Can I Get Disability?

[lostforgottensoul]

I'm not sure if it's a great idea to say what other people "need".

I dont think anyone said what they need, we, including myself, am stating what combating anxiety of people needs; and they asked.

Therefore, having anxiety of people, if you go on disabilty and isolate to your bedroom, that will make the anxiety worse, as I have also very severe anxiety of people, was unemployed for 2 yrs and it got a lot worse; as anxiety of people needs desentisation, which is the opposite of isolation.

Therefore, should you go on disability? As my very first statement was; i dont know, should you? You decide as I dont tell people what they need to do; but for me, isolation was a BAD idea and only served to make it worse.

Take that as you may.

 

[VanZan]

Now I understand why my T was pushing me to do some part time work. Sadly I don't see the therapist anymore. Haven't been in therapy since 2008. I was in great shape after the therapy but I gradually and slowly isolated myself more and more and then the agoraphobia began which led to more isolation. I got my GP to prescribe me anti depressants and these in conjunction with the anti psychotics that my T got me are quite nice. I was even described by someone as "quite pleasant" (who didn't know I even had PTSD) which I hadn't heard for many a year.

I'm a bit new to all this. I've posted on the forums before but not been very coherent. I will set about socialising more and reduce my isolation now that I understand things how things work. May I ask the people who do some part time work if they inform the employer beforehand of your PTSD?

I have to say the support services here in Ireland are pretty scant. Socialising in Ireland basically means the pub and lots of alcohol which even I know is a bad idea for me.

To the person who mentioned going to Walmart then may I salute your courage. The idea of a packed shopping centre sends shivers down my spine. God bless you.

I'm not familiar with the PTSD lingo...what are "triggers"?

 

[Anarchy]

Triggers are things you meet in your environment (people, words, smells, events) that bring on the fear of your trauma.

I know what you mean about the pub... and those beautiful summer sundays when there is no one to be seen outside do refute the excuse that "we have no choice, it's the climate". There is a possible argument for the entire island's society (regardless of surnames) being traumatised and self medicating on alcohol (it does no harm to repeat that drink lets the demons out to play, and those demons can drink us under the table every single time...)

depending on where you are, you could try a part time course, eg writing or see if there's a drama group. If you are in easy travelling distance of one of the bigger towns, see if there's something like yoga.

I cant remember, are you in the republic or the north? (please don't give your exct location, unless it's a big enough haystack, like Dublin or Ireland's answer to Palermo )

personally I keep absolutely silent about trauma. but then I don't have a formal diagnosis, and don't want one.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

if they inform the employer beforehand of your PTSD?

I didnt, though i did have to inform him of GAD & my huge amount of anxiety due to my job being as stressful as it is.

In the US we have FMLA (Federal Medical Leave Act) that protects medical & mental reasons one may need leave or in my case extra breaks. I didnt even have to go into details with him about having GAD since its protected & between me and HR but I did cuz he's cool as shit.

I work at an incoming call center, the only people im around at work are my co-workers. But its why i wont work from home, which is something i can do but it will only isolate me more

Im sure in Ireland, theres more ways (a store for instence) that you can be around people without going to a pub ;)

To the person who mentioned going to Walmart then may I salute your courage. The idea of a packed shopping centre sends shivers down my spine. God bless you.

Thank you! I go to walmart every Thursday and my anxiety is always very high but I can deal with it but this was a few days before Christmas and packed doesnt even discribe the word of how many people were there. All i remember is two people running into me and more people around me and then 'woke up" huddled in the handicapped bathroom stall curled on the floor in a corner.

Yeah, though I work full time, im self isolated all other times of the day and my therapist doesnt like that either.

The only way to combat anxiety of people is to slowly ease yourself around people and the more your brain sees nothing bad happened, the more you will desenitize and the more you can be around people and keep adding more and more slowly and you'll start to see that anxiety of people lessen and lessen. :hug:

 

[EveHarrington]

I dont think anyone said what they need, we, including myself, am stating what combatin...

Actually you said

"Full time is around people more, what they need"

So this is indeed a statement of you saying what other people need. Your reply to me states that you aren't telling people what they need, but then you continue by saying that combating anxiety of people 'needs'.... And while yes one way of combating anxiety is through exposure, it isn't a guarantee that it will work. I stand by my previous statement that you don't in fact know what other people need. You can only suggest what has worked for you and hope that it may work for them too. You can't even make a definitive statement of what "anxiety of people" needs because we all own our individual anxieties and what works for one won't definitely work for another.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Anyway; @VanZan I wouldnt go to a pub if it were me if being around alcohol isnt a good idea. Id find say like a park, or a store, or a more crowded place that increases your anxiety but doesnt make it say "overboard" and just ease your way into it.

Thats just what im doing thats helping. ;)

 

[Justmehere]

Reduction of isolation is something that can happen regardless if you return to work or not, and it can even start today.

I have to say the support services here in Ireland are pretty scant. Socialising in Ireland basically means the pub and lots of alcohol which even I know is a bad idea for me.

It's wise to know that one environment isn't right for you.

What about volunteering? Another option is to look into social, book club, educational, or volunteering groups on meetup.com or other resources in your area. The more simple and small the next steps, the more successful you will likely be. It will feel uncomfortable and it will feel like it is increasing anxiety at times. But keep taking small steps and reach out here.

I'm a bit new to all this. I've posted on the forums before but not been very coherent. I will set about socialising more and reduce my isolation now that I understand things how things work. May I ask the people who do some part time work if they inform the employer beforehand of your PTSD?

I first started with volunteering. Some places I said I had PTSD, some I said I had a disability, and at some places, I said nothing at all. When working, it depends if I am asking for an accommodation or not, and the laws and the system in the US is different than here. In the US, I am not required to reveal the disability if I need an accommodation, but I do have to have a doctors note verifying I do have a disability that requires the accommodation I'm asking for. This is what I prefer, and what seems to work the best for me right now. I did tell two employers when the PTSD was going to impact how I carried out my job, and I risked telling these two employers because they were very unlikely to stigmatize me for it. Otherwise, I haven't generally told employers that my disability is PTSD.

Now I understand why my T was pushing me to do some part time work. Sadly I don't see the therapist anymore. Haven't been in therapy since 2008. I was in great shape after the therapy but I gradually and slowly isolated myself more and more and then the agoraphobia began which led to more isolation. I got my GP to prescribe me anti depressants and these in conjunction with the anti psychotics that my T got me are quite nice. I was even described by someone as "quite pleasant" (who didn't know I even had PTSD) which I hadn't heard for many a year.

I'm glad that both therapy and medications have been helpful for you. It's great that you have even had positive feedback from someone about the changes since the medications were added in. Have you considered returning to therapy? Are there barriers (like cost, availability) that make it hard?

 

[Anarchy]

[multi like] @Justmehere

 

[lostforgottensoul]

What about volunteering? Another option is to look into social, book club, educational, or volunteering groups on meetup.com or other resources in your area. The more simple and small the next steps, the more successful you will likely be. It will feel uncomfortable and it will feel like it is increasing anxiety at times. But keep taking small steps and reach out here.

Those are all awesome ideas! For me as well! Def makes your anxiety increase but the more you push at that "comfort zone" boundry, the more you'll see that the anxiety will start to go down and the more you'll be able to do!