[kimberly84]

ive never been good with people cant hold a job more than a couple months can you work with bpd?

well i'm not diagnosed or anything but i'm starting back to work after being out for 8 months so i guess we'll see? haha.

i fake it for work. i hate people usually but i work where customer service is a must and i can fake being a really nice person if i'm having a bad day, and in turn i start having a better day because the faking stops being fake after a little while, if that makes any sense.

[poptart316]

I also have a hard time finding/keeping a job and am definitely not a people person and have been unemployed for a while. Although it seems like a lot of people here have jobs and are successful with them.. it gives me hope.

[greentires4me]

last job I had, i had it for a year so it is possible to keep a job and hold it respectfully. but that was before my diagnosis...

[stargazer111]

I worked at a grocery store for 3 years age 16-19...I had horrible anxiety the entire time. I'm shy as it is and socially awkward, but my coworkers liked me and we all got along (most of the time). After high school, I went off the deep end, started drinking and doing drugs, quit my job, moved to another city...got into another relationship...went to school for art, then computer science, then finally got my degree in business, started working in an office, hated it...got laid off (not my fault, office closed)...got another office job, hated my coworkers, got fired, and now I'm going to school to be a nurse.

I am definitely worried about having to work with people because nursing is nothing but a people-oriented job, but healthcare interests me.

I just hope I don't change my mind!!!

Well, I am not in contact with my family (that's a loooooong story) and I have no friends. Well, I have some friends but none who would let me and two little cats stay with them for more than a night. I'm my only support so I have to hold down a job. I've never been out of work except for a two month leave-of-absence, and I was anxious about losing my job the whole time. I can't imagine being out of work (though I do not judge anyone who is), though sometimes it's all I can do to hold it together and get myself to work every day. Sometimes, when I'm not stable, I don't know how I do it. Probably because I've been homeless before and I will not do that ever, ever again.

[TheRealFDeal]

I'm also my only means of support, so not working is not an option. I have held my current job for over 14 years, and the one before that over 16 years. Holding a job is not one of my issues, but I had about a two-year bout where I was so anxious I was afraid I could mess up badly enough to get fired. I do have difficulty getting to work in the morning and it takes about two hours before I feel really awake and productive. I work in an office and am able to isolate myself if I need to.

Originally Posted by TheRealFDeal

I had about a two-year bout where I was so anxious I was afraid I could mess up badly enough to get fired.

*gasp* Me too! I went through that at my last job. I was doing a great job and anyway, there were so many steps they'd have to go through to fire me and I wasn't on any of them, I don't know why I was so worried, but I was. Constantly. I finally had a panic attack at work and ended up so bad that I had to take that LOA I mentioned earlier. I had never dealt with anxiety prior to this, and it was so bad that some days I couldn't leave the house. Some days, I would go to the grocery store only to get there, shop, and then leave a full cart in the middle of an aisle because I was too anxious to continue. It was a horrible feeling.

[k123]

Originally Posted by kimberly84

ive never been good with people cant hold a job more than a couple months can you work with bpd?

My longest job was 9mths (and I'm 28) I seriously have worked in about 100 jobs...some for as little as a couple of shifts. I hate being told what to do and constantly feel people are being mean or rude to me...currently working in fashion retail for the last 3mths and loving it but I know all it takes is 1person to get on my bad side and it can all end. I used to love bar work in nightclubs...that was great fun but prob not the best idea as I used to take drugs and party hard! Yes I have BpD and I definitely think I have employment issues due to this!

Originally Posted by k123

My longest job was 9mths (and I'm 28) I seriously have worked in about 100 jobs...some for as little as a couple of shifts. I hate being told what to do and constantly feel people are being mean or rude to me...currently working in fashion retail for the last 3mths and loving it but I know all it takes is 1person to get on my bad side and it can all end. I used to love bar work in nightclubs...that was great fun but prob not the best idea as I used to take drugs and party hard! Yes I have BpD and I definitely think I have employment issues due to this!

I'm not trying to be funny or rude, I honestly want to know: How do you get employment when you've had so many jobs? Like, when you have to give a work history and they see that you've had jobs for only a few months, what do you say? I'm truly curious because I'm not sure what I would say. I have had to BS things in interviews with my own education (I work in a hospital and haven't finished my nursing degree and they want to know when I will be finishing, what my goals are, blah blah...I have to bs some of that) and I get really anxious about it and hope I don't screw that stuff up for myself.

I always wished I could let loose a little more and party a bit more but I have to support myself. No one else will do it. My employment is a source of huge anxiety for me. My life could be crashing down around me and I'll still be working. In fact, if I am too "sick" to show up for work, I'm one step away from being inpatient, pretty much.

[k123]

Originally Posted by misskeena

I'm not trying to be funny or rude, I honestly want to know: How do you get employment when you've had so many jobs? Like, when you have to give a work history and they see that you've had jobs for only a few months, what do you say? I'm truly curious because I'm not sure what I would say. I have had to BS things in interviews with my own education (I work in a hospital and haven't finished my nursing degree and they want to know when I will be finishing, what my goals are, blah blah...I have to bs some of that) and I get really anxious about it and hope I don't screw that stuff up for myself.

I always wished I could let loose a little more and party a bit more but I have to support myself. No one else will do it. My employment is a source of huge anxiety for me. My life could be crashing down around me and I'll still be working. In fact, if I am too "sick" to show up for work, I'm one step away from being inpatient, pretty much.

Haha I know it's crazy...I have to lie on my résumé I only put a maximum of 5 jobs and "extend" the time I worked there. My friend is on my résumé as a referee and I'm definitely good at deceiving people in my interview stage (and I work in retail so not the most skilled industry lol) I have had a really unsteady school/work life going to 9 primary schools, 9 high schools solo many jobs so yeah stability is something unfamiliar to me..(except my boyfriend of 4 years which is forever in my life : )

[k123]

Originally Posted by k123

Haha I know it's crazy...I have to lie on my résumé I only put a maximum of 5 jobs and "extend" the time I worked there. My friend is on my résumé as a referee and I'm definitely good at deceiving people in my interview stage (and I work in retail so not the most skilled industry lol) I have had a really unsteady school/work life going to 9 primary schools, 9 high schools solo many jobs so yeah stability is something unfamiliar to me..(except my boyfriend of 4 years which is forever in my life : )

Oops I meant so many jobs not solo!

[beautifulfreak]

I haven't worked in a very long time, except placements when in College. So, personally,no, I am unable to work at present. I am applying for my Masters but may not be able to do it…I honestly am not well enough at moment between mental and physical struggles.

In addition I am terrified that if I do complete the Masters…how will I get a job. I haven't worked since 2000! Except, for placements in last 5yrs. I'm very worried about the stigma and how it will effect my prospects.

I'm glad you brought up this thread, because I was afraid to bring it up…feel a bit of an outcast that I not working. Well, I think society seems to think that way. At least throughout both my degrees I was supported and given a longer length of time to complete etc. Also, was in psych unit while in College so that wasn't easy either.

Thanks once again for the thread.