My Workplace Is A Stressor. How Long Should I Try Exposure 'therapy'

[Resilience]

Good Day!
So I am slowly returning to work. Not in the same position, department or building and I still find myself exhausted from 1/2 day of work. The full day is even more exhausting. I work Tuesday 1/2 day and Thursday for a full day. I use the days in between to rest and go to appointments.

The hypervigalence is totally switched on at work. My back is to the door and that cannot change due to the desk layout. I have tried a radio this week and that helped a bit.

Has anyone else been through this and made it up t a normal work week? I would love to go back to school but cannot see that happening. I would like to go full time.

Looking for some answers/suggestions.

Thank-you

 

[anthony]

Whilst that is exposure therapy, such a term / experience is something you use later in your therapy, ie. when you are healed for the most part. Please be careful, as you can do more damage than good by returning too early. I tried this when I was first diagnosed... the physicians though it would be a good method back into work. Problem was, it made me worse... so I ended up discharged from the military.

 

[Wanda]

My company tried to force me back to work, but my therapist and Psychiatrist.....stood their ground. Just the thought of having to drive down that street to work freaked me.....I too want to be back to normal, but as my to above mentioned specialist said, "It is not something that happens today and gone and forgotten tomorrow."

Do not rush yourself. I know I can not do the job I have right now, I am forgetful and can not critical think. I need to heal myself before I can perform at the level I need to be.

I fought with our disability group but they knew they could not go against my Dr.'s advice...that would make them liable.

Heal yourself, then tackle the work. Even with a stable marriage, my husband lost his job during this time and we balance our budget daily, because he is determined I and not ready to go back to work. I have a hard time even leaving our home let alone be thrown back to the work environment which is stressful.

Take is one day at a time remember Rome wasn't built in a day!

 

[NarcSis]

I completely understand what you're going through, like Anthony, I was sent back too early because the priority was adherence to policy and less about my state of functioning. I got worse. I'm stuck in limbo here, I'd love to work, just somewhere away from that place and all of its reminders. I'd love to start my life over again.

Talk to your therapist/physician, be candid, this is about your longer term functioning and this is the greatest concern. Make sure you are ready.

 

[Resilience]

Hi,
I cannot say how good it makes me feel that I have found a place with people who understand.
I did speak to my therapist about going back to work and I update her on my increased anxiety and symptoms.

I want to work but this may not be the right place. I thank-you for all your advice.

Wanda - You're right Rome wasn't built in a day and I must be patient with my healing.

Medic72 - I used to want to start my life over... but time has taught me its a little easier to mend what I have now.

 

[okcjd]

I work for the government as a civilian and got PTSD from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. I can't even function some days. I have severe headaches, memory loss, etc. I work in a job where I have to interact with 50+ people. I have been off on Workman's Comp for a year now. I went for a second opinion on Monday for OWCP's psychiatrist. 5 minutes into the meeting he says you have severe PTSD. I worry that I am going to have to medically retire at 38. My anxiety attacks are so bad. I wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares. It is just horrible. My family thought nothing was wrong with me until the 4th of July when I am crying on the ground in the fetal position because the fireworks triggered my PTSD.

 

[anthony]

I worry that I am going to have to medically retire at 38.

I completely understand. I retired at 34. I was purely lucky that finances aren't an issue for me as a result.

 

[BlueOrange]

I think the key here is to distinguish between exposure therapy and re-traumatization. It's not a particularly easy distinction to make.

Are you able to rest after work? Do you look back on your work experiences and say "I'm pleased that I was able to [x]?" If so, then there's probably some therapeutic value.

You're obviously frightened that certain things might happen in your workplace. Are these things actually happening? If so, then you might need to have more skills/more resources/a different workplace.

I've had long stretches where I couldn't work. I've recently been continuously employed for 5 years. Due to the ironic nature of the disorder, I'm currently dealing with the same issues, but from a 'not currently working' point of view.