[Mountaindewed]

I go to this program in this mental health clinic. The program is Mon-Fri 9-3. I go when I am not at work for additonal support. There are maybe 60 people who are in the program. It's not the same people everyday.

Out of the 60 people, I think around 5 have jobs. Some people have worked and now don't anymore, but the majority have never worked in their life.

These are people who communicate well and do well in group and seem like they could handle a job. Yet no one really seems to want to work. We have career groups every quarter or so (the schedule changes by season.) but none of the conselors really seem to push anyone to find a job.

This one guy was talking to someone else about how you can't live off minimum wage and entry jobs won't do you any good in the long run. I then told him that I agreed, but that you could get experience from an entry level job and then get a better paying job. He just talked over me and acted like he didn't hear me.

Why are people so afraid to work? I know some people with mental illness just can not work, but some of these people seem like they are just making excuses.

I work and still get benefits. So it is possible to have a job and continue to get benifts. Also there are other insurance company's similar to Medicaid that you qualify for if you work and have a disability.

I know it's probably none of my bussinees, I just don't understand why they don't want to or feel like they cant work.

My ex had a friend who didn't struggle particularly with mental health issues, but couldn't keep a job for the life of him. He'd work for a few days or a week at most at a new job and then stop going, providing poor excuses for not keeping employment. I feel bad for his girlfriend, who pretty much supports him.

I think some people feel like they shouldn't -have- to work and so they don't. Others are just lazy. There are those who try their best and aren't able to work due to legitimate difficulties as well, of course. My dad is one of those people. I know he'd like to go back to work again someday and I hope he can.

I receive disability but also work part-time. I think working is an important thing in one's life. It can give you a sense of purpose, and it feels good to earn money through hard work.

[Krow]

Well part of the issue may stem from the application process. A vast number of companies merely have digital filters which will exclude people for their personality alone, ultimately with no regards to their qualifications. Not to mention, the excessive regulation and requisites which go into the process of applying for a job -- it frequently can take a solid hour to apply for one position online, and that is assuming an individual can adequately complete the form to begin with, perhaps due to a lack of information.

After that, there is the process of securing one's legal information and banking information to the company for pay transference. Often it comes with a variety of requisites thereafter that one must complete. It genuinely may discourage some individuals if they must spend hours upon hours to simply find a suitable position, apply, and then merely be rejected for the work for a job which may only last them a brief period of time anyways. On top of that, it is not uncommon for companies to look for absolute suck-ups, something which many people have too much dignity for.

[Sunflower123]

You are seeing a sub-section of people during a fraction of the week and a fraction of the day. My non-mental health doctors and many other people I've told would never have guessed I had severe depression. I just don't present that way. I actually don't go long periods being stable. I'd say some of the people you're seeing may not be stable enough to hold jobs regardless of how they present. As for the others, I don't understand. I am a CPA and would very much like to get back to work. My pdoc says not at this time.

[sugarbeeMe]

Fear? If I wasn't terrified to lose my home- I would have let fear stop me from going back to work. One fear won over my other fear. So I stayed at work and have found coping skills since- thank goodness for out patient treatment.

My reasons might not be as common as other people's, however, since lack of a stable income has been a primary issue for me most of my life, I feel compelled to answer.

For me, I've been held back from having a stable job for much of my adult life for one simple reason: a lack of basic life skills because my family was too incompetent to teach me how to survive as an adult.

Simple things like managing money wisely, basic social skills, and even motivating myself to do housework have always been an outright struggle for me because I had nobody to teach me how to do things as a child.

If you have difficulties with something like basic social skills, for example, good luck getting any job when you are required to go to a job interview for any basic position, regardless if it is so easy that any 12 year old kid with a slightly above average IQ could do. Most entry level jobs fall under the category of "dumbed down" to me, yet they require a job interview and expect you to be Mr. or Mrs. perfect in order to get a job that any sane person wouldn't want to do for any reason other than to put food on the table.

Because of how messed up the system is, I don't blame anybody with a mental illness who doesn't want to work. Until we see a paradigm shift in the modern day workforce, I say F the system.

[*Laurie*]

I absolutely do not believe that people don't want to work.

I believe someone is depressed (even though you might not see it).

I believe someone feels intimidated by the application and interview process.

I believe someone else might have chronic pain that makes them afraid to commit to working.

Someone might have social anxiety that you do not know about.

Many people have sleep issues that severely impact their lives.

Many people are not great with technology and fear being in today's job market.

Cognitive problems from medication.

And 10,000 more reasons that make it frightening to some people to contemplate working.

[reb569]

I think in many cases it boils down to fear of the unknown.

Fear, bad experiences with a previous job, not confident about working, trauma, depressed thoughts, low self esteem. These are my reasons for not working. I also want to work, very much. I will be looking for a job in the future.

[Turtle_Rider]

There are so many factors to this. Most have been mentioned. To add one, some people are tend overvalue themselves. I Heard lots of stories about those who refuse to have entry level job. Demands for higher position even through has zero experience. And walk away if the salary is on standard rate. It turned like this: they refuse low entry job offer, but the higher professional jobs dont want them.

[NeedHaldol]

I have spent years interviewing for jobs, dealing with resumes, website tweaks, portfolio management and listening and working with the all dreaded recruiters.

I could not get a job.

When I eventually landed one, it was within 2 months of my illness making it impossible to stay there.

Now I work on my craft of producing EDM music, running 2 weekly breakbeat podcasts, and mobile DJing.

It is still hard for me to find gigs because of my paranoia and fear of rejection/lack of business profitability.

[Thunder Bow]

See, it is a complex issue, just like our minds. There are many different ways to have an income, with out having the standard job.

[LittleCartoon]

I had a very hard time finding work at all in the past. It was either I was too anxious to go through with the process of finding one, or I would get too anxious about showing up once I had one. In high school, I would skip a lot because the idea of being around people that much scared me, senior year I did independent study where I only had to attend a class 2 x a week. I wanted to get a job since I was at home most of the day every day and school obligations where reduced. It took me 2 months to start to look and another 4 to start to try. I never found a job, always due to a fear of rejection and/or anxious thoughts not allowing me to get up and go. I told myself it was better to just wait until I graduate and try again but my fear of obligations/people/embarassment and rejections all held me back.
From age 18-21 or so the only stable job I had was working for a family member.

Around 21 I became very lucky and was able to find a source of income doing freelance work and it really helped me because I was able to chose how much work I had and when. And often was able to find ways out of going to certain jobs if my anxiety became too much that day. Many clients were very understanding and willing to work with me to reschedule for when I was able to be in a less anxious mindset. I traveled a lot on my own and spent 6 or so years doing it off and on, allowing myself breaks for a month or so as needed to clear my head and allow myself plenty of time to hide in my house. Traveling and working like that became too much in the end, I was breaking down from the energy I needed to put out daily to simply get out of bed and get to the job(s) I had that day. I knew I needed to look for something that was more stable, and allowed me to stay in one place for a while and not have the constant stress of basically living on the road.

Unsurprisingly, I am no longer working, minus the odd job I can do for my S/O who has their own business and is able to support me financially. I feel guilty at times about having him be the sole one to provide for us despite him not minding and reminding me I dont have to work if I am unable, its okay. I am still often wanting to have some kind of job, get me out of the house on occasion and have my own money. I can't go back to what I was doing before because it was 90% travel and that was doing more bad for my mental health than good. When I try to look at possible job options or even consider them, I get massive panic attacks and usually end up going to bed instead of finishing looking at the page, filling out an application, etc.

The idea of having any kind of obligation makes me terrified, the idea of interacting with people terrifies me. I'd like to go back to working, even part time but its hard. And I have a hard time believing I will be able to hold it down once I manage to get a job.

I am one such person in that I appear to be quite capable of work. People see a relatively articulate person who seems to have things together and should be working. I get a great deal of very insulting flack from people who demand I get to work and get off income assistance.

But what they don't see: They don't see the person who reacts in abject fear to the thought of returning to the work force; the person not sleeping and throwing up making themselves sick. They assume I should be successful at work. They don't see the person who in 38 years of working has had 43 different positions with 33 employers all quit due to overwhelming crippling debilitating anxiety.

Before you chastize someone for 'failing' to work, try to consider what you don't see.

[Mountaindewed]

I'm sorry. That was not the intention of the post. I don't have good social skills, so I don't always understand what people are going through. I was just curious.

[Unrigged64072835]

There are all kinds of reasons, honestly. Some are good and some aren't.

I'm hesitant about working because I would need new job skills to get a decent job, I still have anxiety and PTSD to deal with, and I have physical and mental issues that rule out entry-level employment. Plus I'm in my 50s so I'm not even sure I would get a good-paying job even if I went back to college and got a degree.

I don't know. I'm in school (online) now, but the anxiety can get real bad especially around midterm and finals. I'm working on that.

[Tea-lover1987]

appereance can be deceiving. im very articulate as well, other days im a space cadet.it could be that these people function well in the group because they feel safe in that environment as opposed to work. but they could just be having a good day. some days you can function normal, other days you can't. I get told all the time Im too lazy too work, but I have a lot of severe depression, anxiety, chronic pain and used to get told I looked put together, but im not. some of it could be insecurities. plus if you never had any work history or criminal record and then you try to get a job like I have no one will give you a chance, i had poor attendance in school. I don't even know how to write a resume. someone people have trouble remembering things. applying can be intimidation because even for miminum wage jobs you have to give your life history, education. if your constantly told your stupid, worthless, can't do anything right, sometimes you give up. its like you need a freaking degree just to get a cleaning job.

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by Bozdickens

These are people who communicate well and do well in group and seem like they could handle a job.

I find this really offensive. People constantly tell me how smart I am, how verbal I am and how they see nothing wrong with me. Still I have four things that each on its own would give me full time disability! Still I guess I look bright and shiny...

How should I look to make people understand that I simply can't work? I have put all my projects aside, all my energy goes toward simple chores to keep me alive. And I should still WORK???

Please tell me how I must appear for people to UNDERSTAND! I can't make myself dumber and less verbal, but I can pretend I guess. I could start mumbling and stuttering and make no sense. How can I express my constant state of anxiety/fatigue/exhaustion/pain/lack of sleep/distrust/hopelessness so you can see it on the outside? Should I wear a t-shirt with that stuff printed on it?

No, I do not WANT to work with all this. I am indeed HESITANT to try, since I know it would basically KILL ME. I will die soon enough anyway.

I act nice with people IRL, I take interest in their lives, I smile, I don't whine (I save that for online)... and obviously I'm getting punished for it. I guess I should just be an *** to scare people away with their dumb questions.

Not working can make you feel really useless. Don't add to it. Please.

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by Bozdickens

I'm sorry. That was not the intention of the post. I don't have good social skills, so I don't always understand what people are going through. I was just curious.

"Why can't you understand? You talk just fine and appear intelligent. So why are you so hesitant about understanding?"

[Mountaindewed]

Originally Posted by -jimi-

"Why can't you understand? You talk just fine and appear intelligent. So why are you so hesitant about understanding?"

Well, I'm able to work and make my own money. I don't have to live off the government like you do. Sucks to be you. I hope you feel better!

Appearances can be deceiving.

I wish I was as "normal" on the inside as I appear on the outside.

Not looking "sick" has made things harder in some ways.

I am definitely scared to return too work but it's not that I just don't want to and one thing I haven't seen mentioned here is that when you work all benefits go by your gross income not what you take home.
Things get harder when I work unless I get a really good paying job. I have less money in my pocket for bills more stress and end up crumbling and failing.

It's a uphill struggle and no one really knows what's going on in peoples lives and why they aren't employed.

Originally Posted by Bozdickens

Well, I'm able to work and make my own money. I don't have to live off the government like you do. Sucks to be you. I hope you feel better!

Sucks to be me too I guess......

Originally Posted by Bozdickens

Well, I'm able to work and make my own money. I don't have to live off the government like you do. Sucks to be you. I hope you feel better!

That was not a very supportive reply, to be honest. It's great that you can work and don't require government assistance, but some people need government assistance and some people can't work.

I do work part-time but am also on disability. It doesn't feel great to get a cheque each month from the government but it certainly helps.

[dermald]

I'm registered with websites like INDEED, and the send emails with jobs that "match" my qualifications, or what I'm looking for.

They sent me an email for a few jobs for a software engineer, short-term, in Texas.

The problem is I'm looking for long-term, I'm not a software engineer, and I don't live anywhere near Texas.

I also like the recruiters who post a fake job opening. When you contact them, they say the job was filled, but they've got lots of other opportunities. No, they do not.

But my favorites are the recruiters who never bother to read my resume, so they'll call with something that is based on a keyword search or something, yet the job has nothing at all to do with what I do.

Most of my past success came about when I got an opportunity to speak with someone direction, such as a Director of the department I'd be joining, or an owner. There are too many filters out there.

[dermald]

I had an experience with a phone interview recently that was rather special.

The guy wants to interview me on the phone, by giving me a few scenarios. Without going into too much detail, he said the purpose of this is to see how I think on my feet. Fine, I'm all for it.

But then he asks me where I'm sitting. I tell him I'm at my desk. He goes on this rant about how I can't use Google to look anything up, and that I shouldn't be sitting near a computer. I told him that I would shut it off. He then says, "I know when people are using Google, so don't try any tricks."

Okay, we're off to a bad start.

I go through the first test, just fine. Then he's got a second test scenario. As I'm pausing to think about it, he asks me if I'm using Google. I tell him that I am not. Once again, he goes off on this rant about how he can tell if someone is using Google or not. I refrained from saying how I felt, and finished his test.

I'm not feeling too good about this interview.

We end with the guy asking me what I look for in a work place, and wants to know if there are things that are just as important as money. I tell him that one of the things that is VERY important to me is a "healthy environment."

The guy then asks me, "Suppose you work with this guy on your team, and he's not a particularly happy person, and he keeps to himself. How would you handle working with such a person?

This question really confused me, so I told him that so long as we could get our work done, I suppose it would be fine. He asks, "Maybe I'm not understanding your need for a HAPPY environment."

By this point, I'd had enough of this guy, and it became clear that not only would I not be getting the job, but that I wouldn't want the job, especially if I had to work with him.

"That's because I did NOT say anything about a HAPPY environment. I said that I wanted to work in a HEALTHY environment. This means an environment that is free of dysfunction and drama. During this interview, there were two occasions when you treated me like a child, while threatening me with your psychic abilities to know what people are doing when you can't see them. Clearly, you do NOT know when someone is NOT using Google, because I was NOT using Google, and yet you somehow believed that I was doing just that. You were talking down to me as if you had authority over me, and that you were eager to exercise it, when I'm not even an employee. THEN, your reference to a HAPPY environment showed me that you are not listening. The interview goes both ways, and while you were interviewing me, I was interviewing you. I am sad to say it, but unfortunately, YOU have failed my interview, so I am going to have to pass on this opportunity. Have a great day." click

As much as I need a job, I had to cut bait and call this one for what it was. This was not the healthy environment that I need. I've worked for some horrific people, and I refuse to put myself through that again. The interview goes both ways.