Struggling to go back to work - help

I'm not sure when, where and why it all went so completely south for me. I've always been a hard worker. Over the last four years I have found it hard to work at all. I'm.on a disability support pension and our economy is in huge trouble. Unless you are holding down two jobs that pay relatively well or one job that pays relatively well, no one can possibly live comfortably anymore. Homelessness has soared to massive and catastrophic heights because people are not able to afford to pay rent due to inflation and unreasonable rent increases that people just cannot afford.

I know because I was homeless. I've been off the streets for about 10 months now and am still trying to recover. I'm.a writer and a damn good one at that even if I do say so myself.

I'm just not sure what's really going on with me. Pressure, people pulling me in directions I don't want to go, really worried about the economy, stress, depression, not sure what's happening but I just can't seem to get out of this horrible rut and I'm not sure what to do.

Some days it takes all my energy just to have a shower. Sometimes that is all I can do for the day. I've left social media completely and I'm glad about that. I no longer read the news or watch what is going on because it's just too much.

I do have low self esteem and low self worth. I know it's not going to be overnight that I get out of this rut but I'm feeling overwhelmed and scared. I don't know where to even start in order to climb out of this rut I'm in.

So very sorry you are going through this. Do you think that perhaps this may have some connection to the complex grief you are experiencing? Not trying to pry or anything. Wish I knew what to say that would help. I am a writer too and so my heart goes out to you.

Thank you. I'm not sure why I'm feeling like this? I think that is a small part of it but I truly am not sure. All I know is I'm spent emotionally and mentally. I just want a better life for myself and am in doubt that I'm actually going anywhere. One day at a time I guess. I think once I've cleared a lot of my me talk health stuff up I'll be able to move forward a bit easier.

Being homeless is stressful and is in my opinion, a trauma, and I think after experiencing it, that it takes time to recover and regain equilibrium.


It also sounds like you have some medical stuff to sort out. I was unemployed for a long period and similarly had some health issues that needed to be dealt with before I could realistically go back to work. Can you make a plan for yourself to deal with your medical stuff first and then have a rough idea of looking for work afterwards.

I'm not sure how income supports work where you're at, but here I'm allowed to work part time while continuing to receive disability benefits, although there is some benefits clawback. Once I decided I was well enough to work, I took some pretty bad jobs at minimum wage that were strictly for the purpose of getting some current experience on my resume. Then I found a better part time job and I decided I'd stay at it for 2 years to get a stable, current job on my resume. I just passed the 2 year mark and it's been great, but now I'm starting to apply for jobs that offer more hours & a higher pay rate.

Think of it as stepping stones to get you to your ultimate goal, whatever that is.