I WANT to work. I really do. But with being the way I am, I know that I have limitations to where I can work and for how many hours. I am also limited in the amount of education I have, I only have a one year course in graphic design.

Working at home would be sooooo good but I have tried and tried and tried and don't seem to get anywheres. I am in Canada, so i thought i would see if there are any programs for people with disabilities (mental illness qualifies as a disability). Well, there is like nothing governemnt sponsered and I can't find anything else. I am starting to feel very badly because I cannot live off the amount of money I am making, yet know if I am forced to work in a call center doing sales 40 hours a week with a forced quota, i will fall apart.

So, I am feeling lost through the cracks. I can't go back to school because my student loans from my year are in collection - because I dont have work to pay them off. I cant get any loans from the bank because I am so damned far in collections.

All of my friends are getting good paying jobs now and are graduated and I am stuck looking at minimum wage jobs and it is making me very very depressed. I don't know what to do, or where to turn.

Does anyone have any ideas?

[bebop]

I don't have any ideas for you but I know where you are coming from. I am basically in the same position. hang in there hon

[ozzie]

((((((((Rainbowzz))))))))) I wish I knew how to help.

thank you everyone. The thoughts are appreciated very much.

[drunksunflower]

So a part-time job and part-time study are out of the question?

I would have thought that Canada there would be options for students to get allowances rather than loans? Here in NZ if u are under a certain income threshold or in early 20s living independently from parents you get to study and get money to do so, and are allowed to also earn $80 a week from part time job.

My job is meant to be 40 hours but is usually more like 50-60 ... i would love to not have to work sometimes but seeing as i also don't want work to know about 'anything' i can't really take time off either. So I just do it.

The other thing is that personally work probably holds me together more than makes me fall apart - its having a focus and achievable goals takes my mind off other *****.

Just my 2 cents.

I am looking, i really am. I live in the second smallest province in canada so things are slim pickings sometime.

No, no allowances that I am aware of. I wish, that would be fantastic. Perhaps I should move to New z!

[drunksunflower]

Hehe do :P

[Maven]

How are your writing skills? Perhaps you could earn some money that way.

Ive thought about that maven, but how?

[Maven]

Well, it depends what you want to write. Fiction or non-fiction? Books, short stories, magazine articles, copywriting (most copywriting is done in-office, but you can find work telecommuting sometimes), scriptwriting, screenwriting, and there's lots more choices. Copywriting includes brochures, PR work, catalog blurbs, flyers, and more.

It's really important to follow the submission guidelines of any publisher you submit to. Most won't even look at your work if you don't format it correctly. But it's not hard to do.

Some publishers allow you to submit work online, others want it postal mailed in. More and more these days allow online submissions, which is pretty handy.

Let me know if you're still considering writing, and what kind of writing, and I'll share some resources with you.

Oh, yeah, and one place you can look for local writing jobs is Craigslist.

thank you! That helps! I always thought of writing, it just seemed a book was a little much to start on. little projects would be nice to start with.

[Maven]

Yeah, there are a lot of opportunities when it comes to writing. There's also comic book writing...some comic book artists seek people to write the stories for them, or to collaborate.

As far as magazine articles go, there are so many things you can write about, it's wonderful. You can write about things you enjoy. One of the best markets for new writers are trade magazines. If you have knowledge about a particular industry, you can share your expertise.

And if it's fiction you want to write, but don't want to start off with an entire novel (or even a novella), there are plenty of places you can submit short stories to, in any genre.

[hillbunnyb]

I'm enjoying this exchange. I've thought about writing too. Thanks Maven, for sharing your resources.))))))M((((((

what great ideas!

[Maven]

I'm happy to help. I will be starting writing very soon. I just got my website ready for content posting (at least I hope I've gotten all the errors out of the way and got all the colors the way I want), so now that's off my shoulders.

I've got a lot of writing-related links, but there's millions more out there, too! LOL!

[Skye]

If you live where I think you do (NS), call the "Help Line" and ask them for the name of some career agencies where you can get help troubleshooting some jobs that would suit your disabilities. I worked for the Help Line there so I'm certain that they'd have links/phone numbers for you, or at least could hook you up with people to help.

Also, they might be able to put you in touch with free debtors associations that might be able to help you slowly but surely resolve your financial situation. In some situations, they can even help free up some money to help people get further education so that they *can* work.

In my experience, the biggest hurdle with problems like the ones you're facing is "thinking inside the box." I know that I can be my own biggest enemy by limiting myself because (a) I don't know what my options are, (b) I shoot myself in the foot because I get so down about my situation, and/or (c) I don't know where/who to talk to to get answers. Once I've had practice "thinking outside the box" with this type of thing, things improve. Asking for help is the first step, so kudos to you for doing just that!

Skye

P.S. I no longer live in NS (now I'm in ON), so I'm not sure what's available there currently, but I'm pretty sure you'll find some help figuring things out.

I am indeed in nova scotia. Never thought of the help line. Well, thank you everyone! I feel more armed than ever!

[Maven]

I still have only two. :P