Employment Opportunities

Most people that have a mental illness receive government assistance in the form of Social Security Income and Social Security Disability as well as food assistance. It varies of course depending on the person, their situation, and many other variables. It seems to come easy for some and very difficult for others just as things do in life. While receiving assistance, people can work at a volunteer position or for compensation. The amount of hours varies; it’s all dependent on what the government allows per everyone's case. 

Most people I know with Bipolar cannot hold a steady job. Jobs can come and go; it varies depending on the person, employer, and co-workers. My brother was able to hold a job for about a year. He was good friends with his co-workers and he had a close relationship with his boss. It came to an end when the employer asked him to do something that was morally wrong and he told him no. 

In the town I live in there is a few opportunities for people to work. It varies depending on the jobs and day. Some people can assemble boxes or displays. Some have an opportunity to paint and sell their paintings. Everyone has an opportunity to contribute to the community; it is up to their area Mental Health Services center to help find an outlet for the person to participate. 

Everyone has the right to be happy. 

Ways To Cope With Stress While Mentally Ill

How does one cope with having a mental illness? There are many ways that work differently for everyone in addition to medication and therapy. My brother's way of coping is to do physical activity that releases the rage within him. He participates in MMA fighting. This helps him to focus his every day angers that would have exploded in a negative way. His rage disorder and bipolar let him lose his temper at a moment's notice. Someone could look at him the wrong way before and he would confront them in their face. Now he can let things go easier, in part because of his medications, his ability to understand his own moods and keep himself out of trouble, which comes with growing up. He also has the physical outlet to release built up anger.

Another way of coping with a mental illness is to focus energies on other things. For my cousin with a wide variety of mental illnesses she has asked me to not share, painting has become a favorite hobby. She loves it and it helps to relieve her stress from daily life and struggles. She enjoys just putting all of her thoughts onto a canvas and being able to reflect later at them.

Painting is known to help people who have autism as well and cannot communicate easily through spoken or written words. I have purchased a painting for a Christmas gift from this site; it was painted by someone with autism.