I worked various jobs on and off until getting on with the USPS. I worked there from 2004-2009. I gained full-time career status before I was aware of PTSD in my workaholic behavior and struggling with having seizures on the job, missing days of work because of seizures and waiting for medical approval in USPS before I could return back to work.
After getting properly diagnosed with PTSD and for my seizures, I resigned the USPS in 2009 because of the awareness in therapy about the stress levels and triggers of my disorders. Much of my work behavior and health complications all made sense to me after I got official medical help and diagnosis.
After I resigned a full-time career with USPS, I sought treatment for PTSD and seizures. I felt that I was ready to attempt part-time employment as a church secretary. This was one of the lowest stress positions I could have hoped to find. Unfortunately, PTSD and seizures worked against me in even this job. Because of the ritual abuse I endured and suffered as a child because of religious fanatics and my family's distorted values they imposed on me in growing up in this dysfunctional, abusive religious family environment, it even tainted my ability to work in as a church secretary adding only to seizures and PTSD.
After resigning from this church secretary position and seeking more therapy, my husband and I found out that it was in my safest and best interest to stop working and seek permanent disability. My health and seizure spikes were occurring so frequently that I could not even drive. I have worked enough years paying into my own Social Security to file now for disability benefits and am using a lawyer to help me in my fight to get it.
For years, I pushed my personal health on the line working with seizures even when missing days of work and explaining to all my employees of this medical issue and making personal accomodations so I could work. I use to turn off the older type of flourescent lights in some of the older post offices I worked in so the flashing lights would not cause seizures in me.
It was a two decade trial and error of working jobs and co-existing with seizures and I felt that if I worked as a workaholic in any position that I was given that it would help me to retain employment and that bosses would be more apt to hire me even though, I had seizures. It was difficult and still is for me to admit that I am disabled and learning how the daily life I live contributes to seizures, auras and PTSD.
Therapy, recovery and healing is no closer now than it was when I was working but without the added complications and stressors of forcing myself to ado a good job and safely, it was the best choice for me. Even if I get denied numerous times before I am granted the disability benefits and medical coverage I have worked for, I will keep fighting.
I did not ask for these medical conditions no more than any of us did. But medical coverage and benefits should be given to everyone for the sake of having good health, preventative health care and overall, society will benefit for all of us, if every one has the medical assistance they need to live, thrive and survive a decent quality of life. I fought for years to pay for the monthly high priced seizure medications that we could not afford nor insurance that we did not have nor assistance we could not get. Now, I feel that it is time for me to focus on recovery and letting the years I was able to work to work for me now so that I may get the help I need.
With the years that I did worked and accomplished, I can only imagine what more I can do when I am afforded proper medical care, coverage, treatment and help for these conditions that have plaqued me my whole life. Best wishes and remember, to work or not, is a personal choice but never put yourself in harm's way even further especially if you do not have too. I am fortunate that nothing major happened or accidents because of my seizures and the years I drove solo to and fro work. But I would never push myself like that again in anything.