[swheaton]

I know that legally, they should, but dare I ask? My therapist is suggesting it so that I can decrease my reaction to noise and stimulus. I nearly had a screaming fit because people were talking so loud and a coworker was banging away at a printer. When I get anxious, excess auditory input makes me freeze mentally.

I know how medical health worker are about co workers with mental illness. I would like to ask for help, but know that if I do, it will cause problems. Does anyone have any insight?

[Lobster Hands]

Maybe just tell them that one part at first...that you are very sensitive, at certain times, and that it would be best if you were seated in a quieter place.

I remember when my coworkers found out that I was bipolar by guessing...I never told them. they kinda tease me every once in a while. I am uncomfortable with them knowing, even though I should be used to it by now.

Hope I helped, good luck!

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[robosuplex]

I asked for accommodations at work recently. It involved working hour adjustments and alerting them about how to proceed if I have a complex motor tic. My office is very laid back but I wrote up some paperwork giving a summary of what I wanted and why. I probably could have just talked to them but they agreed to everything.

Are you unable to wear noise cancelling headphones or have earplugs with you in case of loud noises? I'm not sure what kind of accommodations you would need. If it's asking others to be quiet that may be difficult to enforce.

Edit: I did not tell them I was bipolar. I did not know at the time. However I tacked most of the blame onto the tic disorder, something that's easier for them to understand as a serious uncontrollable condition. You could be vague and say you're sensitive to loud noises and using ear plugs helps focus.

[hamster-bamster]

I am thinking that there might be some neurological disorder with the same symptomatology. Let me explain - for several years, I believed in the no alcohol rule. I no longer do, and try to remember to drink one glass of wine a day, which does not interact with Lithium in me in bad ways. But back when I didn't drink, I would, at parties or social functions on the job say that alcohol triggered my migraine attacks. It was not true, but it could have been true, and migraines, a neurological disorder rather than mental illness, carries no stigma with it. Likewise, if you request accommodations citing some unusual sensitivities rooted in something neurological... might be safer.

[Theseus]

Originally Posted by swheaton

I know that legally, they should, but dare I ask? My therapist is suggesting it so that I can decrease my reaction to noise and stimulus. I nearly had a screaming fit because people were talking so loud and a coworker was banging away at a printer. When I get anxious, excess auditory input makes me freeze mentally.

I cannot abide noise either. Makes me want to commit a random act of violence. I sit right near the water cooler, copier, printer and fax station. My co-workers get loud at times, and often pace back and forth behind me talking on their cell phones. I won't give up my cube because it's one of the larger ones and I have windows.

When the printer, copier or fax are being "manhandled", i.e. slammed, I say loudly "That's why they don't work; people are always slamming them" (my boss is a major culprit). I also told him about the pacing back and forth behind me talking on cell phones. He said to say a simple "Uh excuse me, could you tone it down? I cannot concentrate on what I'm doing/I'm on the phone".

Of course, the office dynamics will determine if that would work for you. It's just a suggestion.

[swheaton]

I wish I could wear headphones. I work in a busy family practice, so I can't tune out. Today I did ask someone to quiet down and I also went into the records room to practice deep breathing. I think stress is part of it,but I wish people could be freaking quiet. I wish I could have a work station by myself.

I am going to think of some reasonable things that might work. We will see.

[Suddz]

I did that and got laid off a short while later. They said it was a resource action...

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[BipolaRNurse]

I hope you have better luck than I did. Maybe it would have been easier if I hadn't had to tell them I was bipolar, but my pdoc was the one to take me out of work and then wrote a request for reasonable accommodations for me when he let me go back. My employer decided the accommodations couldn't be made, and fired me a few days after I returned because it was clear that I couldn't perform the functions of my job without them.

Don't wanna be a Debbie Downer, but stigma is alive and (unfortunately) well even in this supposedly enlightened era. Hope it goes well for you.

[Suddz]

Yeah... well known tech companies with a three letter acronym for a name doesn't do well with older white men with mental issues.

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[littlemiss44]

I wouldn't do anything. I Am just like you and I totally understand the sensitivity to sounds etc. It is from trauma. I know work would tell me to deal with it if I asked for special accommodation. You have valid issues you are dealing with but asking for others to keep quiet may come back to bite you. I would feel bad if anything happened to yr job because of it. I do wish you the best of luck. I agree with others that you should ask for head phones as a reasonable accommodation.

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[Suddz]

Sorry everyone I went a little manic there.

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[Cocosurviving]

When I was last able to work I worked in a office. I brought my own iPod to work and put my earbuds in my ears turned on music to drown out the sound. The music that helped me most was classical and jazz (FYI). I believe I was asked once abt if my music helped me work. I told them yes and I could not focus with all the noise around. They may have thought I had ADD. this was before I was diagnosed

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[swheaton]

Well, I decided not to say anything. I am taking breaks instead. There are a few things I can do away from the nurses station, so I'm taking that chance to take a deep breath. I can stock rooms, fax reports, hide in the records room....

Sad thing is, I really like my job. I might start looking for a specialty office to work in. Most of those from what fellow MAs tell me, are less chaotic.

[r010159]

All good suggestions. If you really need to say something, I would say to them you are very sensitive to noise, because you get these terrible migraine headaches. This is something that anyone can understand.

Yes, I know it is really not the truth. But in your own way you are telling them what you need from your work environment to function on the job.

JMHO

tucson