[Jensitive22]

First, Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays everybody😊 I haven't been on in a while, busy with life and family.
Been feeling some pressure to re-enter the work force. I used to teach, but I've been out of work for a couple of years after a major break down in 2014. I'm doing much better now and have been working hard on my recovery, but..I can't seem to get past the intense anxiety I feel about working again. Teaching is just not on the table any more. Problem is I can't see myself being successful in any job. I have zip zero nada confidence in my ability to be competent in any job. I am afraid that the minute I am feeling anxiety about my job performance or dread that I am not measuring up I will fall apart again. I wish wish wish I could find a low stress p/t job that could help ease me back into working. If I could see myself being successful and get some momentum going, it be enough to get me over this fear. My therapist has recommended Vocational Rehab. She says the fact that I am receiving mental health services at the county mental health clinic will qualify me for their services. They might be able to retrain me for a different career path. What that path is, I don't have a clue. I am 54 and my life experiences are raising a family, college in my thirties, and 13 mostly miserable fearful years of teaching. The only thing I can see now, that might be a match, is something in the mental health field. Starting over scares me to death.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I worked with them to try to find things that would help me succeed at work better. Eventually they had an occupational therapist follow me for a few days (I'm an OT too so this was a little weird but also let her be extremely specific in her recommendations compared to if I were in another profession). And her recommendations mostly came down to educating the people I was working with that making slight accommodations would make everything better. Somewhere along the line my provider changed and he recommended SSDI which I was not at all ready to do.

It would have been more helpful if I was wanting to find a new career I think. It turned out that to succeed in my profession I needed to work in a very specific environment and I didn't find that until several years later.

It was a hurry up and wait process for me I think. I can't remember much else. Please ask questions if you have them and I'll see what comes back to me.

[misscath007]

I am using Voc rehab right now. It is a long process,but once the paperwork is done(could take up to 3 months) then it is pretty straightforward. I am also looking for a lower stress job, although there does not seem to be many around. I was assigned a job coach to help me look for leads. They will also redo your resume for you and take you on interviews if needed. As far as retraining, there are grants for that but there is a long waiting list. They might help you with tuition, but you pay the bulk of it. At least that is how it is in my state. Wish you the best.

[Nammu]

Vocational help though the VOc Rehab is different in every state and from city to city, even from one office to another. They should be able to give you various tests to help you find a suitable job environment. Be open and honest about your fears. They make individual plans for each person they help. Perhaps Your goal at first would be to explore your options and find a specific counselor to address your fear of returning to the work force.