Quitting a new job due to symptoms?

School and Work
1

Hi everyone, I recently took a new job as an advisor/teacher. But after a few weeks of being in the position, I soon realized that my symptoms are hindering me from doing the job at all. I have pretty severe negative symptoms. I struggle with communicating with people/making myself speak. I cannot hold a conversation. My affect is flat around most people. I can’t smile, etc. I also have severe generalized and social anxiety. I really have a horrible time at employer meetings. I can’t really talk to anyone. I sit by myself and seem very standoffish.I am supposed to be working with students but I can’t even communicate effectively. The anxiety is so bad and it has taken over my life these last few weeks. I am not capable of doing the job in this state. I need meds and a counselor, and I have neither right now. I really want to quit but I’m worried about leaving the employer in a bind as after-school classes start in 1 week and I don’t think they can find anyone else so soon. (Although i would give 2 weeks notice and teach the first week of class). But I’m terrified of their response and making the person who helped me get the job look bad. However, i am unraveling already and my partner is suffering as well due to the change in my behavior/mood at home. Please help; I appreciate any and all advice on how to handle this situation.

also, has anyone been in a similar situation?

2

I used to be a systems analyst and architect who could also work in a network engineering role. My speciality is getting large groups of people who are geographically dispersed collaborating together synchronously or asynchronously. I was very good at it. At my last job in that field I had 20,000 users in 30 cities spread across 5 continents that my team managed. But the stress of it was killing me and making me dysfunctional. I had to back away from that career.

These days I’m driving a fuel truck. I make a lot less, but I don’t have to take a crap tonne of meds to deal with increased symptoms caused by stress. I’m probably 150 lbs lighter. My relationship with my family is so much healthier. The best part is, I mostly enjoy my new job and working alone. :slight_smile:

There is NO shame in having to back out of a career because it is mangling your health. You’ll eventually find something you can do well and enjoy – have faith.

4 Likes
3

I agree…

A change in vocation where you aren’t working with groups of people would be the best fit. If you were capable of snaring this job, you should have no problem landing something else, where you’re working more on your own.

Good luck! :sunny:

3 Likes
4

thank you so much for sharing your experience with me! I am glad that you have found a job that is more suited for you and that you are happier in!

Also, thank you for the encouragement! I just worry about how I will face every one at work the next two weeks after I inform them of my resignation/how they’ll take it, but I know I have to quit because I and the employer will suffer because I am unable to do my job.

5

I was in a factory…working 12 hours 5 days and 8 on the 6th…making decent money…they changed my job from alone outside moving stuff in and out all night which I loved driving yardcranes and forklifts…to inside painting…I sucked at painting and had no teacher…lol the hours and stress got me finally… And I lost my ■■■■…and now I’m working on being medicated…I should of got help sooner…be smart don’t let it pull you down that rabbit hole its a bitch to climb back out of…

6

If you meet with them and explain what the problems are, you may not necessarily have to leave your job. Maybe it’s possible you could keep part of it or all of it through modifications of your duties/role. Is this a possibility?

2 Likes
7

Also lol @ we can say bitch which is totally offensive but not ■■■■…

8

I am not sure if they’d be able to modify the duties of the position. I worked for this employer over the summer doing office work, and I did well in that role. It didn’t require much socialization beyond hi how are you and definitely didn’t produce such disabling anxiety. However, this role is not a good fit for me due to my symptoms/abilities, and I’m worried about having to be hospitalized if I continue down this path

1 Like
9

Can you get a doc fast?

10

i think you’re right that i need to find something where i’m working more so on my own. thank you for the encouragement!

11

i tried i went to a walk in mental health clinic when I got off work but they couldn’t see me. I made an appointment but it won’t be for two weeks.

1 Like
12

Ah I see…I wish you strength on your path…

1 Like
13

thanks for sharing your experience with me. i am sorry that that happened, and i hope the medicine helps and that you are able to get back to doing a job that you love. thank you for your well wishes for me and i wish you strength on your path as well

14

I just talked to a career adviser from my school about quitting, and im just so angry at myself. I wish I never took this job if I wasn’t sure that i could do it. I am causing so many problems for myself. I talked to the career advisor about quitting and now I’m terrified to talk to my supervisor on monday as he suggested. he said i shouldn’t tell her about my mental health concerns. it makes me so angry the stigma around mental health. i should be able to say i am having trouble with symptoms from schizophrenia and am unable to work successfully right now. and they should UNDERSTAND!!! If someone had a physical illness and couldn’t work they would UNDERSTAND!! the negative symptoms of schizophrenia have really ruined my life. i dont have friends. i am extremely uncomfortable around people. i feel odd all the time. and now i can’t even work this job because of the lack of motivation, anxiety, inability to interact socially and fear of social interaction, and inability to concentrate on any thing yet no one will understand and i can’t even say anything about it!

15

Maybe a med switch is in order, have you tried the more activating antipsychotics such as Vraylar, Latuda, Abilify or Rexulti? I’m not sure if those help with affective blunting but they should give you more motivation. From what I’ve seen many people who work successfully on this forum are on Abilify.

A new antipsychotic is coming out in 2018 and it sounds like it might help you, it’s called Iti-007/Lumateperone. It’s supposed to reduce negative symptoms and improve social functioning with very few side effects. If you have the time do some research on it, a lot of people are very excited about this drug.

16

I recently had to leave my job because my symptoms were acting up. I felt like a failure for a long time, and I was angry at myself for even taking that job if I didn’t know I could handle it. But here’s the thing: You can’t know what you’re capable of until you try. You tried, and I give you a lot of credit for that. It’s important to keep pushing past our comfort zones, because that’s how we grow. This was a learning experience for you. If you do decide to quit, it won’t be because you’re a failure. It will be because you have made your own health a priority.

17

Thank you for your reply. I think you are absolutely right. The problem is I can’t make myself tell my boss I’m quitting. I had the first hallucinations I’ve had in a long time lat night. The hallucinations didn’t last, but it is a warning sign that they may come back.

What did you tell your boss when you quit? Also, how did your boss take it?

It is such bad timing for my employer; I truly wish I had done this earlier.

I tried to quit on the phone yesterday, and I told my boss I had a medical condition that was affecting me a lot right now. And she challenged me ans said it was just stress. Unbelievable. Of course the stress contributed to the worsening of my symptoms but that doesn’t mean she can question if i have a condition. Long story short i couldn’t bring myself to quit and ended up asking for accommodations altho I know nothing will help.

How do I quit? What do i say if I can’t disclose my illnessm

18

Wow, I am excited about the drug. I will definitely look into it. If I could get my cognitive functioning and social functioning to improve, i would be a lot better off. It is difficult to live in a world based on relationships with people with the negative symptoms I have.

1 Like
19

Schizophrenia Forums
1
17 / 18

flameoftherhine
Taking care of your underwear.
3d
Can you get a doc fast?

mtgirl23
3d
i think you’re right that i need to find something where i’m working more so on my own. thank you for the encouragement!

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mtgirl23
3d
i tried i went to a walk in mental health clinic when I got off work but they couldn’t see me. I made an appointment but it won’t be for two weeks.

1 Like

flameoftherhine
Taking care of your underwear.
3d
Ah I see…I wish you strength on your path…

1 Like

mtgirl23
3d
thanks for sharing your experience with me. i am sorry that that happened, and i hope the medicine helps and that you are able to get back to doing a job that you love. thank you for your well wishes for me and i wish you strength on your path as well

mtgirl23
3d
I just talked to a career adviser from my school about quitting, and im just so angry at myself. I wish I never took this job if I wasn’t sure that i could do it. I am causing so many problems for myself. I talked to the career advisor about quitting and now I’m terrified to talk to my supervisor on monday as he suggested. he said i shouldn’t tell her about my mental health concerns. it makes me so angry the stigma around mental health. i should be able to say i am having trouble with symptoms from schizophrenia and am unable to work successfully right now. and they should UNDERSTAND!!! If someone had a physical illness and couldn’t work they would UNDERSTAND!! the negative symptoms of schizophrenia have really ruined my life. i dont have friends. i am extremely uncomfortable around people. i feel odd all the time. and now i can’t even work this job because of the lack of motivation, anxiety, inability to interact socially and fear of social interaction, and inability to concentrate on any thing yet no one will understand and i can’t even say anything about it!

eduvigis
11h
Maybe a med switch is in order, have you tried the more activating antipsychotics such as Vraylar, Latuda, Abilify or Rexulti? I’m not sure if those help with affective blunting but they should give you more motivation. From what I’ve seen many people who work successfully on this forum are on Abilify.

A new antipsychotic is coming out in 2018 and it sounds like it might help you, it’s called Iti-007/Lumateperone. It’s supposed to reduce negative symptoms and improve social functioning with very few side effects. If you have the time do some research on it, a lot of people are very excited about this drug.

ninjastar
Slayer of stereotypes
10h
I recently had to leave my job because my symptoms were acting up. I felt like a failure for a long time, and I was angry at myself for even taking that job if I didn’t know I could handle it. But here’s the thing: You can’t know what you’re capable of until you try. You tried, and I give you a lot of credit for that. It’s important to keep pushing past our comfort zones, because that’s how we grow. This was a learning experience for you. If you do decide to quit, it won’t be because you’re a failure. It will be because you have made your own health a priority.

mtgirl23
26m
Thank you for your reply. I think you are absolutely right. The problem is I can’t make myself tell my boss I’m quitting. I had the first hallucinations I’ve had in a long time lat night. The hallucinations didn’t last, but it is a warning sign that they may come back.

What did you tell your boss when you quit? Also, how did your boss take it?

It is such bad timing for my employer; I truly wish I had done this earlier.

I tried to quit on the phone yesterday, and I told my boss I had a medical condition that was affecting me a lot right now. And she challenged me ans said it was just stress. Unbelievable. Of course the stress contributed to the worsening of my symptoms but that doesn’t mean she can question if i have a condition. Long story short i couldn’t bring myself to quit and ended up asking for accommodations altho I know nothing will help.

How do I quit? What do i say if I can’t disclose my illnessm

20

Who knows, maybe the accommodations will help you. If my employer had honored my accommodation request, maybe I wouldn’t have quit.

By the time I quit, I was doing so poorly that nobody was surprised. My doctor ended up writing me a note, and I just gave it to the HR person.