If you have a long-term mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, your confidence level in your ability to successfully start and run your own business may have eroded over time. His efforts in the past may have left him feeling like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole, both in his business pursuits and the path of traditional employment.
If not approached correctly, starting a business can be dangerous for a person with bipolar disorder, adding fuel to the fire of mania and depression. People with bipolar disorder may be subject to manic delusions of grandeur, pursuing unrealistic business ideas, as well as having unrealistically grandiose expectations of themselves. After the mania period passes, the depressive mindset is likely to set in, and with it, a realistic view of the unrealistic business they had been so excited about. They may feel foolish and like a failure, and they may also have hurt and let down many people who believed in them.
This cycle of feelings of grandeur followed by feelings of failure is detrimental to the health and stability of the person with bipolar disorder, and can cause them to give up altogether. After much disappointment and disappointment, many people with bipolar disorder who have great potential end up disabled or dependent on others for their survival.
If you have bipolar disorder, starting your own business may be one of the best things you can do for yourself and your health, as long as you approach it the right way. It is important that you gain perspective and understanding to control the possibility of misjudgment based on manic impulses. You can gain this insight from acknowledging your past business patterns and mistakes, or if you’re lucky enough not to have made any, from awareness of the potential pitfalls of both mania and depression in your business.
Ideally, you can find a trusted friend and advisor to help you achieve your goals of successful self-employment. This person should be a logical, grounded, and rational critical thinker who understands bipolar disorder. He or she may be the sounding board for his plans, and you will need to trust this person to help you and tell you when your ideas or judgment are lacking. His counselor can also help motivate him when his mood is low.
You’re going to need to train your mind to approach your business the right way, rather than the incredible excitement, creativity, and grandeur that may have fueled your past endeavors. Be realistic and know your weaknesses. You want to keep your stress levels low, so be careful not to do too much. If you start working non-stop 12-16 hour days, it’s time to force yourself to stop. Check with your counselor to let them know you need to take a break and do whatever it takes to take care of your elevated mood, like calling your psychiatrist and/or therapist.
Have realistic expectations and set small goals. This will prevent you from setting yourself up for disappointment, failure, and depression. Don’t start with dreams of becoming a millionaire overnight, just start with small steps. Make sure you find a good accountant – many small businesses can start out making just a hundred or a few hundred dollars a month. By maximizing your tax deductions, you can offset this.
A good type of business for someone with bipolar disorder is a small home business. A home business is something you can start small and build slowly, you won’t need a lot of money to start. You can set your own hours and limits, taking on only what you’re capable of without stressing yourself out too much. With a home business, you have the flexibility you need to deal with this upheaval. You will still be able to find time for all the various tasks you already have throughout the week, such as doctor appointments, support groups, exercise, therapy, filling prescriptions, etc.
There are an incredible number of benefits to a person with bipolar disorder starting a home business. You will find something that uses your talents and skills, and your confidence will increase dramatically. Having a regular responsibility that you enjoy will help you to be healthier and more stable. Your business will keep your mind active, and if you’ve had a disability, you’ll probably appreciate having something to do.
As your income increases and you take advantage of your tax deductions, you can get better insurance, pay for your medications more easily, and enjoy an overall better quality of life. As you take control of your income, you can begin to free yourself from the major stressors of poverty and financial need. Your self-esteem will increase as you become more independent and less dependent. You can start paying your debts. And, by being self-employed, you have created your own job security.
There are many more benefits to having your own home business if you have a mental illness. Finding a home business that fits the bill and approaching it the right way is one of the best things a person with bipolar disorder can do for their financial, mental, and emotional health.
