If you suffer from a long-term mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, your level of confidence in your ability to successfully start and run your own business may have eroded over time. His past efforts may have left him feeling like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole, both in his business pursuits and in the traditional employment path.
If not approached correctly, starting a business can be dangerous for someone with bipolar disorder, adding fuel to the fires of mania and depression. People with bipolar disorder may be subject to manic delusions of grandeur, pursuing unrealistic business ideas, as well as having grandiose and unrealistic expectations of themselves. After the period of mania 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 grandiosity 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 many disappointments and disappointments, 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 can 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 poor judgment based on manic impulses. You can gain this insight from recognition of 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 his 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, instead of the incredible excitement, creativity, and grandiosity that may have fueled your past efforts. 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 nonstop 12-16 hours a day, it’s time to force yourself to stop. Check with your counselor to let them know that you should take a break and do whatever is necessary to take care of your elevated mood, such as 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 earning only 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 that you can start small and build slowly, you won’t need a lot of money to get started. You can set your own hours and limits, assuming only what you are capable of doing without becoming overly stressed. With a home business, you have the flexibility you need to deal with this upheaval. You’ll still be able to find time for all the various tasks you already have throughout the week, like doctor’s 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 abilities, and your confidence will increase dramatically. Having a regular responsibility that you enjoy will help you become healthier and more stable. Your business will keep your mind active, and if you’ve had a disability, you’ll likely 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 main stressor of poverty and financial need. Your self-esteem will increase as you become more independent and less dependent. You can start paying off your debts. And, by being self-employed, he has created his 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 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.
