Okay my life started out hard I had a very poverished and religious upbringing and mum was extremely strict, i struggled with anxiety from early on and I got mental illness young as a teenager with a breakdown at 15
I put in magnitudes of effort and overcame my depression and agorophobia by the time i was 20 yrs to go on to work during the whole of my twenties. Working was good in that it gave me a purpose and i got to see people and i took some pride in doing a good job and of course paid. But i rarely got to socialise at work, nobody really got to know me that well. I think in a typical year there would be two social events if that. I feel the workplace really doesn’t give people like me much of a chance to succeed, the odds are stacked against anyway I became more and more unwell and in denial. I didn’t want to even go to the GP about anything because i was afraid of getting locked up i had images of the old mental institutions in my mind and it petrified me.
Anyway my relationship was in really bad shape everything was falling apart it seemed so I ended up in hospital against my will and leaving hospital i was unable to work and haven’t since because of this illness. I’ve been in and out of hospital during my thirties.
I regret not being able to work and seeing people and having a purpose in life. I feel like the workplace doesn’t give people like me much of a chance (people who are slightly prone to mental illness) I wish it did. I wish i could go abroad on holidays, i wish i could live in a nice big house and have had kids and been able to work for all that. Currently my mental health prevents me from reaching my true potential and I really do struggle thats not an excuse. I find life very unbearable most of the time. Its not easy being alone most of the time, hubby has his own mates, his own health problems. He watches tv in the other room because i am so triggered by the tv. I don’t cope with any stress anymore I wish I could deal with what i used to be able to. I have schizophrenia, agorophobia, social anxiety, personality disorder and suicidal thoughts so it isn’t easy living with these conditions. Anyway just thought i’d share about myself.
Great that you were able to work in your 20s.
I used to believe that no one would hire me after a decade on disability. But I got hired (currently awaiting the formal contract) and am going to start working for the Government in October (part-time).
People will hire you if you put in the effort to research the organization, prepare for the interview, dress up your résumé,…
But you need to look into the right places. Not a big company full of sharks, but a local business, an NGO, the Government,…
Often you can tell loads about the culture of the organization by just looking at the vacancy.
There are plenty of success stories on this forum. Don’t feel discouraged or disheartened.
Also, if you have loads of social anxiety/ agoraphobia you can look for a work from home opportunity. Post-covid there are plenty of those.
Thanks for advice & for reading. I am too unstable to work currently. I know and its hard going not doing much but its all i can cope with.
Ps Theres obviously a lot more i could write about my life but thats what i felt like sharing this morning.
Hope you enjoy your day!
I don’t know where my head is at?
I forgot to congratulate you!!!
Nice getting a job excellent
Thanks. I hope that everything goes smoothly.
And at least I will have tried.
Good luck im jealous x
I actually started with volunteering a couple of times a month. Then I build up to what I currently do: 2 half days a week. Next step is to move to part-time work.
I took it step by step and get assistance from an employment agency and a pdoc. For me it was also crucial to get support.
That’s the same progression I used. Went from a lump on the couch to full-time worker and have stayed there, albeit with a few hiccups over the years.
@TheFountainPen , what job lets you work only 2 half days per week?
It’s the volunteering I do in a museum 2 half days a week. The Government job will be 4 half days a week.
It’s harder to find a job with limited hours I noticed. Most good jobs are full time here.
Oh I see. That’s great 
I’m happy for you. Good luck on the future part time work
what do you do in the museum?
I’m an audience facilitator (publieksbegeleider). I give audio guides and make sure the rules of the museum are enforced.
They give me tokens of appreciation like books or candy, I get to socialize with other volunteers and get 5€ compensation for each half day I volunteer.
Do you want to volunteer @lekkerhondje ?
oh that sounds like a really nice job @TheFountainPen
Must be fun to do.
If i could go out by myself and take the bus i would maybe volunteer. But with how my life is currently it’s impossible and i’m kinda happy with how life now is, not gonna change too much to it anymore.
i think it’s really cool that you do that though. I hope the government job will be nice too. what you gonna be doing there practically?
I’m going to work as a ‘tax inspector’. I will have a period of training and will have to answer calls/mails, deal with disputes. It will be either inspection of personal income tax or of companies. That will be decided after a while.
Right now I’m waiting to receive the formal contract (indiensttredingsbrief). But I will make a post when I receive it. @lekkerhondje
oh really cool! I hope it will be nice job. Let us know when you receive it yea.
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