Comments for Bipolar Today http://www.bipolartoday.com Life at the Poles Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:04:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Accommodating Bipolar Disorder in the Workplace, Part II: Scheduling by Stephanie http://www.bipolartoday.com/accommodating-bipolar-disorder-in-the-workplace-part-ii-scheduling/#comment-474 Stephanie Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:04:38 +0000 http://www.bipolartoday.com/?p=2167#comment-474 I work for a large multinational company that had provided me with an alternate work schedule for 2 years. When I was given a new boss and was frank about my illness and what I needed for accommodations my boss, and her boss, did everything in their power to undermine my mental health through schedule changes. This was not limited to me, which I can only assume was to protect the discrimination lawsuit they anticipated, but I was the one most seriously affected. Because the company is so large they have outside sources handle their disability requests. This saved my job. The independent insurance company worked with my amazing medical team and decided the alternate schedule was not only a reasonable request, but a necessary request. I heard this week after being on disability for 4 months last year that my job will not make the accommodations requested. Again, the independent insurance came to my rescue. Because my restrictions are medically necessary I can remain on disability for up to 4 years. It is so important to know the leave laws for your state, and the way your company handles disability claims. Without that information I would have been fired, lost my insurance, and would have had to take on a multinational company alone. I work for a large multinational company that had provided me with an alternate work schedule for 2 years. When I was given a new boss and was frank about my illness and what I needed for accommodations my boss, and her boss, did everything in their power to undermine my mental health through schedule changes. This was not limited to me, which I can only assume was to protect the discrimination lawsuit they anticipated, but I was the one most seriously affected. Because the company is so large they have outside sources handle their disability requests. This saved my job. The independent insurance company worked with my amazing medical team and decided the alternate schedule was not only a reasonable request, but a necessary request. I heard this week after being on disability for 4 months last year that my job will not make the accommodations requested. Again, the independent insurance came to my rescue. Because my restrictions are medically necessary I can remain on disability for up to 4 years. It is so important to know the leave laws for your state, and the way your company handles disability claims. Without that information I would have been fired, lost my insurance, and would have had to take on a multinational company alone.

]]> Comment on Bipolar Disorder Causes by brumbear http://www.bipolartoday.com/bipolar-disorder-causes/#comment-468 brumbear Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:04:01 +0000 http://www.bipolartoday.com/?p=5#comment-468 This is really interesting. My doctor recently experimented by taking me off sertraline and leaving me on Lamotrigine alone. It was like putting a stone over the well where my depressions live. My life with BP1 I characterise as being me afloat in a choppy sea. It will always be choppy. But the Lamotrigine is like a cushion I hit if I float too high and the sertraline is my life jacket keeping my head above water. I don't take medication for me. I take it for those around me. Thankyou for your website. I only discovered it this morning. Jon Carver. England This is really interesting. My doctor recently experimented by taking me off sertraline and leaving me on Lamotrigine alone. It was like putting a stone over the well where my depressions live.

My life with BP1 I characterise as being me afloat in a choppy sea. It will always be choppy. But the Lamotrigine is like a cushion I hit if I float too high and the sertraline is my life jacket keeping my head above water.

I don’t take medication for me. I take it for those around me. Thankyou for your website. I only discovered it this morning.

Jon Carver. England

]]> Comment on Accommodating Bipolar Disorder in the Workplace, Part I: Disclosure and Stigma by Daniel Bader, Ph.D. http://www.bipolartoday.com/accommodating-bipolar-disorder-in-the-workplace-part-i-disclosure-and-stigma/#comment-459 Daniel Bader, Ph.D. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:40:56 +0000 http://www.bipolartoday.com/?p=2120#comment-459 Hi Michelle, I'm very sorry this happened to you. At-will employment doesn't, in principle, allow people to fire others for discriminatory reasons, such as religion, race or disability. The main problem is that the burden of proof is on us that discrimination was the cause, and it can be difficult to prove. In addition, many judges and, as you point out, even jurisdictions can be hostile to the law (partly because the laws are federal in the United States). So, we end up stuck between what the law says can happen and what the system allows people to get away with. I don't know what the timing of your case might be, but the U.S. rules changed last year and are retroactive for claims dating back to January 1st, 2009. Before that, whether bipolar Americans were protected was dicey at best. There's some discussion of the changes on <a href="http://www1.eeoc.gov//laws/regulations/ada_qa_final_rule.cfm?renderforprint=1" rel="nofollow">this page</a> on the EEOC website. Hi Michelle,

I’m very sorry this happened to you. At-will employment doesn’t, in principle, allow people to fire others for discriminatory reasons, such as religion, race or disability. The main problem is that the burden of proof is on us that discrimination was the cause, and it can be difficult to prove. In addition, many judges and, as you point out, even jurisdictions can be hostile to the law (partly because the laws are federal in the United States). So, we end up stuck between what the law says can happen and what the system allows people to get away with.

I don’t know what the timing of your case might be, but the U.S. rules changed last year and are retroactive for claims dating back to January 1st, 2009. Before that, whether bipolar Americans were protected was dicey at best. There’s some discussion of the changes on this page on the EEOC website.

]]> Comment on Accommodating Bipolar Disorder in the Workplace, Part I: Disclosure and Stigma by Michelle http://www.bipolartoday.com/accommodating-bipolar-disorder-in-the-workplace-part-i-disclosure-and-stigma/#comment-458 Michelle Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:19:00 +0000 http://www.bipolartoday.com/?p=2120#comment-458 What about the states that rule with the iron fist of "at-will employment"? You can be fired without an explanation. After I was called a psychotic b-itch by one ex-employer, who KNEW of my condition (a lawyer, no less) I was fired for the sole reason I was "a liability". I contacted employment lawyers who all told me that I couldn't prove they fired me out of discrimination, when in fact, it clearly was. Thoughts? What about the states that rule with the iron fist of “at-will employment”? You can be fired without an explanation. After I was called a psychotic b-itch by one ex-employer, who KNEW of my condition (a lawyer, no less) I was fired for the sole reason I was “a liability”. I contacted employment lawyers who all told me that I couldn’t prove they fired me out of discrimination, when in fact, it clearly was. Thoughts?

]]> Comment on In Search of Bipolar Humor by Brad http://www.bipolartoday.com/in-search-of-bipolar-humor/#comment-434 Brad Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:20:04 +0000 http://www.bipolartoday.com/?p=751#comment-434 Hi Daniel, My doctor and my wife think I should do stand up comedy as only a peson living with the disorder can fully appreciate it. I too have notice a biting edge of darkness to my comedy, but also a whimsical edge too. Good luck I look forward to seeing more of you blogs and what you decide to do. Peace Brad Hi Daniel,

My doctor and my wife think I should do stand up comedy as only a peson living with the disorder can fully appreciate it. I too have notice a biting edge of darkness to my comedy, but also a whimsical edge too. Good luck I look forward to seeing more of you blogs and what you decide to do.

Peace
Brad

]]> Comment on Bipolar Disorder Symptoms by Alfred S. Giuffrida http://www.bipolartoday.com/bipolar-disorder-symptoms/#comment-433 Alfred S. Giuffrida Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:46:46 +0000 http://www.bipolartoday.com/?p=28#comment-433 In presenting symptoms of Bipolar Disorder it has become increasingly evident that Cognitive Dysfunction in BP is a fundamental feature of the condition which has/is overlooked by the DMS-IV and clinicians. Too often people with BP are portrayed as the 'creative' ones, and the significant portion of those with significant cognitive impairment are left out of the discussion. Cognitive dysfunction is at the core of the poor results in social, educational and occupational outcomes for individuals with BP. More attention needs to be focused on this aspect of the condition. In presenting symptoms of Bipolar Disorder it has become increasingly evident that Cognitive Dysfunction in BP is a fundamental feature of the condition which has/is overlooked by the DMS-IV and clinicians. Too often people with BP are portrayed as the ‘creative’ ones, and the significant portion of those with significant cognitive impairment are left out of the discussion. Cognitive dysfunction is at the core of the poor results in social, educational and occupational outcomes for individuals with BP. More attention needs to be focused on this aspect of the condition.

]]> Comment on Filipino Café Celebrates Bipolar Disorder by Daniel Bader, Ph.D. http://www.bipolartoday.com/filipino-cafe-celebrates-bipolar-disorder/#comment-427 Daniel Bader, Ph.D. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:01:17 +0000 http://www.bipolartoday.com/?p=782#comment-427 Hi Robert, Thank you! I was in Manila in 1995, but the restaurant didn't exist back then. I'll definitely head there if I get a chance to go back. Best, Daniel Hi Robert,

Thank you! I was in Manila in 1995, but the restaurant didn’t exist back then. I’ll definitely head there if I get a chance to go back.

Best,
Daniel

]]> Comment on Filipino Café Celebrates Bipolar Disorder by Robert Alejandro http://www.bipolartoday.com/filipino-cafe-celebrates-bipolar-disorder/#comment-426 Robert Alejandro Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:58:36 +0000 http://www.bipolartoday.com/?p=782#comment-426 Hi Daniel If ever you happen to find yourself in Manila, please visit us at Van Gogh is Bipolar. Cheers! Hi Daniel
If ever you happen to find yourself in Manila, please visit us at Van Gogh is Bipolar. Cheers!

]]> Comment on What Is Bipolar Disorder? by Daniel Bader, Ph.D. http://www.bipolartoday.com/what-is-bipolar-disorder/#comment-417 Daniel Bader, Ph.D. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:37:44 +0000 http://www.bipolartoday.com/?p=30#comment-417 Hi Brenda, I've sent you a message by e-mail. Best, Daniel Hi Brenda,

I’ve sent you a message by e-mail.

Best,
Daniel

]]> Comment on What Is Bipolar Disorder? by Brenda Nikkel http://www.bipolartoday.com/what-is-bipolar-disorder/#comment-415 Brenda Nikkel Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:04:00 +0000 http://www.bipolartoday.com/?p=30#comment-415 Hello Daniel, My name is Brenda. I got to know about your website/blog through friends of mine. I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 back in 2007 and I have just been diagnosed with rapid cycling and mixed. I have been an in-patient and most recently finished an out-patient program at William Osler/Brampton. Part of the out-patient therapy was all about mental health. This was a full time program for eight weeks. I then participated in a pilot group which strictly covered bipolar/mood disorders. This was a two day a week program over six weeks. After care was also available in which I took part in as well. By getting involved with these programs I was able to understand my disorder so I decided to write a presentation about my journey of living with bipolar 2, rapid cycling and mixed. I might add that I have five simblings four of which also suffer from bipolar disorder. My mother has suffered with this disorder as well and most recently my 40 year old neice was also diagnosed with bipolar 1. For this reason alone I want to share my story. I am writing you today because I was wondering if I would be able to post my presentation on your site. My therapist and the Chief of Psychiatry at William Osler/Brampton have both encouraged me to get involved by reaching out to other mental health associations to share my journey. After reading your website I thought this would be a very good place to start. I do not know how to go about posting my presentation and I am not sure if I am going about this correctly. I would appreciate hearing from you to let me know if there are further steps that I may take to move forward. I look forward to hearing from you. Best Regards, Brenda Nikkel bnikkel@sympatico.ca Hello Daniel,

My name is Brenda. I got to know about your website/blog through friends of mine.

I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 back in 2007 and I have just been diagnosed with rapid cycling and mixed. I have been an in-patient and most recently finished an out-patient program at William Osler/Brampton. Part of the out-patient therapy was all about mental health. This was a full time program for eight weeks. I then participated in a pilot group which strictly covered bipolar/mood disorders. This was a two day a week program over six weeks. After care was also available in which I took part in as well.

By getting involved with these programs I was able to understand my disorder so I decided to write a presentation about my journey of living with bipolar 2, rapid cycling and mixed. I might add that I have five simblings four of which also suffer from bipolar disorder. My mother has suffered with this disorder as well and most recently my 40 year old neice was also diagnosed with bipolar 1. For this reason alone I want to share my story.

I am writing you today because I was wondering if I would be able to post my presentation on your site. My therapist and the Chief of Psychiatry at William Osler/Brampton have both encouraged me to get involved by reaching out to other mental health associations to share my journey. After reading your website I thought this would be a very good place to start.

I do not know how to go about posting my presentation and I am not sure if I am going about this correctly.

I would appreciate hearing from you to let me know if there are further steps that I may take to move forward.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best Regards,

Brenda Nikkel
bnikkel@sympatico.ca

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