If you have Bipolar Disorder you're well aware of the ups and downs of the disease. One day you're on top of the world, the next day you're down in the dumps. When you're feeling on top of the world, nothing can stop you. You feel invincible. When the depression comes, you feel as if a ten ton weight has been placed on your head. You can't get motivated to do anything. Trying to work while you're depressed is like trying to drive a vehicle with a blacked out windshield. Mania is not much different. When your thoughts are racing you can't focus on the task at hand. It can be overwhelming.
Know that you are not alone in your suffering. I've lived with this disease my entire life and I can tell you, I won't be beaten. That's the mentality you have to have. You have to constantly tell yourself that you are in control. You have an disease that can be managed. It's up to you to help manage it. The medications and counseling will help, but at the end of the day it is your responsibility to take control. I realize that in some cases hospitalization is necessary. There are extreme cases where only medications will help, at least in the short term. But, I'm convinced that even in the worst cases the sufferer can do work on their own to help manage the disease. Life is about adapting. Human beings have been adapting for millions of years. We all have that ability inside of us, to adapt.
Here is a great article on managing bipolar: 4 Keys
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