Towards the end of 2019, I found myself working for the perfect job. Or so, I had thought.

I had the perfect bosses. They were encouraging, kind, and there was absolutely no workplace toxicity that I could point out. My colleagues were fun and soon became my friends. To top it all off, I was good at the job, and it paid well.

The end of 2019 was also the time of nationwide anti-CAA-NRC protests. I found myself spending my days at work, and my evenings at protest gatherings.

When my bosses found out about how I was spending my time outside of work, they were not too impressed.

When the January 2020 attack on the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University, my alma mater, took place, shortly following the brutal attack on the students of Jamia Millia Islamia, my mental health took a turn for the worst.

The next day, I impulsively texted my boss from bed, filed an official email, made a few calls, and quit my job.

In a culture where mental disorders are heavily stigmatized, how difficult is it for people with personality disorders to have stable jobs?

Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by symptoms that might seem very easy to identify with, all blown into an extraordinary proportion.

The fact that BPD symptoms fall so closely in contradiction to everything that defines toxic corporate culture makes it especially easy for modern-day jobs to push people with BPD away.

Some of these acute insecurities that those with the disorder face often end up reflecting in workplace relationships.

Which means the slightest remark or a late response can end up triggering a whole “episode” of splitting. With splitting, an institution or a person can become either entirely good or entirely bad for you.

The answer lies in the morals and values that your company holds.

If a part of those core beliefs is having a diverse, and consequently, a more creative workforce which is made to feel comfortable about the people they are, then people with BPD might just be lucky hires.

True, not all jobs can accommodate a creative mind with strong opinions.

But a trusting work relationship where the employee can open up about their mental illness, their workplace insecurities, and a place where they are encouraged to continue treatment can be ideal for those with not just BPD, but many personality disorders.

A key to this is allowing a person at work who might not have a happy-face on at every meeting and takes time to open up to coworkers.

This is a small “cost” to pay for a workforce that strives for perfection at every step and always has a new idea to put across the table.

Choose a career path that allows you to hold on to your own core beliefs, while giving yourself a creative outlet. The right environment can aid you to bring the best out of yourself as long as you maintain routine and find the right course of treatment.

(Ishita is a freelance editor and writer. When she's not editing or writing, she likes to read and write poetry, and is also a published poet.)