Have you ever had to deal with someone with manic depression?!
Question: Have you ever had to deal with someone with manic depression!?
How did you help this person and what was the outcome!? He is not a family member but one of my employeesWww@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I have bipolar and prefer the title manic depression because that is what it is!.
Different ppl are different and have varying abilities to manage the illness!. Some are very diligent about meds and therapy with enough success that very few would know they had the illness!. Others, more common, will still have break thru symptoms, but still remain reasonably functional and not devolve into hostility as certain ppl would have you believe!. Some are more open to discussion!. If the person has disclosed, then talk to him/her about what you can do to accommodate!. Some times flex hours are life savers!. I've had periods where working 8 hrs a day in the office was very difficult!. Given a mix of telecommute time and flex time, I could get all my work done in the week because I was given the ability to work at 5 a!.m!. or 9 p!.m!. or on the weekends, whenever I was most able!. Plus the reduced stess of having to be around ppl so much when I knew I was a bit off helped, too!. So, to you as an employer, that's the best suggestion that I can give you!. Talk, and find out what temporary accommodations you can offer!. Also, be prepared that if it gets bad, \s/he may file for a leave of absense!. So, also diplomatically ask for some redundancy or knowledge of where key files/resources are!.
If the person is not on meds, not on therapy, and not managing the illness, it'll be a rocky road!. Still ask what you can do to accommodate because that is your obligation as an employer!. Perhaps the person will pull thru without any real disruption to work!. However, the odds are a lot greater that there will be, so certainly make sure you've got things otherwise covered!.
In any event, be kind and don't be patronizing!.
Btw, there are a lot of professionally employed ppl with bipolar who have held long term positions pulling down six figures!. It's not like we are not worth keeping around or putting up with when we are off for a while!. We tend to be highly intelligent, creative, hard workers that ordinarily are quite social!. Of course, I'm talking more about those who manage the illness with meds and therapy when it's needed!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Different ppl are different and have varying abilities to manage the illness!. Some are very diligent about meds and therapy with enough success that very few would know they had the illness!. Others, more common, will still have break thru symptoms, but still remain reasonably functional and not devolve into hostility as certain ppl would have you believe!. Some are more open to discussion!. If the person has disclosed, then talk to him/her about what you can do to accommodate!. Some times flex hours are life savers!. I've had periods where working 8 hrs a day in the office was very difficult!. Given a mix of telecommute time and flex time, I could get all my work done in the week because I was given the ability to work at 5 a!.m!. or 9 p!.m!. or on the weekends, whenever I was most able!. Plus the reduced stess of having to be around ppl so much when I knew I was a bit off helped, too!. So, to you as an employer, that's the best suggestion that I can give you!. Talk, and find out what temporary accommodations you can offer!. Also, be prepared that if it gets bad, \s/he may file for a leave of absense!. So, also diplomatically ask for some redundancy or knowledge of where key files/resources are!.
If the person is not on meds, not on therapy, and not managing the illness, it'll be a rocky road!. Still ask what you can do to accommodate because that is your obligation as an employer!. Perhaps the person will pull thru without any real disruption to work!. However, the odds are a lot greater that there will be, so certainly make sure you've got things otherwise covered!.
In any event, be kind and don't be patronizing!.
Btw, there are a lot of professionally employed ppl with bipolar who have held long term positions pulling down six figures!. It's not like we are not worth keeping around or putting up with when we are off for a while!. We tend to be highly intelligent, creative, hard workers that ordinarily are quite social!. Of course, I'm talking more about those who manage the illness with meds and therapy when it's needed!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Only professionally!. People diagnosed with bipolar disorder (the more accepted name for this disorder) sometimes have have a good ability to control their symptoms with medication and therapy, some are not so fortunate!. They can be difficult to deal with, both during manic phases and during depressive cycles!. Having an employee also raises legal issues concerning disability discrimination!.
Dana (M!.S!. Counseling, attorney)Www@Answer-Health@Com
Dana (M!.S!. Counseling, attorney)Www@Answer-Health@Com
To answer to your question, I presume he was and still is a good employee!. People can hide their depression behind their jobs for years!.
Firstly, I think you need to establish and make sure he realize that he himself needs help!. Secondly, you will need to replace him, get help otherwise he would loose his job for good!. Then he realize he needs a medication to stop his brain gone astray!. This will take time depend on his condition can be a year!. You can only help to reassure him that he would still have his own job back as soon as he got better and as soon as he could!. Believe me, he has enough mind to pull himself together with good supports but not force himself to come out of medication too soon!
Two big reasons that make him depression are personal life and Money if not his gene which you can't do anything about it!. No one can, just get out quick!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Firstly, I think you need to establish and make sure he realize that he himself needs help!. Secondly, you will need to replace him, get help otherwise he would loose his job for good!. Then he realize he needs a medication to stop his brain gone astray!. This will take time depend on his condition can be a year!. You can only help to reassure him that he would still have his own job back as soon as he got better and as soon as he could!. Believe me, he has enough mind to pull himself together with good supports but not force himself to come out of medication too soon!
Two big reasons that make him depression are personal life and Money if not his gene which you can't do anything about it!. No one can, just get out quick!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I have dealt with many individuals with manic-depression-some family members, some roommates!. And it is hard I know!. You can only help a person so far-they have to accept treatment or consquences!. I have never had anyone in my employ who was manic depressive!. This disease is as unique as the person is!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Yes!. He must see a doctor and be prescribed the correct medication, which he must continue to take even when he thinks he doesn't need to!.
Ups are harder to deal with than downs, You need a lot of energy to keep up!.
Stabilisation can take a long time!.
And you can't take it all on your shoulders!. Comply with employment legislation, be as supportive as you can!. But you need to leave it to the medical professionals!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Ups are harder to deal with than downs, You need a lot of energy to keep up!.
Stabilisation can take a long time!.
And you can't take it all on your shoulders!. Comply with employment legislation, be as supportive as you can!. But you need to leave it to the medical professionals!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
My cousin is manic depressive and it is a very difficult thing to be around when they are in the throws of it, it is hard to know how to be when around him as you don't want to say or do anything that may aggravate the situation!. Medication i feel is the only way with this mental illness as it can get very dangerous for the person suffering!.
I think the best thing for your employee is to show a sympathetic side and to keep an eye on him from the side line!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I think the best thing for your employee is to show a sympathetic side and to keep an eye on him from the side line!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Yes!.!.!. well, here is how my boss dealt with me:
I was acting very strange at work but didn't know it, so he took me aside and said, "XXX, are you feeling well!?" And I told him I'd never felt better!. :) So he asked me what I was experiencing and I told him very rapidly!. He said, "This doesn't make much sense!. Would you like to go home for the day!?" And I did!.
So I went out and had a fine time!.
Now, whenever I act strange, he sends me home for the day (I'm hourly and have to use PTO for it, so there's no incentive for me to behave that way)!. Anyway, here's the drill: Talk to them, make a judgment, and if necessary, send them home!.
Incidentally I have a VERY good relationship with my boss!. There are three (out of NINE) bipolar people in the office right now!. So one of them was hiding in a utility closet the other day and my boss 1) talked to him and 2) sent him home!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I was acting very strange at work but didn't know it, so he took me aside and said, "XXX, are you feeling well!?" And I told him I'd never felt better!. :) So he asked me what I was experiencing and I told him very rapidly!. He said, "This doesn't make much sense!. Would you like to go home for the day!?" And I did!.
So I went out and had a fine time!.
Now, whenever I act strange, he sends me home for the day (I'm hourly and have to use PTO for it, so there's no incentive for me to behave that way)!. Anyway, here's the drill: Talk to them, make a judgment, and if necessary, send them home!.
Incidentally I have a VERY good relationship with my boss!. There are three (out of NINE) bipolar people in the office right now!. So one of them was hiding in a utility closet the other day and my boss 1) talked to him and 2) sent him home!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
what i did to help was
i said their life was like the weather
when it is sunny it is really sunny
but when it rains it falls heavily
and i told them to
open up a shield to the rain (like an umbrella)
i probably sound all like a councilor but it worked
xxxWww@Answer-Health@Com
i said their life was like the weather
when it is sunny it is really sunny
but when it rains it falls heavily
and i told them to
open up a shield to the rain (like an umbrella)
i probably sound all like a councilor but it worked
xxxWww@Answer-Health@Com
yes, I have helped several - they repay you by walking away without notice or explenation (some off this site too)
leaving you to pick up the pieces---approach with cautionWww@Answer-Health@Com
leaving you to pick up the pieces---approach with cautionWww@Answer-Health@Com
hmm, I think my ex bf was a bit that way inclined - his father had had electric shock therapy etc!.!. it is a very hard one and must be way hard to manage!. get some professional advice, perhaps yr gp can adviseWww@Answer-Health@Com
Whoever it is they need to seek help as soon as possible!. My mums next door neighbour got that bad he tried to kill his wife! He has now been sectioned!.Www@Answer-Health@Com