How Did You Return to the "Real World"?

[the racha]

Hey, all-- Just wondering how folks out there have reintegrated themselves back into society and work life after a hospitalization or particularly bad episode of PTSD. I am just now applying for jobs, and got my first rejection letter... I know it isn't rational, but this has sent me into a spiral. I don't want to fall into the same traps I did b/f my hospitalization but at the same time I have to work in order to be able to pay bills and keep my home.

I need some tools/ skills to handle/deal with "real world rejection," or at least to be able to put it in better perspective. I do not like the entire (but necessary) notion of offering myself up to be rejected for jobs. I feel like over the past 6 months of not working, I have developed a very healthy attitude towards life-- and now re-entering the working world I really don't want to let society and industry and everything else warp me back to where I used to be. :dontknow:

Any ideas would be great.

Thanks,
racha

 

[Ursa]

You are lucky. I never really got letters. They usually don't even bother to give me responses when I don't get hired...

With jobs, the key to find one is this: keep trying.

If it helps, don't take a no personally. A lot of times companies don't have enough tools to really see how great somebody would do in a position. Sometimes they even include aspects that are not related to the job. So I think a lot of times is a guess work.

 

[midi]

The real what? ...oh, right, um... still working on that. Taking it slow, one day at a time. Doing a few hours here and there.

As for rejection, as Ursa said, don't take it personal, especially in this economy. Lots of qualified peeps are getting laid off and those that are getting hired are in the right spot at the right time. We can't control other people's decisions and whether they hire us, all we can do is present what they want and hope for the best.

As an artist/writer, I get rejections on an almost daily basis - it used to really upset me, now, I just move onto the next possibility.

Try applying for a job or two everyday, taking one day a week to break. Rewrite your resume so that you have several copies that reflect different career areas. Think about others who've dealt with rejection, like Stephen King (his book Carrie rejected how many times?), Margaret Atwood (first novel rejected how many times?), and Thomas Edison (failed math???)...

Maybe you can look at rejection in a positive light, see it as hey, you're trying to make a go of? The best of luck to you, Racha.

 

[2quilt]

Make a list of everything that is good and right and healthy in your life, about you, about life in general. That may make you feel more positive. You have alot of talents and good qualities, you just need to seee them on paper.

 

[Grama-Herc]

THEN, put that list in a frame and place it where you will see it at least once a day. Make your good qualities a "gift to yourself."

Good luck

 

[the racha]

Thanks, everyone. I've gotta snap out of this spiral; I know that you all are right... it's just hard...

 

[Irton Pike]

racha

I know exactly how you feel. I was off sick from work for three months at the beginning of the year following a prolonged period of bullying at work that led to me having a full blown recurrance of my PTSD symptoms and a hideous bout of depression. I am now back at work and it is very difficult. While i was off i applied for jobs in order to give me some form of normality. Took me about five weeks before i could manage to get one done but i did it. Hell i even got an interview which i cocked up. The thing is, I bloody tried! I really tried. And you have really tried as well because you have acted in a positive way by actually applying for jobs! Its a brilliant thing you have done. But you are opening yourself up to rejection. If its anything like my line you need to apply for tens of jiobs in order to get interviews.

I think you have done really really well! Give yourself a bit of love! You deserve it. When i look back at how i was climbing the walls back before christmas, that person could not have applied for jobs and gone to an interview. It doesn't matter that i didn't get the job. There will be more jobs. Its cool! I learned io could do something I could not do before. That is what you are doing now and it is brilliant! You are doing real good! The triumph is getting the application out of the door. Why don't you turn this rejection positive by asking for some positive feedback on your application?

Best wishes!

 

[the racha]

Thanks much, Itron... it really means a lot, hearing about your experience. You're definitely right; the person I was at Christmas would never have been able to sit still at a computer-- let alone apply for a job.