Employer Can't Fire Workers With Bipolar Disorder, Court Rules

There are so many people suffering in different ways. We need to give them space and support. I lost my bipolar son when he committed suicide and left us. He had a brilliant mind and wrote a lot. I have finally shared his story and would like people to read and understand what goes in mind of a Bipolar. I failed to help him and now would share his story. Please feel free to comment on the post .
http://www.squidoo.com/my-son-was-a-bipolar

Tnx asdfasdf. It's interesting when others comment on topics they're clueless about. Obviously they have no compassion for those who have challenges different from them. This touches a nerve because their ignorance is shouting so loud I can't hear their intelligence. I want to help you all get educated, so go to the Mayo Clinic website & look up bi-polar disorder, it's a fascinating read and you may recognize someone you know, let's hope it's not you! 2ndly, if anyone thinks that a pill fixes everything you're funny, you should take anti-ignorant pills & get yourself cured 1st. Does it ever occur to people that no one wants this disorder any more than people with cancer want that? People will run, walk, and donate money to cure cancer, but will place blame & shame on people with mental disorders. I have rapid-cycling bi-polar disorder II. I am now 58 years old & was just diagnosed 3 years ago after having had a stroke 2 years before that. I believe my brother may have had bi-polar issues as well, but we'll never know for sure until we meet again. We both had strokes the same month, unfortunately he died 8 months later, he had leukemia brought on from years of marijuana use. I believe that he was self-medicating because he didn't know what else to do with himself, it's part of the disorder in many cases. We are so quick to judge others without knowing or caring about what underlying factors may exist. I judged my brothers drug use accusing him of being selfish & self-centered. Now I wonder if the problem was deeper & he handled it the only way he knew how. It's not an excuse for his doing it, but if he was bi-polar & an actual medication meant to treat the condition would have put him in a different frame of mind & perspective, it may have saved his life. I go to work everyday. I am overly responsible and will drag myself in unless liquid is uncontrollably spewing from my body. I also have been there 15 years. I can be elated one minute, talking a mile a minute, running around unable to focus or concentrate & the harder I try the more frustrating it can be. I can work circles around others when I'm in a manic phase, but I can also go to a depressed state in short order and want to commit suicide. It's a challenge to control, but with the help of friends & co-workers, they kindly tell me so I can reel myself back in; awareness helps a lot. It's not easy, I've had to become very vulnerable & transparent with others trusting they have my best interest at heart. You don't fault people for it, you help them overcome and live successfully with the challenge, everyone is different, there is no cookie cutter fix. Have some mercy & grace. If my boss would have discharged me (which she could have) after I had the stroke, I might have committed suicide, but she hung in there with me & watched me recover and is watching as I overcome this. Did I mention that I work as a manager in a fast-paced counseling center? Not easy folks, give us a break..

So you all would rather that everyone with bipolar disorder sit at home and get disability checks? From what I've read in the comments, you all say that

Also, please carefully read the article again. He was only asking for some time to adjust to a new medication. It usually only takes about two weeks. If it was lithium, he would have to have frequent blood tests. Sure, he could have gone to work. But the side effects are very intense.

It also says that he was extremely well performing. He didn't ask for time off all the time, he wasn't constantly missing work, and he WON PERFORMANCE AWARDS. He was an outstanding employee.

I sincerely hope none of you ever have to experience bipolar disorder. You, your significant other, your children, friends, or anyone else. It's an extremely difficult thing to deal with. You all make me sick with your lack of understanding.

Whatever happened to taking personal responsibility for your own condition and limitations?

I've got lack of winning the lottery syndrone so I should be awarded!

hey "whad up girl" - i know what ISN'T up with you - your IQ. i hope you remember your comments if you or anyone in the family faces the same situation. that would only be fair.

What's next, you'll apply to be a brain surgeon, then sue because you didn't get the job. Bottom line, if you can't do the work, you'll get fired. Do you think it's fair to work in an office, then call is sick 3 days a week and the staff is suppose to "just cover for you".

Nope, your ass is fired. Take meds, get a grip, but don't think you can get a job, screw up constantly, flip out and the rest of us have to accept it. NOT!

Sorry, but I not going to put myself at risk working with someone who is nuts.

SHUT UP LL, You are constantly trolling EVERY article for you Penny Auction POOP. Go F yourself.

I am an extremely serious rapid cycling Bipolar 1. I can be OK in the morning and homicidal in the evening. My Mom believes I became Bipolar when I was 11, however in those days the belief was that children could not be Bipolar. During my teens I was a living nightmare, I was an extremely good horse back rider, I competed all over the world. I also earned all the certification you can have in swimming. I have an IQ of 167, I was in prep school with straight A 's all four years, the same in college. I got a very good job in New York City and all hell broke loose. I did well at my job but was extremely aggressive , impulsive, I would stay up for 4 days in a row and roam the streets of NY with scalpels in my bag. I was not afraid of anyone or anything, I came from a very wealthy family so no one believed it when someone said I did something nasty. A Hell's Angel followed me and was touching my hair, I went into an 0-80 adrenalin rage and sliced the seat on his Harley into thousands
of pieces, when he tried to touch me I cut him. You just cannot believe the compulsion, incredible adrenaline rages. Most of the time I did not remember.

My husband and I experienced a catastrophic episode in our lives and according to all the professionals we saw, that really sent me over the edge. I was finally diagnosed and put on medication. It took a long time to achieve a balance, last year I arrived DOA at the hospital in total renal failure from lithium toxicity, normal is 1.0 I had 9.0. I was in the ICU for a really long time and I have totally crashed, I've been housebound almost a year, I kept falling, I broke my wrist, elbow, ankle all the ribs on my right side. My Doctor had to make it clear that all my behavior was directed at bullies,
no one else. I am very, very scared, I cannot remember anything, I'm always dizzy. My entire adult life I was a beautiful woman, elegant, beautifully dressed. I took very good care of myself. Now, I'm awake all night, I look like hell, I've gained weight from the drugs. I'm miserable, my husband and I had an incredible relationship, we were madly, madly in love. Not anymore, we barely speak.

BELIEVE ME, Bipolar Disorder is a horrible burden to live with.