What are the chances of someone with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder being successful in a career?

7 Responses to “What are the chances of someone with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder being successful in a career?”

1. Jody says:

   March 7, 2010 at 11:21 am

   Anything is possible.

   If you’ve been diagnosed with both, I’d definitely get another opinion. Schizophrenics are often misdiagnosed when bipolar is a truer diagnosis. With Schizophrenia there is a deterioration of the brain matter. With bipolar, there isn’t. Schizophrenia is a disease and bipolar is a disorder, there’s no "cure" for either.

   On the other hand, many with bipolar are misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. The symptoms and behaviors can overlap. The patient has to be studied over a period of time to make a true diagnosis. And there is a definitive test for schizophrenia, which usually doesn’t present itself until age 20 or older.

   Psychiatrists are very careful when diagnosing either because both are considered debilitating. For example, the patient would not be eligible ofr a government job, or the military, and many, many other jobs that have insurance.

   However, people diagnosed with these disorders are many times of very high IQ and in good times are very productive, even brilliant.
2. Nurse For 20 Years says:

   March 7, 2010 at 11:21 am

   Sure its possible. With all the new advances in medicine including medications and different types of therapy, those with these illnesses have the potential to lead perfectly normal lives.
3. Lila says:

   March 7, 2010 at 11:21 am

   If you take your prescribed medications to keep yourself in a well state of mind you can do anything that you want to do. There are doctors, lawyers, psychiatrists who practice their careers with mental illnesses. The only way that you are going to succeed in life is with a college education. You don’t have to think about what it is you want to do in life now once you have a year or two of college you will probably know what you want to do. I wish you everything good that you deserve in life!
4. Single Worker 1230 says:

   March 7, 2010 at 11:21 am

   I don’t know anyone who has both but I know several with each disorder who are quite successful. I have schizoaffective disorder and am bipolar type 1. I work and am very successful in my career choice. I still have my ups and downs and some days are difficult but it’s better than living off of disability.
5. Jake says:

   March 7, 2010 at 11:21 am

   An employer would love that person, he would be employing two people for the price of one…
6. thelongdaysjourneyintonight says:

   March 7, 2010 at 11:21 am

   Listen to your doctors….and follow their advice.

   Successful people do what unsuccessful don’t do.

   If you have these two disorders and you want to succeed, you need to learn what it is that causes people in your situation to fail…and then avoid doing them. Some people with these disorders take their medicines and they are fine. Because the medications are working, they think that they don’t need them. So then they quit taking them. Once they quit taking them they get deluded or seriously depressed. Once they symptoms start acting up they may think that they don’t need medicine anymore, or that people are out to get them…so then they run away, or refuse to go to doctor. They get into a downward spiral and never recover.

   This is just one pitfall to avoid.

   But the point is…learn what could happen to you if you dont remain rational and prudent, and then avoid those things…then you wlll succeed.
7. Lady says:

   March 7, 2010 at 11:21 am

   If a person stays on their medication and goes to counseling, they can ensure that they can have a successful career. It’s possible as long as the person takes good care of him or herself.