I’ve found work to b a very important part of my recovery! It gives me a sense if purpose and meaning. It gives me something to do. Try it out and see if u like it. I’m a recovery coach. I help people in their recovery from their mental health challenges. Very satisfying! Doesn’t pay enough but I’ll talk about that some other time.
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Agree. Im a cleaner.
But its Harder when i dont have education
Maybe u could go back to school!
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I take part in the work ordered day at my mental health clubhouse, Today i did some admin and Short orders for lunch making toasties and baked potatoes,
They are trying to help us recover through meaningful work and activity, i am hoping to do a TEP soon but i have so much going on that it may not be possible,
A TEP is a transitional employment placement, it helps mentally ill people who have sufficiently recovered to get back to work, starting off with small hours and then building them up 
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Right on! Ya, I worked for about 5 years at a tj maxc before I went back to work full time.
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Its just hard, i got a lot of issues, a lot of barriers but i’m working on them, it is very slow but i’m going to keep on trying to get to where i want to go, what i am doing just now is pushing what i can do a little bit but its not too much,
I do worry about being overwhelmed with it all but i just try and step back and take a breather bc i have limits and i need to gently push those levels up and try and increase what i can do without going over board.
You know we always get the speel about stress. But I’ve found it can be managed. But I agree with u that we all have limits. No doubt our diagnosis lends itself to a higher level of sensitivity to stress
Keep up the good work man. I’m cheering u on from afar.
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Stress affects everyone differently, some can cope with a healthy dose of stress and keep a good balance and others have an imbalance and can be more sensitive to its effects, effects of stress for me are anxiety i.e. tightness in chest, difficulty breathing and this can be pretty debilitating,
just today i tried to do a bit too much and i started having anxiety symptoms so i had to stop what i was going to do and sit down and it led me to feeling down so i had to leave, a reminder that i still have a long way to go.
I am trying but some people are just not able to work, meds cause heavy sedation and i know first hand that even light sedation is problematic, tiredness and exhaustion is more prevalent, lower tolerance to stress.
also negative symptoms cause motivation problems which can stop even the most eager person from getting out of the house.
so many factors to this illness even for the more able with this it is hard to imagine.
I really wish TEP’s existed here in the UK. From my experience people generally advise you not to disclose your MH issues unless directly asked for it and the only opportunities you have are ones where you are directly competing against able minded people, with full hours.
That said, employers I know aren’t legally “allowed” to not hire someone based on their MH issues, but its problematic. There’s no clear line between someone’s persona and someone’s MH issues. And likewise for the employer someone’s MH issues ARE going to affect their work ability.
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I have several ideas for voluntary work I want to do at some point. One is work in an Oxfam bookshop, another is to run laughter yoga sessions at my recovery college.
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Great points. I sometimes push myself too hard. Good Diet exercise and sleep help me!
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That’s a cool job I imagine. I agree, work or just a place you belong to and have some tasks to do (responsibility) makes life easier. Two years ago when I was working with the dx, I felt like my sz issues were non-existent. I was too busy to worry about my old paranoias. Without work/school/purpose, I just philosophize/engage in confused thought all day.
I am from the UK, if you are a member of a Clubhouse then you may be able to get a TEP, there are only 2 Clubhouses left in the UK though, One in London called Mosaic and the one i go to in Scotland.
It is totally up to you whether you disclose but your are not allowed to lie on the application form, if you are applying for a job i’d suggest using a disability confident employer here in the uk and when applying try and be as honest as you can, Volunteer work is good too.
but i am not an expert,
Same here. In my own head too much!
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