Schizoaffective Disorder Online Support Group

Hi, I am starting to look for a job again after a hospitalization. I was wondering if anyone with this disorder is working and how you cope with the on the job stresses?

Hello

I have not worked since early 2003. Luckily I was quickly approved for SSD and got my first check in October that year. I tried to go back to work but my anxiety went through the roof. I was visibly shaking all day. I feel so lost and vulnerable in a new job. I wish I could think of something more encouraging to say!

More than anything I wish I could work. There's no way. My anxiety would go through the roof. The more stressed I am, the more my memory goes. I would be forgetting things left and right.

Hopefully you can do better. Perhaps you can be a hero

I work part time as a housekeeper at a hotel. When I first started, I met weekly with an Employment Specialist. Basically she was a therapist that spoke with me about work stuff only. Well, other issues bled into work so we talked about them too. and I really connected with her so talking to her was easy. We talked about how afraid I was of getting fired for being slow and stuff like that. I don't meet with her any more. I "graduated" after awhile. I got positive feedback from my boss which helped. My boss made comments about how everything was clean and that's what mattered. I get my work done. I don't skip things. If she wants me to get done faster she'll make some beds for me. I consider myself really lucky. I was hospitalized 4 times since starting there a year and a half ago and they've always gotten me back on the schedule right away. And one time I was out for 7 weeks. I'm really lucky. Now, I'm going back to school and they're working around my school schedule. I worry about when I graduate and how the job stress will play on me then and how my employer will handle it but... one thing at a time...

cant work .. but i do miss it

I work and have been working with the same employer for the past 8 years. I was diagnosed with BP in 2009. I tried to quit my job at the time since I thought I was having a nervous breakdown. It turned out to be BP disorder. I was on sick leave for 5 months in 2009, but have been working on a regular basis since then. I sometimes take a day off, but that is only when I am feeling very tired and to keep me from relapsing. I would say that I take about one day every month or two. I am well medicated and have no problems working.

I find that working gives me regularity. I find it very rewarding at the same time.

I hope you will find a good job.