4 ms·

I used to be bi-polar, I now manage it with strict regiment of exercise, diet, and sleep. After an extended manic episode I started getting paranoid and was un

I used to be bi-polar, I now manage it with strict regiment of exercise, diet, and sleep. After an extended manic episode I started getting paranoid and was underperforming at work. I ended up seeking help and was diagnosed. I told HR and my boss and was put on a performance improvement plan shortly afterwards. It’s just a round about way of slowly getting fired which is way more stressful. I worked for one of the major internet companies. My advice would be not to tell anyone at work, let them fire you if you have to, it’s not the end of the world. Then make the lifestyle changes needed to manage your condition and build your new life around that. Unfortunately there is a stigma that will be impossible to get rid of and people will talk. This will impact future employment prospects worse than underperforming for a short period. The odds are you’ll be in the industry for a while and you’ll be better off eating a temporary setback than a more permanent one. If you need an excuse to take time off it’s way better to blame burnout. I’d recommend taking a week of vacation citing burnout. Get some sun, go surfing. If they say no, I’d go anyway, and see if they change their mind by the time your back. BTW HR is there to protect the company from lawsuits, not to help you in anyway. But seriously; do what ever you have to to make lifestyle changes. EDIT: I’m also a foreigner so I lost my work visa when I was let go. This was in 2009 and it was my first job. Few places were hiring in 2009 and I had diminishing savings. I stayed in the US as a tourist and did a visa run to Canada a couple of times. The third time they said I couldn’t do that anymore and only gave me a few weeks to pack my things and go back to my country. In my final week I got a job at different major internet company so I hung out in Canada until a new work visa came through. Looking back it was probably a good thing. It’s hard to leave a bad situation especially when your judgement is being clouded.

throwrawaygr0v 8y ago
Thank you. I like how you started it "I used to be bi-polar". After being diagnosed with bipolar I turned to zen buddhism, and after a year of being diagnosed I learned to let the "label" go. Still, can't deny I suffer (like now) or have highs, but not where near as before. I agree, I won't say anything unless critical, this is was not only for me but to show how difficult is to manage this personally, for the company and we as tech industry, since burnouts are frequent and depends on a lot of factors. Each person reacting different. I have made many of your lifestyle changes. Definitely rebooting my brain with buddhism and stoicism is still key to control my self. Playing piano is another. But right now the thing I need the most is to turn off the computer and iPhone for 1 week and get lost in nature.
- tweedledee 8y ago
  That sounds like a good idea. Lifting weight was my zen time.
  - stef25 8y ago
    First time I hear that professionally diagnosed bipolarism can be cured with "zen time". Your similar suggestion to "go surfing for a week" is not in any way serious to people with this debilitating mental illness. Don't mistake signs of burn out with bipolarism
    - Maybestring 8y ago
      Like many mental illnesses, the severity of the illness varies considerably. A single manic episode is the diagnostic requirement.
  - flanban 8y ago
    Zen means sit not lift
ModernMech 8y ago
> I used to be bi-polar I congratulate you on your success on managing your disease, but just to be clear, bi-polar disorder currently has no cure. If you are diagnosed with this disease, you have it for life until hopefully one day there is a cure. I think you realize this based on the content of your post, but I wanted to make sure anyone reading it was clear. The reason I want to be clear about this point is because many newly diagnosed sufferers believe once they stabilize they are cured, and stop taking meds. Then they relapse. It's a tale as old as time... or at least meds.
- tweedledee 8y ago
  I’m sure that if I went back to my old habits it would not be long until I experienced massive mood swings, so I don’t consider myself cured in that way. I don’t take any medication for it, but I’m also on a strict diet that would likely be intolerable to most. Perhaps a better analog would be to say, like, I used to be an addict, and I’m now in remission...
- madamelic 8y ago
  >If you are diagnosed with this disease, you have it for life until hopefully one day there is a cure. Technically you can be cured of the disorder if it is well-managed. Being neuroatypical is only a disorder if it causes distress or malfunction. If your life is good, you don't have a disorder. Yes you are correct though that there is no cure for being neuroatypical though.

throwrawaygr0v 8y ago

Thank you. I like how you started it "I used to be bi-polar". After being diagnosed with bipolar I turned to zen buddhism, and after a year of being diagnosed I learned to let the "label" go. Still, can't deny I suffer (like now) or have highs, but not where near as before. I agree, I won't say anything unless critical, this is was not only for me but to show how difficult is to manage this personally, for the company and we as tech industry, since burnouts are frequent and depends on a lot of factors. Each person reacting different. I have made many of your lifestyle changes. Definitely rebooting my brain with buddhism and stoicism is still key to control my self. Playing piano is another. But right now the thing I need the most is to turn off the computer and iPhone for 1 week and get lost in nature.

tweedledee 8y ago
That sounds like a good idea. Lifting weight was my zen time.
- stef25 8y ago
  First time I hear that professionally diagnosed bipolarism can be cured with "zen time". Your similar suggestion to "go surfing for a week" is not in any way serious to people with this debilitating mental illness. Don't mistake signs of burn out with bipolarism
  - Maybestring 8y ago
    Like many mental illnesses, the severity of the illness varies considerably. A single manic episode is the diagnostic requirement.
- flanban 8y ago
  Zen means sit not lift

ModernMech 8y ago

> I used to be bi-polar I congratulate you on your success on managing your disease, but just to be clear, bi-polar disorder currently has no cure. If you are diagnosed with this disease, you have it for life until hopefully one day there is a cure. I think you realize this based on the content of your post, but I wanted to make sure anyone reading it was clear. The reason I want to be clear about this point is because many newly diagnosed sufferers believe once they stabilize they are cured, and stop taking meds. Then they relapse. It's a tale as old as time... or at least meds.

tweedledee 8y ago
I’m sure that if I went back to my old habits it would not be long until I experienced massive mood swings, so I don’t consider myself cured in that way. I don’t take any medication for it, but I’m also on a strict diet that would likely be intolerable to most. Perhaps a better analog would be to say, like, I used to be an addict, and I’m now in remission...
madamelic 8y ago
>If you are diagnosed with this disease, you have it for life until hopefully one day there is a cure. Technically you can be cured of the disorder if it is well-managed. Being neuroatypical is only a disorder if it causes distress or malfunction. If your life is good, you don't have a disorder. Yes you are correct though that there is no cure for being neuroatypical though.