How long have you been off work due to depression/anxiety?

eskie..thank you for sharing your story..very similar to mine with how you were basically pushed out of employment and how your employment was your identity as was mine.

Your post helped me to not feel so alone.

I am going on 6 months. I have had a few 3 month stints in the past. The longest was 27 month's and it wasn't fun at all.

I've only just read your post & I too am/was a teacher. I have PTSD & had a year off work & then another 6 months. I was forced to agree to a settlement in January this year. I am now jobless & ive not even tried to apply for benefits yet as my anxiety is stopping me. I know if I go & talk to someone, I'll just cry!! I have no money & im struggling now. I too feel ashamed. I can't even walk past my ex school!!

For me, it's been about 5 years. Having poor social skills, poor self esteem, and a sensitivity to rejection makes things difficult.

I started college as a way to gain access to resources to help me, such as FAFSA money, free student therapist, workshops to help me work on my social skills, and the chance to network with people. I'm also trying to find a job on campus because the people there are actually nice and respectful to us students who are having trouble so I would feel more comfortable working there than another place. If I can't get a job there, than at this point, I would take homelessness before working in fast food or retail because I can't deal with such a high stress fast paced environment with so many people and rude customers and what not.

My long term plan is to make it either as an online freelancer or entrepreneur because the only way I can see myself functioning in society at all is if I can choose my work schedule and work from home without having to go out everyday and deal with people. I'm planning on starting an LLC soon and establishing a business so that I can qualify for business loans and credit within the next year so that I can make a living entirely off it and not work a regular job. I plan on getting into ecommerce and offering freelance services or possibly doing some internet marketing in order to make a decent living on my own terms.

If I can't make a living like this than I would rather live off disability and plasma money because I would hate working a regular job and being told what to do and treated like crap for the rest of my life.

Jobless now, creeping into 9 months at the moment.

Not diagnosed with anything apart from lack of self-confidence. Thought it is holding me from applying jobs since I'm basically afraid, didn't have confidence to do everything. Browsing for job openings and almost always end up not applying for most after looking for the job requirements and criteria, which I didn't think I have the confidence to do any.

Most times I end up being hesitant, should I apply this one? Can I do it? What will happen later? What will people say? This led to situation where I become choosy, although I didn't intend to.

Did attend 4-5 interviews, guess there's no chance after all. Being a stutterer certainly not helping in most of interviews - although it getting better right now.

It sounds like you have set up a good plan for self-employment. Anything goal-oriented like that will boost your self-esteem in many ways.

When I applied for LTD, it was also a hard struggle for me. I was nervous talking on the phone to my case-manager, my union steward, and also my doctors. I'd literally and figuratively be shaking each time, and my voice was so nervous. I broke it up into simple steps: call person A today, then call person B tomorrow, read the first page of the medical questionnaire application today, etc. I did it little by little. I hope this helps, even though it's unsolicited advice. I just wanted to encourage you because you are eligible for financial support at this time in your life. PTSD, yes, I feel your pain. I could not even talk to my coworker for the longest time until recently. And yes, I don't even drive past my former school where I taught. I completely understand.

6 month's but I am ubering part time.

More than two months now. I could get a job next week I'm just sick and tired of driving for a living. I have a talent for writing but couldn't finish college.
Well, stay in school kids.

4 months and counting..i know its not gonna end soon since i have both mental and physical illnesses to declare and i have to explain my sudden resignation from the previous company to the hiring manager. I also have an interview on monday and i am losing sleep over it already.

Being a mom of 5 kids, I never really held jobs outside the home. As they got older, I thought it would be a great time to get work. The isolation that I lived through, as a stay at home mom, did a number on my mindset. For years, my big outings were the neighborhood school, park, library and grocery.
I didn't go to college, so I applied for entry level jobs, and was always pretty lucky to get hired. The problem became keeping the job. There always seemed to be something more important at home, or a conflict of scheduling with my children's needs. Plus I have driving phobia, so I'm limited in the areas that I can work.
Then my mom became ill, and I cared for her for 5 years, until Feb of this year when she passed.
Since then, I have had lots of interviews, and a couple of offers. I've accepted them, and then at the last minute, decided not to accept the job.
I went back to therapy after mom passed, and got a diagnosis of agoraphobia, depression and anxiety. Was put on meds, but had bad experience, so now I'm just trying to start over again.
I have my certificate as a nurses assistant. The thought of working in a nursing home terrifies me. I keep trying to go in that direction, and then I back out.
Thanks for posting this thread. It helps me to know that I am not alone in this!

Sans, I have a friend in the extended care facility at our local hospital....Willows is building a new beautiful facility nearby....but visiting there all the time, I understand your hesitation for wanting to work in a facility like that though they desperately need very caring assistants as you are....IT'S HARD WORK & takes lots of patience as I'm sure you know after caring for your mom for 5 years.

In my little town we have a new branch of Cambellsville Univ that is a great way to get a practical skill certificate education in many areas including lab tech like areas or a more standard degree. Go figure, at my age I am even thinking of going back to get my masters in theology just for me if nothing more.

It's interesting because after driving those So Calif freeways all my life, I HATE driving intl Lexington now. I do it but I hate it....I avoid traffic whenever possible so I understand your phobia.

Also after caring for your mom for so many years sometimes it's GOOD to just take time for yourself without any major responsibilities thrown on you in the way of a job....it takes time to recover from the level of emotional intensity that kind of care requires. You will know when you are ready for more in the future.

Dear Eskielover,
It means so much to me to wake up to the supportive reply from you. I'm definitely not giving up, and even a bit intrigued by the idea of returning to school.
Thanks! Will keep you posted. xo
Sandy

This is my first time posting here so I don't know if I'm doing this correctly. I'm 38 years old and I've been out of work for about 14 or 15 years. My last job was at a dental office and that was short-lived and ended in disaster. My mental health took a nosedive. I'm clinically depressed. I have social anxiety and adult ADD. I receive long-term disability benefits but it's not enough money for me to live on my own. I'm living with my 73 year old mother and my youngest of two sons who just turned 18. Now I want to get back into the work force but I have no idea how to go about it after so many years spending the majority of my time closed in my bedroom. I don't even know what kind of job I should go for. Almost 2 years ago I started volunteering at a local community garden. I'm there for about 6-8 hours a week and it's therapeutic but it doesn't provide me with any income. I feel lost and I'm sick of feeling dependent on others. No one in my life has any suggestions on how I can back on my own two feet.

Hi Elizabeth2
Maybe there's a position at the gardening center or something similar nearby. I think volunteering is a great way to start getting out there and it's helpful on the job application. Maybe talk to someone at the center and see if they can point you in a good direction. Best wishes!xo
Sandy

why do you have to declare mental or physical illness when applying for a job?

I didn't declare that I had been diagnosed (probably incorrectly by the way) to have paranoid schizophrenia when I applied for my job.

Left my last job in June of 2015, so two years.

Been going to school but this semester's a trainwreck so idk.

There is a column in the application form which states whether i have served army, once i state "no", the interviewer will ask me why. Previously i was exempted fr army due to my mental condition and i would have no choice but to let the truth out..

Or simply lie by stating that you had something more socially acceptable wrong with you, such as asthma or a missing kidney or something like that as long as such health concerns couldn't hold you back from the particular job you're applying for.

Luckily, I never ran into this issue but if I ever do, I will just use some surgery as a baby that actually ended up with me having convulsions most of my childhood with a scar across my forehead to prove it instead of my mental illness.

If you have an actual experience like that isn't a mental health related issue, it should prove even more advantageous to you.

Sans, just the fact that you responded to me makes me feel a little better. Thank you. I will try your suggestion.