Picking a career with BPD

Hey all

I'm new to this website and I'm happy to find a board dedicated to BPD sufferers. I know a lot of people with BPD have identity issues, including myself, and I was wondering how everyone is managing a career? I'm currently a junior in college and am studying in the field of health sciences, but change my career goals several times a week. One day I'll want to go to medical school, the next day I'll want to be a nurse, and a few days later I'll decide to study accounting, and this just keeps going on in a cycle. I'm afraid to make any commitment to grad school or change my major since I know my career goals are constantly changing. I was wondering if anyone else on here had similar problems? And if so, what career are you currently in and how do you manage? Any help would be much appreciated

i sort of fell into the career i have now, but it was never my dream job. not even sure what that would be.

i am a talented writer and have actually been published a few times, but the fear of rejection is so strong with writing that i don't consider making that my income.

my best advice would be to stick to what comes naturally for you or whatever subject you have the most success in, grade-wise. this way, at least you know you could apply yourself in that field with favorable results.

or, make a decision and stick with it. no takebacks. you aren't the only person with this type of conflict, bpd or not. don't let that fuel your indecision or rationalize it.

i work as a content writer. the only good thing about it is i have less work. very less work. ample time to listen to youtube videos on self-help n come to this forum. i'm looking for a more serious career now.

Hey,

I just go with the flow. I have a double degree (M.E and CS) and am now working in a field slightly related to only of them (website project manager).

Don't stress too much about it in my opinion, as long as you can sustain yourself (and eventually your family) you'll do fine.

I read somewhere that BPDs that are employed turn out better (statistically) than those that aren't. Too lazy to find a source :p

Good luck with school! I suggest you finish your degree btw, even if you don't like it. It opens up doors you know..

I work alone so no conflict usually (unless im asked) to do more than i can do with my disability difficulties then i enrage (though) im learning to not take them asking as a direct "push" after all i am allowed to say "no" (i've learnt recently)

I know i am valued by my 3 bosses (lol) yes i have a cleaning/window cleaning jobs for 3 bosses
i just have to allow myself to say "no" more

When I was at college (high school to our American friends) I kept changing course like you, so much so the head master told me to settle on a course or come back in a year when I had decided on what I wanted to do. My year out turned into 9, I had several jobs, several job related blow ups (big ones resulting in quitting and often getting on a plane to another continent that same day or my motor bike to another country, god I was impulsive back then).
I sort of stumbled onto the idea of being an Osteopath (basically same as a chiropractor) and I studied for 5 years and at the end I was a fully trained medical professional. I found university hard and often lonely, even though I was dating a girl at the same uni the whole time. I deal with people on a one to one basis most days of the week now and for some reason it doesn't trigger me at all. I think one big factor is that they choose to see me and are after my help. I have developed some friendships through my job and last xmas even spent it with a family I treat as my own was away. Thinking about it my best friend started as a patient.
I know it is hard when you are young if you don't know what you want to do.
My only advise would be to take it easy on yourself, you can educate yourself at any point in your life and if you take the wrong path you can change and retrain if necessary.

I got my BA and MA in medieval studies because I wanted to be a professor of medieval studies. At the time, I'd been diagnosed with depression and anxiety, but I didn't know that I had BPD. After finishing my MA after much difficulty, I decided against continuing on in academia, since I became intimidated by completing a PhD, finding work and getting tenure, let alone the gigantic workload on professors, despite the fact that I still love medieval history as a subject. I've considered some other options like law, but my problems continued to mount and I didn't get started on them. Currently, I'm trying to go back to school to do another MA in information science (basically library science+information technology), since it has a lot of applications, but struggling.

Honestly, though, the hardest thing for me has just been finding and keeping a job. I just find it so hard to generate or feign the enthusiasm and positivity needed to network and find work, as well as to perform a job competently. I've always wanted to move into a career, but the years are passing and I'm not getting anywhere.

I'd say maybe do some DBT or other therapy to try to find out what really consistently feels right to you. That's what I'm pretty much going to have to do, since I've only done some of an intro module to it.

When I was a kid, everybody pushed college down my throat. Now I'm 32 and giving up on traditional college. I spent a total of probably 8 years in college and changed majors so many times... One day I opened my mailbox and was surprised to find I had earned an Associate's in Elementary Education Everybody just kept saying, "You're smart, just try a different program." And I just listened, and kept changing majors... The past three years I've really been working on figuring some things out. I'm going back to school now, but for a vocational program. I sat down with my partner and we made a list of things I like and am good at, not even necessarily related to money, but career thoughts were fine, too. I spent a lot of time with that list over the next few weeks and decided on a program to pursue at a vocational school. I'll go for two years and have a very useful Applied Associate's in Science, and even have options to go a few completely different directions with it. I chose something I've been inclined toward and have decided I'm doing this. AND something that gives me OPTIONS. The difference this time has to be consistent effort. I have to mean enough to myself to apply myself when my BPD starts to flare up. I'm much better at managing it, but I'm still learning. But I'm ready to try again, in a slightly more me-specific way this time, as opposed to just stuffing myself into whichever box would fit me. Not that that's a bad option. Works great for some. I'm just saying, so far, never worked for me.

That really helps a lot everyone, thank you so much! I know it can be hard picking a career with BPD and im glad theres others who feel the same way i do. Im currently in DBT and will probably just stick with the field im studying for a few years until im more stable and can make a good decision. I appreciate everyones responses!

I've always known i wanted to help people. After getting kicked out of highschool due to severe depression, I worked a couple jobs behind the register. Took me a couple years to get into therapy.

But now... I finished my therapy. I feel... Fine, most of the time. And I've made my decision.

I've known for years that I wanted to be an Art Therapist. This is my second year of very seriously trying to get into college. Actually, next week is when I'll be going through all the tests and stuff to get that far. If I don't succeed this time, I think i'll have to set my sights a little lower though. i'm not getting any younger.

But honestly, I never really changed my mind much about what I wanted to do. Just refined it. And in the end... This is my dream. I've always stuck by it, even through my darkest days. I'm not sure how much help this is, really. Since your problem seems to be your doubt. But if you choose what comes naturally, and stick to it, I believe you can make it. Though right now... If i don't believe that, i might as well give up now. So maybe I'm being selfish.

in either case, never forget who you are. What are your own instincts? What feels good to you? Build your career out of that. And remember, a lot of people work in jobs they didnt actually consider when they were still in school. Good luck