Every where I look it appears that bipolar people are pushed to work, it seems to indicate that all bipolar people can and should work. I can find very little information on the statistics on how many actually work. I did find one report on the net that claimed that 48% actually do not work at all and that a large percentage only work part time.

I know I sound lame, but thinking of work makes me think about suicide. I had a doctor push me to work at least part time, it was as if he wasn't even listening to me. I got so upset about it that I started "practicing" my exit stratagy.

I worked many years with bp not even knowing what was wrong with me. I just thought I had deep emotional problems and there was something wrong with me, but I just didn't know what.

I am now on disability but always scared I am going to lose it and be left homeless again (last time I was homeless for 2 1/2 years) and now with the economy as it is the homeless shelters have waiting lists.

Working stresses me out and makes me very suicidal, but not working and worrying about my disability payments also causes a lot of stress and suicidal thoughts, I feel damed if I do and damed if I don't. All I know for sure is I just can't handle being put in a situation where I have to work or die, I know what I'll do.

Does anyone have links or knowledge of percentages of bp who actually work full time? How many are on disability, etc.

I do go to open bipolar support groups, only a couple of people seem to be on disability. Others are already retired, living with a spouse/parents who support them or they actually are working. But I don't know if that is a good sample base as most seem to have their illness under control, with only a couple with symptoms as severe as mine. I have to wonder if the reality is that most bp's as severe as mine even bother with groups, I know I have a hard time myself going and miss the group frequently.