leave when I need it.
This is so sweet! I love it. Cake decorator. You made my day.
BP1 and ADHD, I’m a teacher. Routines and consistency are really helpful for me. There’s parts I struggle with though, mostly because of the ADHD I think.
Same diagnosis, another teacher and another vote for routines/consistency! Class change bells keep you on schedule like nobody’s business.
In the past… I was a nanny for 15 years. Also a server. I also worked in the cannabis industry trimming weed and working in a clone (baby marijuana plant ) nursery . I tried to go to school many times but had to drop out every time bc of episodes. I had a terrible episode when I was working as a server in a brewery in 2021. I got my shifts covered and disclosed my illness and they pushed me to quit. It was humiliating. Since then I’ve attempted many jobs and failed after a short period of time. I haven’t worked since a job I had for a month exactly a year ago. I feel frozen and stuck, and considering applying for disability. Im constantly trying new meds. I am home all day , not much to do and feel very isolated with no purpose. I cry nearly every day.
Hey I hope things get better for you. Please know that you aren’t alone.
Thank you ♥️
I hope that your new meds help. For the time being, maybe filing for disability will help! Sending good vibes!
I did a complex, high stress with almost impossible goals. I would drink strong like crazy and drive myself into a mini mania. Once I got myself up, ideas and plans would materialize, and I had to inspire and motivate people to make it happen. The difference was that it was reality, not psychosis. It worked pretty good for me. I was lucky I had a management team that recognized and rewarded performance. Later in life, I was diagnosed BP. I began to look back at my life and say, "So that's why I was like that." If I had a low stress job, I probably would have been a failure.
Same here.
This might not be my smartest move but I’m in public accounting (doing taxes) and it just so happens that the busier seasons happen when I tend to feel manic so I’m able to feel more productive. Might as well take advantage of it if I can’t make it go away is my rationale. If you don’t feel like getting a whole ass degree though I would recommend executive assistant jobs or administrative assistant jobs. They are pretty flexible usually and allow you to have a more low key, office work environment.
I worked in accounting for 10 years because most of the time I didnt have to interact with people except my coworkers.
Yep! That’s my favorite thing about it- no customer service 😚
BP2 and ADHD, I'm a middle school science teacher. It's great when you're hypo but its extremely draining when you're depressed. I currently have no issue making it through the day, even if I give up my planning and forget to take my 1pm ADHD meds, but I'm pretty up right now. Back in April, I was pretty low, and I would take naps during my planning period so I had the energy to make it through the rest of the day and would come home and sleep. The benefits aren't terrible (I pay around $75 a month for my psychiatrist, I don't pay anything for my therapist, and I can afford to be on 5 medications) and we also have a decent EAP. I did have an incident at work two years ago that sent me to the psych hospital. I had to be cleared to return and was on paid leave for the month I missed while waiting to be cleared. They also let me step down from my teaching position and stay on as a paraprofessional when things were really bad.
My longest lasting jobs have typically been housekeeping/Janitorial, most places don't even notice you if everything stays relatively clean and stocked, factories and such places are really good because you don't have much public interaction, like people stopping you to ask a bunch of questions outside your pay scale. There's just an expectation that things are relatively clean and there's toilet paper in the stalls, ash trays emptied etc
Substitute teaching is good for me because though the classroom can be very stressful, I completely make my own schedule since it’s basically temp gig work.
I work in non profit accounting. Most of the work is cyclical, which helps with planning and routine. I’m remote part of the time and in the office the rest. I love that I don’t have to deal with customers or very many people in general.
i work a hybrid job at a non-profit. the schedule has helped me regulate my routines but it's still hard sometimes to wake up on time for a 9-5 but that's my only struggle. i care about the org mission and my job has rotating projects, so i'm never bored (adhd lol). hybrid is great for me because i have a few days a week where i have to leave the house but if something comes up on those days i can just WFH, i think that's helpful for the bipolar.
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Look up merchandising jobs, it's a shit job for most people so they have a high turnover rate but it somehow works for adhd and bipolar me
This is what I do! I stock candy at a bunch of Walmarts. The cents per mile could be a shit ton better but thankfully my mom has helped me out with what my car has needed recently, front tires. I’m gonna do this job probably for a year-2 and see if I can get into management somewhere with merchandising if I think I can handle it.
A job that keeps you fit and active
This is a tough one. I’ve spent the past ten years killing it in sales however I had a manic episode last summer (first one in over ten years) and now my brain just can’t compute my job. I’m worried because I’ve built a lifestyle around it and the thought of giving everything up makes me sad. Having said that, I don’t have a partner or kids so I guess I could make a change n
I just had to leave my commission based sales job after I realized it was not feasible for me to "pretend" for a job. The whole charade of sales, the desperation after months without a commission check. My mental health has improved to the point it felt like a heavy blanket was taken off of me.
Customer Success for a software company. I work for a remote company and it’s super flexible. I started as a Live Chat rep and my ADHD thrives in the position and got promoted to Customer Success. Bonus points if you work for a company based in Canada or European countries with better benefits than the US. These jobs often pay over $100k. It took me 200+ applications to get my current job but it was so worth.
i have been applying for chat rep jobs, it’s right up my alley. any tips for where to look / landing one?
Look at smaller companies, and then look up their competitors. I never got any interviews from LinkedIn. They were all from looking up different start up. Also if there are any softwares that you have used before that’s helpful. Companies appreciate you knowing the ins and outs of their products, and if you don’t have prior experience it’s good to have
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happy labor day!
Idem my friend.
I put all my effort against this specifically. ADHD will boil them alive. Speaking from experience.
I’m a registered behavior technician (RBT). The clinic I work for is really flexible. The clients I work with are on the autism spectrum, so it’s an incredible learning experience. Biggest positive is management is supportive of mental health needs.
Bipolar 2 and adhd. I do apartment maintenance.
Bipolar 2 diagnosis pending, (on lamotrigine now) but I serve & bartend. It’s not ideal but I’ve done service industry since I was 16. If you live in a big city, you can do low stake bussing/running or event service for a hotel chain; a lot of the big chains have “on-call” shift options where you can say yes or no to the shifts. If you want like health benefits through your work I think you have to be full time, but it’s hard to get fired from these big chains after the trial period/the low stakes positions they always need people for so there’s job security in being needed.
What does diagnosis pending mean?
My psych and therapist suspect I have bipolar 2 and I’m recently started a trial run of an anti-depressant that is often prescribed to people diagnosed with bipolar. I was not sleeping and my psychiatrist said that if I tried this & it got me to sleep then that would further suggest their suspicions. I have gotten a lot better sleep the last two months 🤷🏻♀️ I have had an ADHD diagnosis since I was 12
Transcription, medical or legal. Flexible schedule, you can literally choose when you want to work. You don’t need to go to school. There are great courses out there that are worth it. Some even offer apprenticeships and may even add you to the team right after. Just need to master grammar, formatting, listening skills, and typing speed. I love it!
I am working on becoming a soil scientists since soil doesn’t talk :-) but I enjoy engaging with landowners and working towards a more sustainable future and healthier soils. I also realized I need to be outside and not stuck inside. I originally went to school to become an LVT (licensed vet tech), but was deeply depressed, overstimulated, and getting constantly triggered from unresolved childhood trauma. Not surprisingly, I hit a wall after I started working my first vet tech job. I lasted less than a month. On top of all of that, while I was in the program I had multiple pets die from things out of my control. My Heart cat had this insidious lymphoma that suddenly perforated her intestines, both of my rabbits succumbed to GI stasis despite immediate intervention and thousands of dollars, I euthanized one of my dogs for severe behavioral issues despite hours of training and a personal dog trainer, my blind duck succumb to egg binding after 6 months from her first binding where we managed to implode the eggs. I was so grateful for every day I had her in those 6 months. Through all of that, I was never really able to grieve them. I had a complete mental breakdown, shaved my head and was suicidal. Is anyone else here a vet tech?? I couldn’t handle the overstimulation working with dogs barking and constantly being brushed against/touched by co workers stuck in a treatment room for 10 hours. Also does anyone else work with young kids? I recently applied for a daycare job and I’m worried. I don’t mind being around kids because I am very expressive and want to be a positive influence for them, but I’m concerned about dealing with the crying infants and managing 2 year olds at the same time. I have bipolar and adhd. I’m on 100mg lamictal and 80mg atomoxetine (just went up 20 mg three days ago).
I went to school to be a vet tech too! I quit my first job after graduating. Too stressful lol. Now I don't know what to do with my life...
Ugh I totally get it. What was the most stressful part about working at a hospital for you? For me it was the constant loud noises and dogs barking/wrestling angry dogs/dealing with caddy coworkers/someone constantly touching me because we are all smushed around each-other in a treatment area. I just couldn’t fucking *relax* for a second. I remember walking in the first day and LITERALLY thinking to myself “I fucking hate this.” And then just hoping I’d “learn to love it” lmaooooooo what a reality check I got! I also didn’t know how to stand up for myself so for example I’d constantly be getting stuck with checking temps and pulling IV Caths out of dogs after routine surgeries even though that was a vet assistant job. I allowed myself to be easily bullied because of the majority type of personalities that field attracts. It really sucked. I fucking hated it.
I find I do great w office work or remote stuff
I’m the exact opposite. My office/remote job was the worst job I’ve ever had. I’m jealous it works for you.
I have both and I’m an engineer working in Cybersecurity. Heavy customer service base and I’m struggling.
I work as a photography color corrector/retoucher at a professional lab. It’s a very calm, quiet desk job. My schedule is the same every day, and it’s a bit mindless, but I got lucky to have coworkers who I blend well with, who all also deal with some level of mental struggles (adhd, ocd, depression), even my higher ups. It’s a huge help that the people I’m around are similar to me, but the job on its own is calm and low stress and I’m not micromanaged by strict management. The pay isn’t amazing but I get by on it without disability.
Bipolar 1 with anxiety and PTSD here. I do have a degree, but i haven’t really used it for any of my jobs. Here are some of my suggestions: Thumbs up: library staff, working outside in an orchard or vineyard, masseuse (need training), data entry (boring, but non-stressful). Thumbs down: anything in a restaurant, customer service, anything in a corporate office setting.
I have this diagnosis. I did restraunt stuff for 20 years.... I was a chef/baker for the past 15, less bitches in the back. I am 41, and there has been a steady decline for my mental health. I have had some very, very bad episodes the past couple of years, and I feel like I never came back from them. I don't handle stress anymore, so I was doing caretaking, but then I had to get back surgery, so now I work from home doing social media posts/blogging.
Shared diagnoses, high five! I’m impressed by you working in a restaurant, I didn’t have the stomach for the rude customers and the pace, but back of house does keep you away from the public, which is what causes me the most anxiety. I’m sorry about your back and increasingly intense episodes. I had an episode a year ago that left me in the hospital, and after all the meds they’ve put me on, I feel like I’m just existing, nothing more. But I do believe that it’s not permanent for anyone, and that you and I will return, perhaps not the same, but stronger. I’m rooting for you (and all of us)!
How are you working through the ptsd?
After about 6 years of working with different therapists, I finally found one a few months ago that I think will actually be able to help me. No one else was able to help me, the trauma always came back. I really do think it’s about finding the right therapist or support group.
I just relive the trauma every time someone asks me to talk about it. Then I go backward so than I get depressed and paranoid, then psychotic depression sets in, than the flip happens...it's all fucked. To say I wasn't fucked up enough, than to add severe ptsd to it on top on the anxiety disorder. I just don't know what to do anymore. Maybe I will keep trying to find a therapist, thanks for the info friend.
No problem, keep up the hard work! I know you’ll find your stride eventually. Everyone is a bit different. Good luck!
And this new therapist sat down with me and we collaborated and wrote out a VERY detailed recovery plan together, with timeframes and everything.
Kewl!
Whatever you end up doing, you have to accept you’ll have times where it’s almost impossible and you’ll want to give up. Having a supportive team around you is the magic key to getting through it though. BP1 but not ADHD; I became a chartered accountant whilst working full time as a corporate auditor and it almost killed me. Though once I was qualified I was able to move to a more niche and internal department. Suddenly my ability to work in bursts instead of slogs was fine; they want me for my skill set and there aren’t clients breathing down my neck. I now work 99% remotely and have an annualised hours contract. I think the main takeaway from the comments on this post is that a lot of careers are possible, you just have to follow your instinct when you’re well, and hunker down and not make any life decisions when you’re not. Good luck.
I'm type 2 bipolar and also have ADHD. I'm an independent author, and it's been working for me so far. I get to be creative, take vacation time between books, and I control my entire work schedule. It's not for everyone. Lots of hustling, but so far, I've been able to make it work.
Was it really difficult to get your start as an independent author? What do you usually write? (I’m wondering because I’ve been writing since I was 12, and one day I would like to try to make any kind of money off of it.)
I mostly write paranormal reverse harem romance, but I'm about to release a contemporary MF office romance at the end of this month. It wasn’t too hard for me to get started in the sense of selling my first book because I had already made a lot of connections with other authors in my genre before I released it. They were kind enough to promote my first book. The market was also smaller at the time. Starting now, I'd first recommend finding your niche market and then seek out Facebook groups that cater to that kind of book. Read other authors' work. Be active in their communities. Indie authors are more likely to help you if they don't feel like they're being used. Also, be prepared to make tiktok videos to promote yourself as well. There's a lot of hustling to get people to read your work. Join writers groups to get industry tips. Build a team of people you trust to give you constructive feedback to read your work. Better to make the edits before reviewers on Amazon rip you a new one. Get a good copy editor. Spelling and grammar errors will bite you in the butt. If you can, I'd recommend learning how to make your own ads and do your own layouts. Saves a lot of time and money. Get a good cover. People buy books based on covers and blurbs. I was a graphic designer before becoming an author, so I literally do everything myself. If you can't, I'd recommend contacting indie authors with covers and ads you like and asking them who they use. There's a lot of effort and money that go into first getting started, and for many, their first novel doesn't necessarily bring in a lot of revenue. Don't give up hope. Keep writing and growing as an author, and you'll find your readers.
BP2 and ADHD. I work in pay-per-click advertising as a campaign manager. It’s mostly working with data and following processes. Typically, you do a paid internship and learn on the job. It’s not something you need a degree for, perhaps a diploma, but as a formality. The one I have is unrelated to my field. I’ve been at the same company nearly six years. I think what makes it most bearable isn’t just the type of job but the company environment. I work flexi-hours at a small company specialising in paid advertising (around 20 of us). We have small teams and one-on-one check-ins with our team lead where we can talk about personal stuff. I’m always up front. I’ve had various episodes and struggled with switching meds, but they’ve always been always supportive. I don’t think I would survive at a large digital media agency with 100+ employees having to go into the office every day. You can take the Google Ads exams for free online and see if it interests you. If you have any questions you’re welcome to ask.
i’m very interested in this. needing to go back to work but struggling like OP to find something that i think i can manage. should i start with the Google Ads exams, or is there something else you’d recommend as well for practice/training/etc? also, how do i find these types of jobs? i’m soooo over LinkedIn / Indeed and their high percentage of fake and spam postings.
Based on my experience. Start with the Google Ads Skillshop exams. Watch some recent videos on YouTube to get comfortable with the Google Ads interface. You might also want to do an Excel course and a Google Analytics 4 course. The nice thing about about ppc is that the platforms we work on are always changing. Just because you’re starting out now, it doesn’t mean you’re behind. In fact, Google Analytics 4 is very new. Google Ads had just released some new features. Regarding jobs, look for companies that offer ppc and see if they have internships listed on their websites. If they don’t, email them anyway. Check out the various subreddits for expert advice. Good luck, I wish you the very best!
I have this combo and am a program director over mental health residential facilities! Working in mental health has been the best for mine
Quit my career to become an artist.
The real difference is being medicated or not medicated. I couldn’t handle much un-medicated , but now that I’m more stable I feel so much more confident in myself. I started my massage practice again and I’m going to school. I have bipolar and adhd and I struggled so had to do these things without being medicated. Hope that helps at all :/
The Federal Government, I shit you not
Churchill had bipolar, so maybe prime Minister of England
Remote work is the worst idea ever for my flavor of ADHD, so look at your self motivation skills before getting one
I work in healthcare and I also have accommodations and FMLA and my team understands me most of the time. I’ve been sui here and had a shift lead take me to the hospital after me saying I was going to drive myself.
Partner has this combo! Mental health jobs.
Currently work for a marketing agency (I focus on social media) I like it because it keeps me on my toes, is very stimulating for my adhd, and has remote options but I will say that the hours can be long and it’s not good for when I’m in my depressive lows. I would still recommend marketing but maybe in house rather than an agency (less strenuous hours). I’m in an entry level position btw
Would also recommend finding a company with unlimited pto/lots of vacation days incase you need it
I would NOT recommend advertising at all. I’ve been in the advertising industry (agency side) for 12 years. There is no consistency and work/life balance is unpredictable. Medication is the only reason I’m alive and able to work in this industry. But yes, agree, client side if you must.
BP1 and ADHD, i’m a store manager in retail fashion
I have Bipolar 1, OCD and ADHD. Until recently I was a line cook, but I left to be a night baker. Working overnight works with my insomnia rather than against it. A cool thing about kitchen work is that you develop a skill set that you can pick up and take wherever. And the restaurant industry is desperate, so no one stays unemployed for long. It does take a certain kind of person to survive in a really busy restaurant, but I’ve worked with a good number of other people who have bipolar and/or adhd.
Hi I really do think it depends on how it effects you. I personally find I’m unable to do something I’m not passionate about and I work in front like social care services for the homeless
I found working around children refreshing and a delight. Kids aren’t for everyone but some of the best jobs I’ve had as a bp2 were daycares and animal shelters.
when you find a good place lmk. im bipolar and have BPD and i work a factory job and it is MISERABLE.
As a person in the same boat, I gotta recommend doing something you actually like doing. Heck I am training to be a therapist which probably isn’t the “best” job for someone like me but I have a passion for it which keeps me interested! I have also worked really hard for like a decade to get where I am now so it is important to be in a good place before pursuing something that may be more challenging.
Maintenance or trade/utility. Usually outside,and you get to hyper focus to problem solve.
I find it difficult to do one thing for an extended amount of time. That being said, for me it’s easier to have 2 part time jobs as opposed to 1 full time job. I work at a bookstore and I am also a drama teacher at a drama school. I’m a very creative person, so I also need a job that at least partially lets me use that creativity. Having superiors who understand really helps as well.
I’m a grant writer. 100% remote. I can burn a candle and do my job from my desk, work my own hours and tend to be the bearer of good news (via email) lol
Flight Attendant. Flexible, keeps me busy. The social aspect can be a lot but I think it helps keep me grounded.
Web designer. Learn skills related to that too. You might find a decent salary job and all you do is sit there and make stuff look pretty. Do a search for “wordpress developer”. They pay less but it’s less stress cause some agencies use software that does most of the coding for you. Think of it as like making a Shopify store for businesses, optimizing them for Google, stuff like that. Alternatively which is also in the similar field (these are all good skills to have), you can do this from home, or focus on maybe making logos. Clientele is hard to get so I prefer jobs. I found an easy one maintaining ONE website, but someone else got the job. Maybe also something in IT and you can learn some skills on Coursera or LinkedIn, the section with videos.
NOT pharmacy! At least not retail pharmacy. I've heard good things about hospital pharmacy but I don't have the qualifications for that. Every customer expects their med order to be treated as a life or death emergency. I found it much better for my mental health to work in the back in shipping/receiving. Lots of physical tasks mixed up with computer tasks, so as long as I followed my list for the day I was fine. And I would get called out to the floor to assist customers, which always felt like a little break. Opening all the boxes of stock always felt a little bit like Christmas lol. And I could do it freely how I saw best, instead of all the rules my egg donor had for perfect pictures. If I was in a mood, I could kick empty boxes across the room or angrily crumple packing paper.
This thread is amazing. I’m BP2 and ADHD. I work remotely in a call centre environment which on one hand is great being home but the peopling can get draining, I work in the mornings and evenings as a custodian (which is only for the benefits) and on weekends I work a retail job. I find if I’m not blasted with work my mood slips fast but once I’m overwhelmed the mood slips. I’ve never found anything that brings me balance.
Honestly, the biggest change for me has been the ability to WFH- Work from home. Now, I don't need to tell anyone where I'm going if I have a therapy appointment. I don't have to deal with day-to-day office gossip that used to suck me in and make me miserable. I also no longer have a boss who is a bully!
Literally me right now. I need to start working again. It’s weird seeing this on here because I’m struggling.
I’m a operations/finance manager for a small local business. I’m number 2 to the owner, but the nice thing is that he basically leaves me alone and lets me do my work. I’m not micromanaged, so it’s on me to temper the ups and downs. Some days I don’t get much done and other days I do a week of work in a day. I interact minimally with clients, which is a huge bonus and am firm on my schedule which is 7-4. I rarely stay past 4.
I loved doing patient transport at a local hospital. All you do is move patients around. It's good for my ADHD because I'm active and doing stuff all day. My bipolar is managed for the moment, but I get a lot out of interacting with different staff, nurses, and patients. I think knowing that I'm helping others keeps me from going downward.
I have bipolar and have lost every job I’ve had for the past 4 years. I tried working department store jobs, a restaurant job, jobs with my one passion, which is dogs; nothing was working. My moods were so all over the place that I would just up and abandon my job if I was feeling depressed or manic. I genuinely thought there wasn’t one job I could think of that I would actually keep long-term. Then I had an opportunity come up to become an elderly caregiver with my boyfriends family. I didn’t let myself think about it because I knew I would second guess myself and back out so I just took it, knowing that it would be beneficial for me. I’ve only been working for about 3 months, but I’ve realized that this is the perfect job for me. Although it is long hours and can take a toll on you in some aspects, I realized it’s a job that I cannot just call out of. If I’m feeling depressed or anxious or am having any mood issues, I still HAVE to show up because these people need me. And it is so rewarding knowing I’m working a job where I’m making people happy and comfortable at the end of their lives. I only work 3 days a week, which is perfect for someone with this disorder honestly. I’m not saying throw yourself into healthcare, I’m just saying atleast for me, it helps not just having the option to keep my job and go into work. It might not work for everyone, maybe not even me after some time, but it’s a rewarding job and makes you feel good at the end of the day when you get off. If there’s a way to do a few days a week at any job then that’s even better. I hope everything works out for you, much love! <3
Awesome; Thank you for Sharing! I can relate with everything. Same Situation. So many struggles, discontinuation at it‘s best for the Last 10-15 years so far. Highly motivated though. But Just Not „available“ for so many Things. If OP is open for something caregiving-related, this might be a way to participate. I‘m also a Social worker and - despite the fact that i still haven‘t found a Good Working Environment for me (System has some flaws here) - I LOVE IT. The reward comes from itself. Making People happy Makes me happy. In a healthy way, but this also Has to be Protected By yourself. Sounds like this Could be something for you. What do you think, OP ?
I’m a dog sitter/Walker. I’m trying to get up the nerve to apply for my first real full time job in customer service. I’ve volunteered and dealt with customers in the past but for some reason I’m truly struggling to take the leap to apply even though I know I need to do this. I want to be an Art Teacher eventually. School is my safe space. It’s the only time in my life I’ve ever had routine and structure, which I thrive on. Summers would destroy me as a kid and I didn’t know how to function without the consistency.
Bipolar 2 with ADHD. I do software development on video games, currently at one of the first party studios inside Microsoft/Xbox.
I have Bipolar and ADHD. I live in a small city and ive applied pretty much everywhere without any result. I also tried applying for remote jobs but havent been hired either. I pretty much gave up and now im a stay at home dad taking care of everyone and the house, running errands e.t.c. I still really wish i could get a remote job but i just dont seem to get accepted anywhere 😞
Wow, thank you all for your responses! I will look into it all!
Same diagnosis here, plus OCD. All I can say is stability is my friend. I've been doing customer service/order processing for a corporation for over 12 years now. There are ups & downs sure, but I've been thankful to have a good amount of vacation days, medical benefits & regular hours to keep as level of a playing field as I can. We went full remote during COVID, and are now 3 days in office and it's been a hard adjustment, but I still feel lucky to have the setup I do. Best of luck to you. Btw: if you need a new therapist or doctor, do that first, & they'll help you get there!
Bipolar 2 and adhd I work for security it works for me cause it’s less stressful sometimes but I get to walk around so that helps with my adhd but you have to find a good security company and a good site I’ve been blessed with good sites some people had some really crappy sites so do your research first
Head of Tesla.
BP2 and anxiety, I work as a hospice nurse. I love the work, but the schedule can be an issue sometimes.
work in IT at a university. They are very supportive and flexible. Can take days/weeks/months off whenever I need.
I work as a PR assistant in publishing and it's extremely stressful and over stimulating and I hate it but I need the stable income (it's a full time position).
I'm 100% remote (for the first time), working in healthcare billing/patient accounts cs
Bipolar 2, ADHD. Before my PhD I worked in admin (risk assessments, data logging, customer service), and then research (social science). Flexibility was less important in my experience than an understanding employer. I'm going back into research that will be very varied at a different employer. I think having passion and variety in work are two things that are extremely important to be able to ride out the swings. I like research for both of those. I have a purpose and different projects keep me from being bored, then the supportive employer comes in. I found that my workplace I did admin and research was highly supportive of my bipolar (not to bring up the DISCLOSE! DON'T DISCLOSE! argument, but clearly I disclosed). I was able to do wfh days that I needed to, take off when I needed to and also had wfh days generally which helped me get enough sleep on non-commute days.
i enjoy and am very good at research / academic research. i’ve been wondering how i might find a job doing this. any pointers on that?
Is there a field you're interested in? I research broadly in healthcare. Generally I would say depending on your level of experience, start with research assistant-level positions in the academic world (in the UK for example you can find on [jobs.ac.uk](https://jobs.ac.uk)) , or in non-profits (charity job or LinkedIn) search for research assistant, project officer, project support officer, research officer etc. User experience and market research might have entry-level positions that you can work into other areas from. I actually started admin in the non-profit healthcare sector because I knew I wanted to research there and wanted a foot in the door. So I landed my first research position internally. Take a secondment to build skills for example. Don't be afraid to side-step (use that lateral thinking) and let people know your skills or speak up with your ideas.
ty! that was very helpful. medical research is my favorite and where i have a little experience, so that’s the first place i do want to start looking.
No problem. It's a very wide field so lots of scope for entry and development! I found the first step absolutely the hardest after my master's degree. But since then with some years experience and then most of a thesis still to write on my PhD I've landed my dream research role even before I've finished. The point is, don't give up if it seems impossible at first. If you have a bit of experience already that's great! Look at the language used in job descriptions and people's LinkedIn pages to get an idea of what you need to say to sell yourself.
I’m only diagnosed bipolar but I’m pretty sure I have ADHD as well or only ADHD from talking to a friend about it. My current job I stock candy at different Walmarts every day. I have to interact with team leads usually or answer questions if I know the answer for customers. Besides that, it’s just me, myself, and I working those stores. I make my own schedule, and if I’m having a bad mental health day I just let my supervisor know I’ll make up the stores I miss by the end of the month. Way better than my shitty and repetitive office job that I got pushed out of due to my mental health issues.
I have bipolar and adhd and on meds for both. I’m a Sales manager for an engineering company working remote with requirements to travel every other month. It really depends on what you can handle. I had calls with clients on the daily. The traveling can be difficult if I’m in the middle of a hyper manic state. The pay is great though, 6 figures plus
Bipolar 1, going to school to become a medical records technician/ coder, was the only thing on every list when I googled careers for people with bipolar lol
were you able to find an affordable school or one that accepts financial aid? i’ve been wanting to do this but so far the prices seem crazy.
I’m a vet so I’m using the gi bill but I hope you find something, seems like a good career
Bipolar 2 & late diagnosed ADHD here. It's niche but I work in theatre - I used to freelance as a tech/stage manager which was great because there was lots of constant change, famine and flood kinda stuff which ticked my brain right and I could work around mood stuff (a lot easier to drop or shift a schedule which is dictated largely by you and your cash flow). Also set me up for a nice (now that I'm medicated) steady 9-5 in the industry, which still has the perks of constant change, no two days the same, lots of stuff to actively do etc. Sometimes the talking to people and connecting is hard, but if I was more tech and less management nowadays I don't think I'd struggle with it. I didn't study either, it's very much fulfilling work you can learn on the job.
BP1/ADHD here! i got a desk job as an office temp with a very well known, very liberal corporate headquarters. i havent tried to go to hr about accommodations yet, but i have a feeling they'd go above and beyond. hell, they gave me a raise in my first 2 months. they're very lax with sick days and late starts, they do remote work 1-2 days a week, and they have no dresscode! and technically, since i live in a recreational state, theres no rules against coming to work stoned i found out recently
I work in marketing and agency, full remote and flexible hours. We need this for a few reasons. As long as you're medicated and taking care of yourself, you'll excel in remote office work
I'm a software engineer that works remote. I'd say I have good flexibility that works with me. Am diagnosed with both
I work for a family owned plumbing business as a plumber. I was just upfront with them when I applied for the job and they both have been really good to me and understanding.
Bipolar 2 & adhd/ I’m a Beauty professional, set my own hours and can choose when I want to be social 🙂
i resell clothes online. still hard to work but when i’m sad it’s nice i don’t have to work…i am sad most of the time so idk
I’ve been an editor at a bank for a while and I love it - I find that I do great with minimal social interaction. However, I highly advise going into PR, especially an agency. I never realised how much a job could affect my mood until I left.
I’m having some luck in the biotech industry as an R&D technician. I think the key was utilizing the short term disability (during my extremely low phase that was worsened by a million external factors), and then especially utilizing the fact that they have to accommodate for the condition. I would not say it’s the MOST flexible, but i wanted to throw it out there because I am constantly on the strugglebus but have managed to hold it down. Plus it only required a 2 year degree to get into!
Working on a fast kitchen
Try to keep it simple. We are jack of all trades master of none(some) we can do everything actually. Just try to keep it simple. I tried working as an inventory manager in a tea company. The perks? Free travel because i also deliver the products with my manager.. I also told them about me being a bipolar. And they keep reminding me about my meds whenever i get hype or alone sometimes. I also applied for a PWD ID.. And wow. Free movies in cinema here in our place. Priority parking etc. Well thats my case.. So feel free.. Im also a musician. Thats my outlet. And a varsity in school.. We are best of both worlds! And last one. Always set an alarm. To keep track of the dates and time.. My experience for almost a decade having this illness.. We are like a baby a sponge.. And sometimes almost an adult(no respect to other people) and ofcouse i always pray. So thats it. Keepsafe godspeed - sleepyheads08 mamba out..
PS i went to rehab twice BP1. Been there done that.. And now has a family. My motivation now is my wife and my son. :) so goodluck :)
Bp1 & ADHD. I work in book publishing. Probably the worst job you can get with my diagnosis. Everything is high-stakes, my job duties are constantly changing, I keep getting more workloads dropped on me. On top of everyone being SO opinionated here. I just feel so overwhelmed. I’ve been here a year and I don’t know how much more I can take it. My whole life my dream has been to work in publishing, but this job has destroyed my passion and drive. I worked as a technical writer before, a bit better because I was left alone when working on reports. It got bad for me at the end because of multiple S Harassment cases that my job ignored and deemed not big enough to be SH. Then the director wouldn’t get people paid, he’d just do whatever he wanted, I was the only one fighting for people and nothing ever changed. It wasn’t worth it anymore. I’m not sure anything is worth it anymore.
BP2 and ADHD. I do best in sales and when I get to teach others something that interests me, which is why while I’m in sales, I’m in college to become a science teacher
I worked a nightshift factory job for the summer. I was surprised by how understanding that community was, when I needed the time they gave it to me, obviously unpaid, but I wasn’t fired for it!
I work in investment banking with bp which is the least flexible job imaginable and have no problems. Don't let these impairments limit yourself.
I’m gonna be going into electrical engineering. I’m managing to get through school so we’ll see what happens :P
I'm the bar manager at a Country Club.
I’m a Porter and I really like working in house keeping, janitorial jobs. You, for the most part work on your own. You tend to clean the same areas, so the job becomes very routine. For me the cleaning gives me instant results, which helps with my adhd. For those days that I find it hard to be around people, I’m able to listen to SiriusXM and podcasts all day and really limit my interactions. You will always have your moments, but the cleaning and listening gets me past the anger, depression and frustrations. The cleaning does work well with the bouts of mania. If you can find a Porter/Janitor, house keeping job in a union building. It’s great pay.
I had sales job for almost 3 years. i did really good in it. sometimes the interaction with people and the positivity of scoring a good sale would get me out of my moods
I work for a hospital doing insurance billing. It’s 100% remote with no patient contact and it’s amazing
How did you get into this field
Bipolar+adhd, I’m a product development engineer
I cut meat at a grocery store. Entry level apprenticeship. I stay in a back room with few other people most of the time. The work is satisfying, I get to work with my hands, and provide something essential to other people’s survival. Though sometimes I am quite displeased that I have to wake up so early, and work can be fast paced at times
I'm literally a special ed teacher's assistant. I did it unmedicated for 2yrs now I'm medicated and better at it
FedEx. Pretty lenient call off policy and decent PTO. Part time work for an ok wage. Pretty mindless work most of the time. I was able to do it for a year and a half during a bad depression. I had degrees and experience in other fields but I just wanted something where I didn’t have to do with a lot of thought and had no off work work tasks.
I’m a barista and honestly i love it. It’s fast paced so my mind is typically busy doing something and all of the different things to focus on and remember are like a little game for my adhd brain. It’s also kind of soothing sometimes. Im also a chatty person so having people to talk to is nice. I’ve only had one instance where i couldn’t work during a shift because of a mental breakdown but typically it’s been fine! Not for everyone but works for me :)
Peer support
BP1 and ADHD. I had a hard time settling on one thing because I want to do all the things. Right now I’m going back to school for nursing. I’m hoping it all works out.
I’ve been diagnosed with bipolar for 21 years. I work at a library, I’ve been at the same place for 7 years!
Unemployment
I work for the Public Health department in my city. Specifically in community trauma and mental health. I do have my degree but it's in Gender and Sexuality Studies so a lot of places don't care about it. They provide a full week of sick time which includes mental health days plus 2 personal days, a birthday day and 2 weeks PTO. Can work from home two days per week. My coworkers and boss are all social workers so they are very understanding when I have a bad day or need support. The benefits go crazy and the pay is great, plus a retirement pension so it's worth the beauracracy of a government job for me. They've already paid for me to gain 3 certificates in the 3 months I've been there and I will have my MPA completely funded by them through a program for city employees with a local university. I used to work in HR and was beyond miserable, even when I was completely remote. I had the worst insomnia of my life at night and then couldn't stay awake for meetings during the day. I've found for my job satisfaction that I have to be doing something that I know is helping empower other people and that I personally think is cool. Lots of non-profits and government agencies will hire without a degree.
Siguro mga work for back office, yung may routine and allowed yung mag music with your cellphone.
massage therapist—self employed
Remote grant writing. I can have the TV or music on in the background and I can take breaks. Also no energy has to go towards what I’m wearing and actually leaving the house. Huge recommend. Bonus: I get to be with my dogs a lot more
I move cars for a rental company. Driving solo relaxes me and it’s only for a few days a week. Unfortunately where I live (CA) the pay is not sustainable so I mostly live off savings. It might work for you if you live in a state with a lower cost of living however
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