Back to Work

I am, to be honest, more than a little excited to be able to state that I am heading back to work next week. After being out on disability for what will be just a few days short of four months, I am relieved to know that there is a job waiting for me.

As I described in my last post, I was feeling quite anxious about not knowing how I was going to provide for my family. Thankfully, I'm not being thrown out on the street to fend for myself. I'm sure it's also a relief to my family. (The kids have started asking recently when I would be going back to work. I now have an answer for them.)

I will be working part-time for a couple of weeks in the process of easing my way back into a full-time work schedule. My responsibilities also look like they are changing somewhat, which in my case looks like it's going to be a relief. I'm sure I'll still feel the pressures of working in Corporate America, but not the same pressures I was feeling before.

One of the things I've learned through this process is that bipolar disorder has both a biological component as well as a psychological component. In other words, my biochemicals work against me but so do the factors of the environment in which I find myself.

I am working on overcoming the biological factors by working with my psychiatrist and being diligent in following my medication regime—which in itself is a major leap forward for someone who really dislikes taking medicine.

I have been working on the psychological factors by learning to give myself space through meditation and positive self-talk. In addition, I am following closely a number of fellow bloggers and reading books on the subject—currently Bipolar Disorder Demystified by Lana Castle.

I'm sure there are still things ahead of me to learn how to adjust to going back to work. But I feel more prepared and hopeful that I have some resources to help me cope. (FYI, I found a great resource for those of you looking for work accommodations particularly with some specific information on those with bipolar disorder.)

I'd love to hear your experiences in going back to work. What worked for you? What didn't?