| If you've had a long-term mental illness, | | | | do too much. If you find yourself beginning |
| such as bipolar disorder, it's possible that | | | | to work unstoppably 12-16 hours a day, it's |
| your confidence in your ability to start and | | | | time to force yourself to stop. Check in |
| manage a business of your own has been eroded | | | | with your advisor to let them know you have |
| over time. In the past you may often have | | | | to take a break, and do whatever you need to |
| found yourself like a square peg trying to | | | | do to take care of your elevating mood, such |
| fit into a round hole - both in business | | | | as calling your psychiatrist and/or |
| pursuits, and in traditional employment. | | | | therapist. |
| | | | |
| If not approached correctly, starting a | | | | Have realistic expectations and set small |
| business can be dangerous for a person with | | | | goals. This will prevent you from setting |
| bipolar disorder, adding fuel to the fires of | | | | yourself up for disappointment, failure and |
| both mania and depression. People with | | | | depression. Don't start with dreams of |
| bipolar disorder can be subject to manic | | | | becoming an overnight millionaire - simply |
| delusions of grandeur, pursuing unrealistic | | | | begin with small steps. Be sure to find a |
| business ideas, along with having grandiose | | | | good accountant - many small businesses may |
| and unrealistic expectations of themselves. | | | | start out by making only a hundred or a few |
| After the period of mania wears off, the | | | | hundred dollars a month. By maximizing your |
| depressive mindset will likely set in, and | | | | tax write-offs, you can make up for this. |
| with it, a realistic view of the unrealistic | | | | |
| business they had been so excited about. | | | | A good type of business for someone with |
| They may feel foolish, and like a failure, | | | | bipolar disorder is a small home business. A |
| and they may have also hurt and let down many | | | | home business is something you can start |
| people who believed in them. | | | | small and build up slowly, you won't need a |
| | | | lot of money to get started. You can set |
| This cycle of feelings of grandiosity | | | | your own hours and limits, taking on only as |
| followed by feelings of failure is harmful to | | | | much as you are capable of without |
| the health and stability of the person with | | | | over-stressing yourself. With a home |
| bipolar disorder, and may cause them to give | | | | business, you have the flexibility you need |
| up on themselves altogether. After many such | | | | in coping with this disorder. You'll still |
| let-downs and disappointments, many people | | | | be able to find the time for all the various |
| with bipolar disorder who have great | | | | tasks you already have throughout the week |
| potential end up on disability, or otherwise | | | | such as doctor's appointments, support |
| dependent on others for their survival. | | | | groups, exercise, therapy, filling |
| | | | prescriptions, and so on. |
| If you have bipolar disorder, starting your | | | | |
| own business can be one of the best things | | | | There are an incredible number of benefits |
| you can do for yourself and your health as | | | | for a person with bipolar disorder starting a |
| long as you approach it in the right way. | | | | home business. You will find something that |
| It's important for you to gain perspective | | | | uses your talents and skills, and your |
| and understanding in order to tame the | | | | confidence will increase dramatically. |
| possibility of poor judgment based on manic | | | | Having a regular responsibility that you |
| impulses. You may gain this insight from | | | | enjoy will help you to be more healthy and |
| recognition of your past patterns and | | | | stable. Your business will keep your mind |
| mistakes in business, or if you're lucky | | | | active, and if you've been on disability it's |
| enough not to have made any, from awareness | | | | likely you'll appreciate having something to |
| of the potential pitfalls of both mania and | | | | do. |
| depression in your business. | | | | |
| | | | As your income increases and you take |
| Ideally you can find a trusted friend and | | | | advantage of your tax deductions, you can get |
| advisor to help support you with your goals | | | | better insurance, more easily pay for your |
| of successful self-employment. This person | | | | medication, and enjoy your increasing quality |
| should be a logical, grounded and rational | | | | of life overall. As you take control of your |
| critical thinker who has an understanding of | | | | income, you can begin to be relieved of the |
| bipolar disorder. He or she can be the | | | | major stressor of poverty and financial need. |
| sounding board for your plans, and you will | | | | Your self-esteem will rise as you become |
| need to rely on this person to help you by | | | | more independent and less dependent. You'll |
| telling you when your ideas or judgment is | | | | be able to start paying off your debts. And, |
| poor. Your advisor can also help motivate | | | | being self-employed, you have created your |
| you when your mood is depressed. | | | | own job security. |
| | | | |
| You're going to need to train your mind to | | | | There are a great many more benefits to |
| approach your business in the right way, | | | | having your own home business if you have a |
| rather than in the incredible excitement, | | | | mental illness. Finding a home business that |
| creativity and grandiosity that may have | | | | fits and approaching it in the right way is |
| fueled your past endeavors. Be realistic, | | | | one of the best things a person with bipolar |
| and know your weaknesses. You want to keep | | | | disorder can do for their financial, mental |
| your stress levels down, so be careful not to | | | | and emotional health. |