Lived Experience Forum

[prisonersorange]

Hi all,

I struggle with CPTSD, depression and anxiety, which is making it very difficult to hold on to a job. I know I'm not the only one who's been in this sort of position, so I thought I'd see if anyone has any advice for me.

I've left two jobs this year. The first was a retail position that I transferred to when I moved interstate. Things got ugly when I resigned, as the manager had little sympathy for the hardship I was facing, and the whole situation thoroughly demolished the confidence I had developed. After many weeks of applying to jobs and receiving no reply, I landed a job at a call center. I only got through two shifts before breaking down on my way to the office and going dark on management. Unprofessional, I know.

All in all, my past few experiences are making me feel like I'm really not in a position to be working right now, and it's making the process of applying for jobs even more demoralising than is normal. Unfortunately, I need to work. My partner can't afford to support me for much longer, I don't think I'm eligible for DSP, and due to frustrating Centrelink circumstances, the powers that be only grant me 50 dollars every fortnight.

I know that there are employment services like Wise that specialise in folks with mental health conditions, but as a full time student I'm not eligible for anything like that. I know that if I were able to find the right position, with management that were able to understand and work with my needs, that I'd be able to excel. I'm a great worker, especially in retail and admin. I have the skills, I have the references. I just don't have the stability at the moment.

Isn't it frustrating how everything affects everything else? A stable job may help the mind to stabilise, an unstable mind will struggle to land a job, and a pattern forms.

Does anyone have any advice? Any positions that have helped them add some routine to a rough patch? Any experiences of kind and understanding bosses?

Thank you all.

<3, G.

[BPDSurvivor]

Hi @prisonersorange ,

That sounds so challenging. To want the very thing that will give you stability yet at the same time be too unstable to get it.

 I’m wondering what it was that made you leave the last two jobs. Was it having to deal with people face to face? I thought the call centre would have been good because you are talking on the phone, but then I read you have to go into the office. 

I’m not sure you can put the fault purely on yourself, but rather, tell yourself that those jobs were not suitable.

I’m more than happy to brainstorm some ideas with you, but I’m not sure I understand well enough what’s happening.