I quit working with my job coach. They said I could come back anytime. So that's good. But I didn't feel like I was getting help. I never wanted to be there and felt so unmotivated with her. Is it possible that she was NOT the right fit for me? Or maybe I'm meant to do the job search on my own. She didn't help me with a cover letter, said I'm intelligent enough to do that on my own. It was weird. I am intelligent. But I still don't have a cover letter, lol.

I applied to two jobs today and yesterday. One is a peer specialist job and the other is a sales associate at a pet store.

One thing I will take away with me from the job coach's organization, is that her supervisor told me, in a conversation I had with him about working and anxiety about it, is that many people who are on disability and have not worked in a long time, are afraid to work. I'm not alone. And take it one day at a time. I really really appreciated him saying this to me. I wish I coulda worked with him, lol.

I found a bunch of links that were helpful to me and wanted to share one:
The benefits of working

I had this realization in January, when I was was at a meditation workshop. It was the best thing ever (the workshop), and during my time there, an epiphany HIT me like a bolt of lightening: I don't think highly of myself, and I could. I think of myself as mentally ill. The mentally ill family member, friend, person on disability because of it. But what if I didn't think of myself this way? What if I saw myself as a professional? My name is Starrysky and I'm a professional. That was it, and to me it was such an amazing thought that it stuck. I remembered it. But that's really just the beginning. What if I not only thought of myself as a professional, but acted like one, everyday, too.

Thanks for reading if you got this far.

[hvert]

Lol, why didn't she help you with a cover letter? That's silly. I agree, she might not have been a good fit. I'm jealous of your meditation workshop!

Originally Posted by hvert

Lol, why didn't she help you with a cover letter? That's silly. I agree, she might not have been a good fit. I'm jealous of your meditation workshop!

I'm really not sure why she didn't help me, Hvert!! I really think it just wasn't a good fit, even though I did like her as a person. I just didn't feel helped. I also like doing this stuff on my own, and really, what I need is emotional support (will talk to therapist, lol). She didn't / wasn't able to provide that either and I'm just like...uggghhh! What do you do lady?

I feel more motivated now without her, lol. There's a woman at the library I heard of (and got her card) that helps with cover letters. A lot of times I feel like I don't even need one, lol. I'm applying for simple stuff that you don't need a college degree for.

Yeah the meditation workshop was really really great. Do you meditate Hvert?

Hugs to you, I like your philosophy of reframing how you think of yourself, when depressed I think very negatively about myself partly because I am depressed - it becomes a cycle. Breaking out of it is key.

I think cover letters can be important, but so many applications are online (at least in UK) and don't want a cover letter - they can be adapted for 'personal statements' though.

[hvert]

I meditate off and on. I've been off for a while, maybe I need to get back to it. I get really into it for a bit and then ... just stop. I've only done it by myself at home, though.

That's awesome that you found someone else to help with a cover letter. It's nice just to have someone read through stuff like cover letters and resumes. The more eyes, the better (usually).

Hope you hear good things back about some of the jobs you applied for!