How Does/did Your Ptsd Affect Your Career Choices?

[Deleted member 19804]

@littlelostchild I just want to say that I think it is beautiful that you became a teacher. I'm sorry you went through such a horrible crash. However, I think the fact that you got through this and you're doing what you love is very inspirational. So thank you for sharing this with me. :hug:

 

[lil_fighter]

I love working with children but after being a Teaching Assistant on and off for the past 5 years, I have realised that the whole school environment makes my PTSD worse. The last school I worked at was almost military, the staff were constantly being watched, assessed, criticised and it wasn't much fun for the kids either. I was often given very challenging kids to deal with and breaking up fights has been a major part of my work even though it isn't meant to be. I am training as a therapist and had to interupt my studies recently due to the stress of my job. The boss was a piece of work and had no respect for her staff, the treatment was that bad that I had to get a union involved as back up. She left me alone eventually but it was three months of hell. I left the job because of the boss really and then the gap of waiting time for her to release me from my duties and for her to write a reference for me (which in the end I found an alternative person to do because I feared she would ruin my next job) affected my finances so I left my university course. This really hurt me as it has been my dream and it was a masters course but the university are allowing me to keep my place and continue next year.

My new job is a support worker with autistic adults and I am looking forward to starting as one thing I hated was the staff room environment in the school. Sitting around gossiping and women taking each other apart became the norm but I hated it so much. This new job won't have any of that and is much more relaxed than taking care of 30 plus kids some with severe needs.

Perhaps the key with PTSD is to work in an environment where you do not feel scrutinized, a place where you come to work, get on with the job and go home. I think hectic environments with lots and lots of people around, noise, violence and serious behavioural issues can easily trigger events from the past. Having to remain professional on top of that after a while is a real strain. Changing your environment really is the key. It is so important not to let an experience at work put you off working in general. Realising that there are roles out there that are more suitable and healthier is the best way forward.

 

[Neverthesame]

For myself it certainly has. I went from an aspiring emt, to a warehouse receiving/shipping clerk. I sometimes find that job overwhelming.

 

[Nephthys]

For myself I definitely feel like it is influencing my choices these days. More and more I find that I don't think I could ever work a shift job or a 9-5 job or an office or retail or food job. I just can't be "managed", it freaks me out and makes me feel trapped, which is a sentiment I have heard echoed in earlier posts on this thread. For me just the idea of "HAVING" to be some where freaks me out. The only way I can make it to work on time or at all these days is to tell myself that I have the power not to go to work if I don't feel able, that it will be ok, that people do get sick sometimes. Beyond that I just can't bare the thought of some one being in charge of when I can leave a space, eat, or go to the bathroom. I just can't function. Increasingly I look for jobs where I can make my own schedule, have short periods on location (teacher/Lecture), or where I can work from home. I like leaving the house sometimes, but not when it feels like do or die. I honestly don't know how to cope because it makes me angry at myself and makes me feel like a failure , and that others will see me as "Just not wanting to work", etc. I used to be fine. Ever since the incident I just can't handle being trapped anywhere. I also find myself seeking out work where I will be with few people or with mostly women. I am even considering leaving the busy city for some place slower paced so I can feel safer in workplaces, expectations of work, and just daily life.

 

[Ladyghosthunter]

I took forensic psychology classes and yes, it hit home quite often because my family was in law enforcement. It was too close to my own situation to do however I changed to cyber security engineering.

 

[haltija]

Is it common for sufferers of PTSD to be self-employed? I am as well. ;) I quite like it. I work from home as a transcriber. It started out of necessity and desperation, but now I've started studying French, hoping to be a translator later down the road, a few years or whatever. My job is part of my own personal therapy. It helps build my confidence and keeps me in check. My family was very traditional and mothers in my family, until recently, did not work. It was almost an expectation that I would make babies and clean all day, which I do anyway. lol

I think when I finally decided to leave an abusive situation without family support forced me to be resourceful and learn to find ways to take care of my middle child on my own, with PTSD, I was in no position, emotionally, to work outside of the home, but eventually, it worked out. I love my job now and even if it is far off in the future, I'm thankful I eventually found something that I'm passionate for my future career... even if French genders have my head spinning! :rolleyes:

It may not have anything to do with helping people, not always and maybe not yet, but I do enjoy it.