Bipolar Disorder can interfere with your ability to work.  But symptoms of depression, mania and anxiety needn’t prevent you from leading a productive life.  If you effectively manage those symptoms with treatment.

Donald began his work at a local hockey school as a goalie coach the day after he checked himself out of Ramsey Hospital psych ward against medical advice, still manic.  He had told his boss – Donald’s former goalie coach – the truth about his disease.  Fortunately, his boss had a degree in psychology and gave Donald a chance.

At first, Donald could barely contain his energy.  He showed up to work early, asked to do anything extra his colleagues needed.  His energy level prompted us to put our elliptical machine in the family room so Donald could watch TV. He went for frequent walks.  He could not sit still and complained of intense headaches.

And then his medications brought him down into a deep depression.  The kind that paralyses you.  Keeps you in bed all day.  The only things that got Donald up were his part-time job and visits with his therapist and psychiatrist.

Eventually we found a treatment regimen that provides Donald stability.  This doesn’t mean Bipolar symptoms are gone; rather they are under control.

Once we knew Donald had Bipolar 1, we read everything we could find to figure out what his future might hold.  Donald had intended to go to medical school.  The question now was could this even happen?

Clinical psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD‘s book An Unquiet Mind should be required reading for anyone, especially young adults, newly diagnosed with some form of Bipolar Disorder. Dr. Jamison is Dalio Family Professor in Mood Disorders at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Donald and I learned a lot by reading this book (she’s written others as well).  Namely, that medical school could be a problem. And you can work with mood swings to achieve great things.

Dr. Jamison provided a reality check to what Donald’s medical school prospects might be.  She had wanted to be a psychiatrist herself but realized she could never sit through the classroom requirements.  Instead she directed her brilliance to the area of therapy and teaching.

I discovered a medical student online who learned she had Bipolar 1 during her first year in medical school.  She maintained a blog chronicling her experience once she returned to medical school.  She responded quickly to my request for information.

In her words, “You have to REALLY want to be in medical school if you have Bipolar.  It’s that hard.  And under no circumstances do you let the Admissions Committee know you have Bipolar when you apply.”

Donald’s psychiatrist didn’t think he should set aside his dream, however, and suggested that he try taking a few classes to determine his ability to concentrate and learn.  He followed this advice, but chose to pursue online hockey analytics and scouting instead of courses that could strengthen a medical school application.

Today, Donald is working with young hockey players to determine their strengths and potential for Division 1 and NHL teams.  It’s a relatively new approach to player development and he loves it.

We read other stories from people with Bipolar Disorder as well.  Most used their stable and hypomanic states to get much of their work done.  Writers, artists, research scientists, they all used their symptoms to their advantage.  They’d use their “down” time to complete the easiest tasks.

For instance, one academic explained that she’d do much of her research when she had lots of energy.  She’d do her writing when the energy waned.

For more stories of living a successful live with Bipolar Disorder, check out any issue of BP Hope. This is one of our favorite resources.