how to recover

[purplegiraffe]

I'm fairly new to this topic.  Its a bit complicated.  Essentially I have c-ptsd but it wasn't recognised for over 20 years by the mental health services I was seeing, despite me explaining I had been emotionally neglected and emotionally abused etc.  I was given numerous life- shortening drugs which I am only just beginning to get off.  It still isn't recognised by the pdoc I see and I'm in a vulnerable position because my welfare payments are dependent on the diagnosis and I find it difficult to keep to regular activities, never mind employment which I haven't been in for an extremely long time - but two independent therapists have confirmed that I have c-ptsd and the drugs I was given can cause psychosis and I didn't have that before I went on them.   I do not have the support of my parents for therapy.  I just about manage day to day life - which is probably depression. 

I am not sure how to build the skills to hold down employment without risking a breakdown.  Has anyone been in this situation or is able to offer any thoughts?

(edited:  to be more concise)


 

[Three Roses]

I'll be trying to find info for you, just want you to know you have been heard. Hang in there. In the meantime, here's some info for your health care professionals.

http://www.outofthestorm.website/downloads/

[purplegiraffe]

Just wanted to say thanks Three Roses - its really appreciated. 

[Blueberry]

I am not sure how to build the skills to hold down employment without risking a breakdown.  Has anyone been in this situation or is able to offer any thoughts?

I have been in that sort of situation. Financially I'm lucky because I get a small disability pension and at some point I decided to accept money from my family-of-origin despite the fact that the traumatisations were committed by them.

However for about 4 years I could not work at all. I really mean 'not at all'. Then I started slowly doing an hour here and there per week. After about 7 years I was able to start again in the profession I learned in, but very slowly. I was lucky that an old professional contact was able and willing to allow me the time I needed to finish projects since I could work only 1-2 hours per day. That fizzled out at some point and I started in a related field, again an hour or two a week. Now I'm doing it maybe 10 hours a week. Some people have asked why I don't do something 'easier'. One reason is that 'easier' jobs aren't necessarily easier for me. In fact recently I noticed quite the opposite. The other reason is: no way do I have the energy and stamina to do a prolonged course in learning any other type of work.

I have done some sporadic training, half-day, full-day to improve some skills. I did a few MOOC (M=? Open Online Courses) too.  They're often free, don't give you any kind of college credit but possibly some knowledge or skills. Teh ones I did were all much, much less work than any college course I've ever done, so not overwhelming for me.

You could also try LETS groups (Local Exchange Trading Societies) where you exchange help with other people based on a time scheme. If there's a group in your area where some member offers instruction in some skills you'd like to learn and you can offer 'anything' in exchange. I was in once such group for a long time, it was definitely a money-saver for me. I also did some of my professional work there before doing it for pay again.

I've had to learn to be patient with and forgiving of myself. It's not an easy situation to be in, not able to function in the working world. I've also had to learn that my health needs have priority. Without some degree of stability and emotional health, everything falls apart.

I hope some of this might be useful for you.

[purplegiraffe]

I am not sure how to build the skills to hold down employment without risking a breakdown.  Has anyone been in this situation or is able to offer any thoughts?

I have been in that sort of situation. Financially I'm lucky because I get a small disability pension and at some point I decided to accept money from my family-of-origin despite the fact that the traumatisations were committed by them.

However for about 4 years I could not work at all. I really mean 'not at all'. Then I started slowly doing an hour here and there per week. After about 7 years I was able to start again in the profession I learned in, but very slowly. I was lucky that an old professional contact was able and willing to allow me the time I needed to finish projects since I could work only 1-2 hours per day. That fizzled out at some point and I started in a related field, again an hour or two a week. Now I'm doing it maybe 10 hours a week. Some people have asked why I don't do something 'easier'. One reason is that 'easier' jobs aren't necessarily easier for me. In fact recently I noticed quite the opposite. The other reason is: no way do I have the energy and stamina to do a prolonged course in learning any other type of work.

I have done some sporadic training, half-day, full-day to improve some skills. I did a few MOOC (M=? Open Online Courses) too.  They're often free, don't give you any kind of college credit but possibly some knowledge or skills. Teh ones I did were all much, much less work than any college course I've ever done, so not overwhelming for me.

You could also try LETS groups (Local Exchange Trading Societies) where you exchange help with other people based on a time scheme. If there's a group in your area where some member offers instruction in some skills you'd like to learn and you can offer 'anything' in exchange. I was in once such group for a long time, it was definitely a money-saver for me. I also did some of my professional work there before doing it for pay again.

I've had to learn to be patient with and forgiving of myself. It's not an easy situation to be in, not able to function in the working world. I've also had to learn that my health needs have priority. Without some degree of stability and emotional health, everything falls apart.

I hope some of this might be useful for you.

hi Blueberry, thanks very much for posting to share what helped.  I found it a helpful point to consider that it could be difficult to retrain and learn another kind of work whilst dealing with c-ptsd.   Thanks for mentioning about MOOC and LETS. 

[Newbeginning]

hi purple giraffe-
I'm new here too!  glad you posted!  I'll be following where this post goes to get the info you asked about too!  but mostly glad to see/hear there this is not a unique thing.  I've only been out of work for 9 mo. at this point, but was self employed before that and only budgeted for 2 months down.  In the last 7 mo my life has exploded!  Dealing with so many different things, physical and mental health related.  I've talked to my therapist and a social worker an both of them- their only advice has been "just go get a job"  !!!! and these are professionals!  if that's all I needed to do, don't you think I would have by now?!  I can barely get through "normal" daily activities like laundry or dishes. . . how do they not understand?
It doesn't help that half of my cptsd comes from work related situations.
I liked the one copied post from blueberry that says do one day, or one hour.  and then maybe two.  and work your way back in.  I feel like that's what I need to do, to figure out what my limitations are right now, but how do you find something that will pay, but accept that is your process?  how do you find one day work?
Hang in there and know I'm hanging next to you too.  I won't let go if you don't!

[ricepen22]

I don't believe that this is the best way forward. But its how I did it.

I cried and had panic attacks at work, then covered them up the best I could. This allowed me to pay for therapy. My panic attacks and awkwardness slowly died.

I still have iffy days and panic attacks at work. But they are less. And not noticeable.


One thing that I became aware of during this time is - who is using my resources? Its hard to spot or belive that some people are toxic, but if you are getting drained, you won't have the energy to do what you need to (ie work and gain new skills). And that I need to top my resources up - ie becoming a hermit for a bit- I like to strech myself so I don't always take my own advice, and then I am tired and down for a bit. People notice.

As for skills google it, practice it. Put that you are confident in these skills on your cv. Skills also cross over. There are ways of writing a cv which shows that.