[SmokeyPoole2012]

It is the opinion of the experts at the mental health hospital that I have the ability to work if the job is without complex instructions and ones that do not involve working closely with others.

What type of job should I consider looking for?

Also take into consideration I have a shoulder injury which is not severe enough to warrant sergery but dose become inflamed (and painful) if used for heavy lifting, so general laborer is out of the question.

Thank you for your input.

[thickntired]

I would try to find a job where you can work from home, but I think some of those ads are scams.

[essexgirl]

Yeah well the only things I could think of smokey is something like a cleaning job like a light cleaner or something like delivering newspapers or catalogue as well as maybe working from home as there wouldn't be many people in these roles. Hope that helps. Xxx

[SmokeyPoole2012]

I actually thought I would get a better responce to this question. Thanks to all who had.

[xraydiva09]

Hey there! I too are on board with a janitorial type job. My signifigant other owns his own janitorial business that he started himself, and its been going strong for about 15 years now. And the work isnt hard or pressing, the only thing that sucks is the hours. Since he does commercial cleaning, he goes in after the buildings close for the day so he doesnt start work til 5pm....but on the upside, the work itself is easy. His contract calls for emptying trash, mopping when needed, vacuum when needed, clean restrooms, and he has to supply paper towels and toilet paper to some of his buildings. He started out with more smaller businesses, then over the past 7 years got into state contracts (which you can check into-every state building like Department Human Services, etc.) gets janitorial, and their contracts do come up for bid....you can also check bank branches...he does those as well and its the same thing. Best of luck to you....the work force is kind of slow right now, but with the right thing, you can get it going...

What kind of experience do you have? Any training or education? I'm trying to think of stuff but it's hard not know this info. Cleaning jobs are good as you would be working closely with people, but your shoulder? I don't think all that cleaning would help your shoulder pain.

I'll keep trying to think, right now the jobs I can think of with little human interaction are labour intensive.

[tcmoon52]

I personally am not able to show up anywhere on a consistant basis. Working has always triggered my mania, and then the depression comes and I am not going anywhere. My psychiatrist says I am disabled just from the side effects of the medication. I personally would not pay much attention to the Psychiatrists at the hospital, they don't even know you. I would find a private Psychiatrist and be brutally honest about your symptoms, mood flucuations, and at least temporary disability until he/she has time to develop a patient, doctor relationship. We each know our own limits.
Since I went on SSDI, I have simplified my life and found stability for the first time in 30 years.

You could consider light production work. My most recent job search also had limited person-to-person contact as one of the much-hoped-for parameters to meet. The particular one I turned up has a couple of shoulder-unfriendly frequent movements, so probably wouldn't be the thing for you, but the environment is good. There is a stack of work. I focus on it doing piece after piece, having little else to deal with. That is pretty well all I am responsible for. Is it boring? Most assuredly. Doesn't pay well either. But it meets a number of criteria that I find a better fit for me than, well, about any other job I've had. Despite being really intellectually smart (not bragging, it's simply fact), I don't have much in the way of education, and this has very much affected available choices for jobs -- a huge number of which involve a lot of interaction with people and/or are very physically demanding. I'm not good with the former (basic social ineptitude combined with, when hypo, things being said before going through "the gatekeeper" and when depressed, only being able to manage "faking it" to a certain point). I'm getting too old for the latter.

(On the boring factor... Yes, I do bore very easily. But right now it is ok, as it helps balance the chaos that is my real life. My mind can be elsewhere most of the time, or nowhere. Though the work requires no mental challenge whatsoever, it does call for visual attention --enough to engage the mind in the moment.)

As for cleaning... it could work. I had a solo business doing that for about 5 years. There are varying levels of physicality, depending on the particular job, so there is some latitude for you that way to choose accordingly. It does help to enjoy cleaning(!)

I wonder along with Anika about what kind of experience/training/education you have.

Wow I have lots of typos. . Cleaning would not have a lot of contact with others is what I meant to say.

[Anneinside]

One thing I would do after talking to my psychiatrist and s/he confirmed the idea of you getting a job would be to go to Vocational Rehab. They can assess your background, help you find an appropriate job and help you with the application process and interviews.

[SmokeyPoole2012]

I honestly don't believe the dx. I have problems getting my but out of bed three to four months out of the year and trouble dealing with episodes of mania which are mostly mixed. In the past 11 years I've had 9 jobs that lasted from 4 months to 14 months with the exception of 1 installation of residential and commercial fencing which lasted 3 years until I hurt myself on the job and lost the use of my right shoulder. Now I'm in a pickle and the based on the wisdom of the Mental Health Institute I would do just fine mopping floors in the middle of the night for any company that has no other employees!

Thanks to all of your insight friends. Your thoughts have given me much to think about.