Dear Mari:

just to clarify.......... i was not thinking of bipolar as the basis for a leave or part-time or other medical provisions. i was thinking more in terms of recovery from the stroke. i realize you may not want to disclose that either. i don't know if you have reasons not to disclose the stroke, or more feelings than reasons ... or both. it seems to me that has less stigma associated than bipolar. if you take no time off, and want to try to have things delegated more, it might be really helpful to say something.

what could you say? regarding the need for recovery, you could say you need as much rest and as little stress as possible. regarding the neuro symptoms i don't know if you are afraid of saying you are having trouble with speech or concentration, but you could indicate in a fluffy way that you are, say, still having "aftermath that is hard to describe."

fwiw, what i told coworkers when i took a medical absence:

i soft-pedaled, saying it was sort of personal and something i preferred not get into. that perhaps it was silly of me, but that i felt uncomfortable discussing certain health aspects and would prefer not to. i conceded that i did not have anything contagious or in danger.

the prefer not to in that stream of stuff is the big message. the being silly and the discomfort etc is fluff so as not to seem too defensive. the contagion and danger part allow people to feel more comfortable. (i have been asked those directly by very alarmed people!)

i would completely avoid discussing ANY medication. you do not know if others may have had direct or indirect experience, besides, it is too easy to look stuff up on the net these days - only need one curious george in the bunch to find those, and draw conclusions which, wrong or right, you might rather they didn't.

i hope you can find a solution... maybe waiting and seeing for now will be ok? just taking one day at a time until feeling better is more consolidated (i hope!) and until you know what your team member's "plan" is going to be.

well.........

i'm on your side.
i want things to be ok for you somehow.
i want you to be happy and safe.



~ waves ~