Mental Illness at Work November 10, 2011My LifeOff

More of those at work suffer from mental illness than you might think.

Bipolar Disorder affects nearly 6 million American adults. Elizabeth Clayton, an author and an accomplished professor at Mississippi College, is one of them.

Though diagnosis is pretty equal among men and women, studies show about three times as many women experience symptoms like depression and rapid cycling.

“In the early days [of treatment], getting to my workplace and classes, concentrating and remembering for lectures and working with colleagues took enormous discipline,” Clayton tells PINK. To persevere, she says, “I married will and medications with intensive psychotherapy.”

How can others cope with disorders at work? Clayton suggests asking your physician to recommend psychiatrists “who can recognize true symptoms and accurately prescribe medications.” WebMD offers tips like managing stress and medication side effects by exercising and getting enough sleep (eight to 12 hours).

More than 2 percent of the world has been diagnosed as bipolar, but some still fear discussing it at work. Experts suggest providing HR with documents about the condition, adding that telling a boss or coworkers usually isn’t mandatory.

Forbes lists seven steps to disclosing your disorder at work, starting with researching the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Bipolar symptoms vary by gender, making it difficult for some women to get treatment. Health.com gives 10 subtle signs to look for, like flight of ideas and sleeping problems.

Bonus PINK Link: Check out these tips for managing emotions at work.

By Brittani Banks

“Bipolar disorder is a challenge, but it can set you up to be able to do almost anything else in your life.” Carrie Fisher

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