I wanted to share one of the tactics that has let me excel in my career and work my way into an executive position. It's a tactic I'm using today as a depression has hit me hard, I'm out of bed but liable to turn into a howling sobbing puddle on the floor at any moment, and the intrusive thoughts are screaming today.

One of the things I figured out at work, was to talk about my bipolar like I was physically sick. If I'm depressed, I turn up to work looking like I was dragged in by a hoard of the dead, relaxed clothing, no concealer under my eyes, scraped back hair. Everyone wants to know if I'm feeling ok, they're all sympathy and my answer to every question is along the lines of "I have a chronic condition that's flaring up, I'll be better soon". If I want to lay it on thick, I have a chronic pain condition...I don't know about you but I think depression fucking hurts. 

The days I try to hide my depressed state, I get none of the understanding that I do when I am "sick" and those days are harder.

Hopefully this will help someone else who like me is using every last drop of willpower today to get out of bed and into work. We got this.