November 3, 2016 • Volume 9, Issue 49 • Subscribe to Hope & Harmony Headlines
Work and self-worth
Language shapes the way we think. That’s why it’s so important to use phrases like, “I have bipolar,” instead of, “I am bipolar.” That tiny shift says identity is separate from diagnosis.
So think about what we say when someone asks, “What do you do for a living?” The common response: “I am …”—a teacher, mechanic, lawyer, waitress, or what have you.
Now think about what happens when there’s no handy label to claim.
A 2013 review of 25 studies on employment outcomes in bipolar found that out of 4,892 people represented, from 40 to 60 percent had paid work. Which means a corresponding 40 to 60 percent did not. The British reviewers also observed that occupational status tended to decline over time.
Not surprisingly, two other studies published in 2013 noted that number of lifetime psychiatric hospitalizations had a significant effect on employment status. Episodes of bipolar depression emerged as a predictor of unemployment as well.
Separate from practical considerations, having no job—or having a job that’s not commensurate with education and training—often generates guilt, shame and feelings of worthlessness.
As bp Magazine columnist Melody Moezzi writes, “modern American culture teaches us that we are our jobs, that our worth is tied directly to our occupations and the degree to which these occupations equip us to become better consumers—and I’m not talking about the mental health variety.”
Melody found a new perspective on her own worth in “More Than a Job Title.” Read more >>
Childhood experiences raise risk of bipolar
October 12, 2017, MANCHESTER, England— People with bipolar disorder are more than twice as likely to have suffered childhood adversity as the general population, British researchers report. “The link between experiencing a troubled childhood and subsequently being diagnosed with [bipolar] is extremely strong,” said co-author Dr. Filippo Varese.
According to lead author Dr. Jasper Palmier-Claus, the findings suggests that sensitive inquiry into childhood experiences “can make a significant difference to how treatment proceeds and the types of support that can be put into place.” Read more >>
Watching For Signs of a Bipolar Diagnosis in Children
Children and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is an increasingly controversial topic.We take a hard look at this hot issue. Read more >>
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