Hi. I have Bipolar II and CPTSD with Psychotic Features. I've also been a sober alcoholic for 16 years. I haven't worked for eight and a half years due to my illnesses. I still miss work after all these years and of course I'm tanking financially while on the Disability Support Pension (Australia). I had a pretty big career for 15 years and did tertiary study. It feels like all that has been wasted due to my illnesses. I overdid it work-wise of course, due to my illnesses and also having no self esteem due to my crappy childhood. I would periodically have a breakdown and leave my jobs, except for once at the end of my drinking when I was offered the "opportunity to resign" and at he very end of my work when I was let go as I couldn't do my work anymore. But during my career when I'd resign, I'd have my little breakdown, then pull myself together and get a new job and be off again - a better job every time. But eight and a half years ago it was the Big Crash here I am.

I'd like to go back to work in a "little job", nothing so high fly'in as my career and only part time. I have something in mind I can pursue and it would be low key. I'm profoundly isolated, have too much time for my mind to self destruct, feel useless and can't express my creativity. Money of course. So work would tick a lot of boxes.

I'd like to hear from anyone who has had a similar experience in terms of serious mental illness, but who has had success in going back to work - even in a modest way.

[hvert]

Hi,

It's not my experience, but a very good friend of mine with a similar diagnosis was out of the work market for about 15 years. He has been successfully working for seven months. It was definitely a process for him to get to that point, sort of like quitting smoking where it sometimes takes a few tries before it sticks. He's working as a cashier, not his dream job, but a great 'just for now' job that's letting him get used to work again without a lot of pressure.

A relative with a similarly serious diagnosis was out of work for about five years. His first job after that was as a factory floor worker. Ten years later, he has a professional job with very bright prospects.

I stepped off the professional career track for about four years and have stepped back on with a part time contract gig doing the same type of work. I am still adjusting to not being able to call all of my time my own and would not want a full time position anywhere. Work sure takes care of isolation problem, but I kind of miss that!

Good luck with your plans.

[Little Lulu]

I have two experiences - one my own and one my nephew. I went back to work after leaving a job abruptly (not something I would typically do) due to severe anxiety. I returned to a less stressful position initially and worked my way back to my original career. It wasn't easy but it was worth it.

My nephew who has schizophrenia returned to work after several years of unemployment. He has a degree but has been working as a cashier for > 10 years and is a very well-respected employee. It was definitely a process for him to return to work. He had a very good counselor who believed in him and his ability to work and I think that made the difference.

Best wishes to you ... I hope you give it a try but it would be helpful to have a good support system in place as you begin your journey. Work is good for the soul.

Thanks guys, that's very inspiring.

[CosmicRose]

I'm 23 and I've left small jobs due to my anxiety. I also had a very crappy childhood, loads of emotional abuse and really messed up situations. I'm currently in the process of looking for full time work which means going on tons of interviews and taking pre-tests. It has boosted my confidence just to know I am more than capable of doing these things. I know the area that I have to work on, and that is not taking other's opinions of me too seriously. My anxiety stems from how others are perceiving me. If I could learn to just stop caring about what other people think about me, I know I'll be much happier. Its definitely a confidence issue. But you can always get up and try, try again.

Thanks CosmicRose. One problem for me is the potential for life-threatening depression. I tried to go back to work a few years back and got a job in my previous profession - but just part-time and at a much lower level. The organisation was out of control and dysfunctional and that, along with it maybe being too early for me to go back, meant I had to resign. They actually wouldn't accept my resignation as my resume is really impressive, but I resigned anyway. Then I got reeeally sick with depression - beyond ideation etc. Had to have a big med change etc. So I'll work with my psychiatrist and psychologist to ease into work. But it terrifies me that I won't get a job, won't be able to keep a job, will have to leave a job like I did before, get very mentally sick like before. I'm upset just typing this!

[hvert]

That sucks that your first experience back was so miserable - doing part time lower level work is a *huge* shift and adding a super dysfunctional company to the mix makes for an intolerable situation.

Do you know if you want to go straight back to what you were doing before?

[Cat_Lover_58]

Count me in as a fellow part-time worker of three years! I'm a cashier at a low paying job and I love it. Love the customers that I ring out and help with purchases from the retail store.

My dilemma is that I stand for long times without a break...as much as 7+ hours. I have leg pain and back as well...so that is not good. I'm trying to find another full-time job that is similar and less physically demanding.

With my bipolar and mood disorder, I look back over my job history and see the gaps and why I left many positions. Now it makes sense...

I don't think working in a, perhaps, lesser capacity than you're used to is a crime. We do what we have to...I say enjoy the job and do what you can...

Cat

hvert, thanks. I may go back into what I did before but it's s super-stress career. I'd have to be lucky and get something low key.

Thanks Cat_Lover_58. Congrats on getting back to work. I'd be happy doing something like what you're doing. But with Bipolar as well as PTSD with Psychotic Features, retail may be beyond me. My PTSD is still out of control and being in contact with people, where I may feel they are out to get me, or even if someone raised their voice at me, would have me resigning straight away. And if there was a big rush of people, I may not cope. So my hat's off to you.

I have a line of enquiry about a totally different job and I'll be going to see a lady abut it soon. Ironically Cat_Lover_58 I have concerns about standing up all shift in this job, as my poor overweight body has my hips in great pain now, so I'll see.

[fallsfall]

I was on disability for 10 years for depression. I now have a responsible full time job. But it was a process to get from there to here.

First, I volunteered. Volunteering means that if you can't make it in on a particular day, that it isn't a crisis. Also when you volunteer your "boss" should be enthusiastically grateful every day that you come - that is a big ego boost. Volunteering also let me ease into the working world because you can decide how much you want to work, and then increase that as you are able.

In the US there is a program that helps people on disability get the skills they need to get a job that will work for them (called Ticket to Work). I don't know if they have something similar in Australia. That really helped me.

Good luck!