[AslansHow]

I have recently been diagnosed with severe anxiety disorder, social anxiety, ptsd, depression, autism spectrum disorder, and some ocd.

My psychiatrist has advised me to take a leave of absence for a few months as my work related anxiety is severe and overwhelming, before reevaluating.

I can get EI, but that will reduce my income significantly. That also causes me a lot of stress. I do know that I can't keep working as I have. I am not doing my work well, and I am frozen and unable to move for most of my shift lately. Also, every day going to work, I feel like I am trying to work up the courage to face a firing squad.

I mostly work alone, and I do like my coworkers and manager fine (although all social situations are really awkward for me, and also cause a lot of anxiety.) However I do work with the public, which is really hard. I also struggle with leaving home so much, and am unable to talk to people outside of work as I am so exhausted with the interactions at work.

I don't respond to people well if they ask anything outside of our regulations, or if they complain. I also really struggle with people who are loud, swear, are demanding, are unstable themselves...

After my leave of absence, my psychiatrist is recommending that I look into disability (I think my husband makes too much, and we own our home, so that is unlikely - though we really do need my income)

She is also recommending that I find work that is not dealing with the public at all. She is suggesting stocking shelves or something - but I have back problems and really low energy. Also I have at the very least average intelligence. I often get in the 90's for tests other people fail. My stress level is always high, and I know I have to take that into consideration, and I have no idea what I am able to do or would even enjoy.

I have to work - but I don't know what to do. I would like something I could do from home most of the time. I would like a schedule of my own choosing, so if I am having a bad day where I can't function, I can take the time off. I know working with people is really very hard for me, and uses up all my reserves so I have nothing left to offer people in my free time. I don't want to stock shelves, though.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I live in BC, Canada.

[Travelinglady]

Hi, AslansHow, and welcome to Psych Central! I can see how your kind of work (meeting with the public) could strain your coping skills. I agree that some time off would be good. Here in the States disability is not dependent on how much the spouse makes. I hope it's not different in Canada.

Maybe while you're taking a break, you could apply for disability, if you qualify, and consider some ways you can work from home. I am on disability and do some free-lance writing.

Are you seeing a therapist to develop ways to deal with your anxiety? (I get help for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.) Perhaps you could be doing that, too.

Keep us informed! We care.

IT job maybe? (Disclaimer: I've social anxiety and work in IT). Admin support work perhaps?

A non public facing job doesn't have to be stacking shelves.

[AslansHow]

I love to write. In the three weeks since my psychiatrist asked me to keep a journal, I have written 140 pages. I did try writing articles online before getting this job, but only made about $5-10 for about 6hours of work. I make $13/hour where I am and have to make at least that.
I am not really an IT person. All I know about the computer I learned from my aspie son, who understood them from the time we got our first just after his 3rd birthday.

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[AslansHow]

Telephones make me jump and my heart race every time they ring (I work with phones now) and I can't think well if there are other people around. I make a lot of mistakes, my nose runs, and I trip and drop things.

I have always worked with people, though - in daycare, construction, factories, and now in a motel. All have been bad for my sensory issues and anxiety, and I have not lasted more than about 18 months at a stretch, and that is with pushing myself hard the last year or so. With construction and the factory my longest was three weeks and it was horrible.

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[Perna]

You might want to look at something like indexing: Welcome to Index Students

It's all computerized nowadays I believe but it is done from home, etc., you're hired independently I believe.

Home Accueil - Indexing Society of Canada - Indexing Society of Canada