It happens.

Because I have a mental illness, any time I am angry or upset, the automatic question on anyone's lips is, "Did you take your medication today?" Everyone knows, a person with mental illness doesn't ever have a *genuine* reason to be upset. It's all a symptom of being emotionally disturbed, isn't it?

My family often relies on my memory. All the time, they're calling me to ask the name of that neighbor we lived next door to in 1974, or what were the words to that song we liked in elementary school? But when I recall an episode of abuse, "it didn't happen like that." I'm remembering it wrong. All mentally ill people have delusions, you know.

As for working, there is one sentence I am thankful to God I no longer hear. I used to be on SSI, but it was discontinued after I married my husband. He makes too much money for me to qualify. But when I was on it, any time I wanted to enter a program designed to get me back into working, I'd hear, "Be careful not to earn too much money. You'll lose your SSI." Grrrrr. You know what? If I'm doing well enough to make that much money, then I don't NEED the stupid SSI, do I? If I can work instead of sitting around drawing government assistance, I'd rather.

Which kind of leads to another stereotype--that all mentally ill people are on government assistance, or homeless. I am now working with a program to get me job-ready and assist me in the search. The program also offers assistance in searching for housing, free bus tickets, etc. Because mentally ill people all need those things, right? I've been offered bus tickets on a couple of occasions, so that I can get to this or that service. The irony is that I, of all people, am the last person to need transportation assistance. Married to a bus driver, I get to ride for free.

Unlike the poster above, I am not able to drive a car. Poor vision, not mental incompetence, is the reason for it. This bit about assuming mentally ill people can't drive, well that's new to me. I'd never heard it before--but I certainly believe it. My husband says that many of his passengers are competent people riding to or from work. Maybe they care about the environment, and they want to cut down on auto exhaust. We live in a state capitol, and a lot of government employees ride the bus. But I do know the stereotype, that bus riders are people who are either not competent to drive, or too poor and strung out to afford a car, or had their license suspended. Bah!

IMO, Yoda, the therapist who was shocked that you can drive is without excuse. The nurse might be, as well. Talk to your MD as soon as you can. You don't have to put up with being treated second class just because you have a mental illness. If they don't treat you correctly, find a doctor who will.

And get a job that makes you happy. Me, I'd like a desk job, and I think behind-the-scenes workers can also make a difference in the world. But if you want to go back to being a CCU nurse, do it. No reason why you shouldn't.

By the way, I've got a cousin by marriage who is the head nurse in an ER, and he's a veteran with PTSD who takes psych meds.