Anyone here employed in high paying jobs or mentally demanding work? Just wanted to know if there are any “high functioning” people with schizophrenia here…
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Few people here work full time… i am jobless and poor lifelong…
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I have quite a demanding job that pays alright.
Im learning how to cope with stress, its bad sometimes
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Would you care to share what job that is? I personally think less mental work is better for people with sz.
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Its in manufacturing, ill give you that much.
It is high stress. But i cope…
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Alright. Could you tell me what medication you are on currently and whether it interferes with your work, makes you slow etc?
I take 10mg zyprexa,1000mg lithium and 5mg lexapro.
The worst side effect i have is that im very tired in the morning i really have to drag my ass out of bed.
Other than that i function normally at work
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Alright. Good to know you can function like you used to before meds. I was recently diagnosed and felt slowed down due to meds so was curious…
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I am employed in a good paying job that is also, in my opinion, mentally challenging. I work as a Computer Programmer for a Creative Agency. The job actually allows me a lot of flexibility with SZ/SZA symptoms. I can work from home if I am not feeling my best, and I am allowed to wear headphones at work, which helps keep me calm and keeps the voices from being too distracting. Technology careers I have found are much more tolerable of peoples eccentricities then some of the other fields I have worked in.
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Although I am unemployed currently, I will be this year soon as the THC clears from my system. I quit smoking weed for good. Lots of good experiences on it but now that I’ve been through two psychotic episodes (non weed induced) I would get psychotic smoking it after an episode.
It’s not worth it. But I still consider myself high functioning. I take care of the house I live in and keep my room clean and organized. I have been on this consistent habit for over three weeks and apparently it takes 28 days to build habits. I’ve never been this consistent, even when i was on zyprexa and those other four meds.
Just on abilify and ativan now.
I work as an aircraft mechanic. It is supposed to be full time but I have missed a lot lately. I make 15 bucks an hour and don’t consider that high paying.
I am trying to find another job. I got offered a part time job that pays 400 bucks a day but I need my security clearance to come back good. With my medical history there is no way I will get an interim clearance. It will have to be adjudicated. That could take months to years. I am waiting to hear back. I got everything submitted. Hope to hear back by May before my SSDI review.
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I’m a writer,
It pays well and is demanding, mentally.
My work is pretty consistent but I’d still consider it part time,
I haven’t put in 40 hours in a couple years.
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thatguy good to know. However if you still hear voices after taking your medication I wonder why you take it. Would like to know what medication you are on currently.
Hello @szzzz,
The reason I still take medication is that it makes the voices much less intense then they were before I was on meds. The meds also help quite a bit with paranoia. I still hear voices but they are much less frequent and intense as they were previously. The medication makes me functional enough to work.
As for the meds I am on, I am on a bit of a cocktail at the moment, but basically: Haldol, Geodon, and Abilify. all varying amounts.
Hope that answers your question! Have a good day!
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I worked for 40 years with a professional civil service job
and retired at 71 with a pension
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I’m considered “high functioning” cuz I have a Master’s Degree and WAS a registered dietitian but in the only real job I had in that role I was there for 5 months and got committed twice so they let me go. I’m really good at school-type work and books but I have such a hard time functioning with other people. I would get my Ph.D. except I can’t afford the student loans involved… I’m on disability now and poor.
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Whiteraven hope you find another job. After all you have a masters degree. Good luck to you.
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Yes, full-time with benefits (benefits just kicked in~). I take prozac and injectable abilify but i missed my shot a couple months ago and need to figure out how to get on this one medi-cal program for working people who, despite working, would not be able to afford the costly monthly injections. I believeit’s called working 250% program or something.
I do tutoring and general office work. Don’t want to get too specific because I’m paranoid about being found out.
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Are you a novel writer or a copywriter?
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I don’t work. Haven’t worked in 24 years. I can never work again because I’ve been out of the workforce too long. Last job I had was in telemarketing. My voice has changed, due to age, in such a manner that I doubt I can do that type of work anymore. My job previous to that was as an R.N. But, I don’t have a license anymore, so, I can’t do that either.