Help! My DH may be losing his job. Last week, my DH was diagnosed with both bipolar and ADD. He was put on Adderall and Lamictal. He is currently a truck driver. Yesterday, after going nearly 36 hours without any sleep, he had a minor accident. They are taking him off the road for at least a week and sending him to their own psychiatrist to have him evaluated. He may no longer be able to drive a truck.

So, my question is this. Are there any jobs that are perfect for someone with ADD and bipolar? He has been a driver for five years now. He did very well until the bipolar symptoms started about a year and half to two years ago. Before this, he was a dealer in a casino. His math skills are excellent, but we don't live near the casinos anymore and don't want to live that lifestyle anyway. Before the casinos, he was in the Navy. So, basically, they are the only two kinds of jobs he had before.

Can anyone point us in the right direction for him? I know no one can actually recommend the type of job for him, but a general idea would be able to get me some leads. DH is feeling really down right now, and I'm sure all of this will cause him to go into a depression. He's already told me he thinks we are going to lose everything. He hasn't been on bipolar meds long enough for them to work yet.

Of course, he might not lose his job at all, but I like to be prepared in case it does happen. Thanks for any and all help.

My personal opinion is policy analyst. You get to take a set of skills and apply it to a variety of different areas. Get tired of dealing with transportation policy, how about energy? If energy policþI¦�~2 boring, switch to education policy, or if you're good at numbers, fiscal or monetary policies.

The only problem for your husband might be the education issue. You didn't mention a college degree, so that might be a prolem. Minimum for most positions is usually a BA (typically in political science, government, etc), although a JD, MA, or PhD are preferred (our senior policy analyst has a JD, and he and I both report to a supervisor with a PhD). Also, while it's a good job for someone with ADD, I think that it might not be a good job for someone who is bipolar, because I would imagine that the stress could create some problems...also, and there's no way to put this politely, but some of the flights of fancy during hypomanic episodes would cause serious difficulties in a job that is very "reality based" (ie, accurate reporting of fairly esoteric regulations).

It's hard to tell whether he might be fired. The Americans with Disailities Act (ADA) says that an employer must make any reasonable accomodation for an employee with a disability, which would include a psychiatric or neurological disability. However, the "reasonable accomodation" exception includes situations in which an employee's disability creates a risk for himself or others. It really depends on whether his employer thinks that the accident was a one-time thing, or if it might happen again. In his defense, if he lets your husand back on the road and there's another accident, the employer could face serious legal action, possily even criminal charges if someone is seriously injured or killed, so he has a really tough decision to make.

One good possibility for people who are "neurologically interesting" is to look for jobs in artistic fields. I don't mean necessarily as an artist, but maybe seeing if any local art shops or art studios or music stores or something similar would be hiring. Places like that might allow him to spend more time with creative, dynamic people, where quirkyness is considered acceptable. If he's had any theatre training, or if he wants to learn, that's also a very good place for ADD people to work...being ADD and bipolar, he'd actually be considered rather normal in the average theatre troupe. The only problem with theatre work is that there are always far more applicants than jobs, and it doesn't necessarily pay all that well. However, if there are a number of different theatres in the area (especially in a major city) then he might be able to find something.

Tamara,

Let's concentrate on DH's strengths. He is good at math. Did he like driving truck? Did he like dealing cards? To me the two are as different as day and night. Driving truck is a monotonous job. Dealing cards is fast paced, action packed, and people intensive. If he prefered the card job, I'd take a look at sales. If he preferred driving truck, look at accountancy.

ADHD and bi-polar are disorders that disrupt some types of jobs more than others. I can't comment on bi-polar since I'm not afflicted by it. But I am certified ADHD. We do better at fast paced, unsupervised occupations that require more creativity than rote skills. We like each day to be different with new challenges.

Bob

Bob's right--sales may be a good option. I'm not bipolar, just add, but I love working where things are not boring, and allow me the ability to craft my own sched. Being able to move around a bit is also a plus. What does your husband like about both jobs? Did he enjoy the people when he dealt cards? I can see how driving can be interesting--I tend to daydream a lot when I'm on the highway on cruise control.

BTW--36 hours without sleep would make ANYONE prone to an accident. glad no one was hurt :)

I was going to say, why did his employer LET him (or anyone for that matter) drive for that long?

To answer a few questions, he LOVED dealing cards. While he was working there, he also manned the craps table, which he also loved. But, he hated the lifestyle. He started having a problem with drinking and gambling. He was doing this when we met, and I told him I would never be with an alcoholic (my father was), so after he found another job, he quit.

After we were married, he went to truck driving school. He considered finishing college (he has 2 years) with his GI Bill, but he has dyslexia and was afraid to try. He actually loved truck driving, because he got to see the country and he didn't have a supervisor breathing down his neck all the time. But, after we had our daughter, he hated it because he was gone so much. Also, this is about the time the bipolar started, so, I'm not sure how much of the problem was the fact that he was gone or the bipolar.

He does not want to go back to college. His dyslexia seems to get worse the older he gets.

Right now, I am so mad that his company lets him or anyone else for that matter drive that long without sleep. He can't get his medicine regulated if they keep doing this to him. It's a nation wide company, too, well known for being good to their drivers. DH told me it happens a lot, he just hasn't told me about it.

I am ADD and being screened for BP.

Anything with a boss down your throat sucks and makes you incredibly anxious. The reason I didnt get diagnosed for so long was that I was a consultant and traveled from job to job, starting up programs for non-profits. note: i didnt have to finish the projects! I wrote up the plans and fired up the troops and poof! I was out of there!

then i got a steadier job where i have to be responsible for the implementation of the plan start to finish. instant diagnosis.

tee hee.

Is he good with computers? His math skills may be an indication that he would do well in a programming-related field. There are many ways to get into software without a formal degree. Depending on the culture of the company, ADD traits are often a strength instead of a weakness. I work for a high-tech company and I know quite a few ADDers (including myself) there. I would even consider some folks as high-functioning autisics.

My personal opinion is policy analyst. You get to take a set of skills and apply it to a variety of different areas. Get tired of dealing with transportation policy, how about energy? If energy policþI¦�~2 boring, switch to education policy, or if you're good at numbers, fiscal or monetary policies.

The only problem for your husband might be the education issue. You didn't mention a college degree, so that might be a prolem. Minimum for most positions is usually a BA (typically in political science, government, etc), although a JD, MA, or PhD are preferred (our senior policy analyst has a JD, and he and I both report to a supervisor with a PhD). Also, while it's a good job for someone with ADD, I think that it might not be a good job for someone who is bipolar, because I would imagine that the stress could create some problems...also, and there's no way to put this politely, but some of the flights of fancy during hypomanic episodes would cause serious difficulties in a job that is very "reality based" (ie, accurate reporting of fairly esoteric regulations).

It's hard to tell whether he might be fired. The Americans with Disailities Act (ADA) says that an employer must make any reasonable accomodation for an employee with a disability, which would include a psychiatric or neurological disability. However, the "reasonable accomodation" exception includes situations in which an employee's disability creates a risk for himself or others. It really depends on whether his employer thinks that the accident was a one-time thing, or if it might happen again. In his defense, if he lets your husand back on the road and there's another accident, the employer could face serious legal action, possily even criminal charges if someone is seriously injured or killed, so he has a really tough decision to make.

One good possibility for people who are "neurologically interesting" is to look for jobs in artistic fields. I don't mean necessarily as an artist, but maybe seeing if any local art shops or art studios or music stores or something similar would be hiring. Places like that might allow him to spend more time with creative, dynamic people, where quirkyness is considered acceptable. If he's had any theatre training, or if he wants to learn, that's also a very good place for ADD people to work...being ADD and bipolar, he'd actually be considered rather normal in the average theatre troupe. The only problem with theatre work is that there are always far more applicants than jobs, and it doesn't necessarily pay all that well. However, if there are a number of different theatres in the area (especially in a major city) then he might be able to find something.
I'm sorry but what the heck was that?