LinkedIn Question Asks About Bipolar in the Workplace

A friend on LinkedIn recently answered one of my questions about bipolar experiences in the workplace. You may find my profile and my questions/answers at www.linkedin.com/in/diannewandruff.

Our feelings swell, rising and falling

She says, “Thanks so much for sharing this and raising this topic. I struggled a lot with how to answer – privately or publicly, because I have the same “disorder” and I feel and suffer from the mistrust, the lack of knowledge and the stigma, disdain, etc., that I am met with when (i.e.) applying for a job. I have chosen to be open about my disease (at my workplace, with family and friends) and I have the viewpoint that I don’t really wanna work ANYWHERE that doesn’t have the flexibility and tolerance to (want to) understand what this really is. I’m monitored at an exceptional high level at the Danish Competence Center for Affective Disorders (depression and bipolar diseases) – which makes me a much less inclined candidate for stress induced depression than most professionals in my field.

Anyway: you asked for experiences. Recently I applied for a job that I was very qualified for. I had all the competencies they required. I had extensive experience in all the tasks/projects described as part of the job. I had a huge network relevant to the job and which could make a positive contribution to the success of the challenges ahead.

At the interview I spoke openly about my “disease”. The boss in charge of the hiring said that “I had no idea that depression is an actual disease”. When he called to tell me I didn’t get the job, he said that the reason they said no, was that he wasn’t convinced that I was “well enough”… That is an exceptional learning curve… From not knowing that depression is disease that you can get effective treatment for – to being a diagnostic expert being capable of knowing my current situation. (My therapist and my psychiatrist both say I’m stable and ready to work full-time…).

What I find comfort in believing is this: Be who you are. Bipolar disease is a blessing and a curse and there is valuable and effective help to get.”

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