I’ve suffered from mental health problems on and off since adolescence, but I didn’t get the official “bipolar 1” diagnosis until just last year, when I was 25. I always did very well academically in school, but struggled socially. I had to transfer back to a state university in my hometown after just one semester away. Since graduation, I’ve had two negative experiences with employers. Each experience led to serious burnout and emotional distress.
Ironically enough, I haven’t actually used my degree at all. I never really cared for my field of study and only chose it because I thought there would be lots of job options. In reality, there aren’t very many opportunities, especially for young people, but even if there were, I don’t think I would want those jobs now. The exceedingly high stress levels and constantly changing regulations wouldn’t be healthy for me.
So now I’m exploring new career ideas…that’s what brought me back to CC, almost ten years after my initial college search. I’ll look into vocational counselors in the area and see if there are any who specialize in working with people with mental illnesses.
I think you’ve already gotten some stellar advice here. I’ll just add my encouragement to keep sharing with your parents (and perhaps a few close friends, as you feel comfortable.) Speaking as someone who has lived with depression for more than 30 years, it will help to monitor how you’re doing.
My D1 just completed her first year at a university about 13 hours from home. She did quite well the first few months, then went to counseling, saw some doctors, and was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, and sensory processing disorder. She didn’t tell anyone, struggled with a couple of classes and couldn’t ask for assistance – which is one of the symptoms of her anxiety – and ended up between an academic rock and hard place. Only then did she give us any idea of what had been going on.
We’re working to get her started on meds and into counseling, but she’ll have to either stay home for a semester (or more) or be committed to letting her school friends and us help her to stay on track with medications and therapy. The jury is still out.
Bravo to you for the progress you’ve made to date, and your willingness to try new things to improve the quality of your life. You have my admiration!
Jym, we were given that 95% statistic for ADHD in the bipolar population by one of the head psychiatrists at MGH’s pediatric center for bipolar disorder, maybe in 2010. You may have more current information. In my own view, I would think that bipolar disorder itself might bring some of the challenges diagnosed as ADHD. However, with excellent results for treatment of bp 1 in one of my kids, I see no resolution of her problems with focus : ) Despite incredible effort.
I think every brain is unique and don’t find differentiating in terms of labels that helpful anyway, but my agenda is simple, unlike insurance companies who need codes!