Need Some Advice About How To Cope During My Work Days

[megnut]

I have PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. Most of my issues surround current treatment of women in the media as sex objects. For my job, I live with and take care of an elderly woman with Parkinsons. She is very limited as to what she can do. She CAN sit in a chair all day and watch tv. It is my job to basically hover around her and fetch her whatever she needs and to be her companion. The problem is her choice of viewing material. She gravitates towards shows that highlight sexual abuse and promiscuity. Of course, sex is everywhere on tv anyway, but she watches sex crime dramas a lot. And yesterday, her favorite talk show was interviewing porn stars. I cannot leave the room when all this is in my face. The volume is quite high so I cannot just tune it out. I try so hard to read, to write, to meditate, to do ANYTHING to tune out this stuff that triggers me. I am desperate for advice on how to cope with this situation. In every other aspect, this is the job for me. I do not have to be out in public, the woman is otherwise very nice, and my schedule is to my liking. Plus, I have no other job skills. Plus, my left hand does not function anymore, so I cannot go back to any of the old jobs I used to have where these triggers were absent. It is really tearing me apart. Do you think it qualifies as a mental disability and I should try to exit the job world altogether? If so, I still need a way to cope while waiting for this possibility to kick in.... i know it could take months for the paperwork to come through.

 

[miss_isolated]

I exited the job world and did nothing... for 5/6 years and it has only made my c.v look awful and dropped my confidence. I think it's probably a symptom of the abuse rather than a mental disability.

 

[Tarot]

I quit quite a few jobs due to my PTSD and depression. I finally found a low stress job but I can tell that I most likely won't last too long. When the office games and cattiness starts I freak out. Anyway... Just know you are not alone and I'm here if you need an ear.

<edited by CB - corrected text speak>

 

[Tarot]

As for filing for disability it is a long hard process. Start now if you are serious about it. I was contemplating it myself if this job doesn't pan out.

<Edited by CB - corrected text speak.>

 

[miss_isolated]

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds it excruciating to just stay in one place for long. even today I'm finding it hard to go in to college. I don't work right now. I hate the bitchiness too. The thing I find hard is whether or not to disclose my past... It feels to high a mountain for me to climb... I dunno.,maybe I'd feel to ashamed to go in the next day if I told or it'd make the best gossip of the year... but I did work with someone recently who told me her past abuse stories so I told mine right there at the till, (I was working as a cashier) but that's the only situation I'd feel comfortable opening up in.

 

[Tarot]

Not that there is anything for you to be ashamed about, but just be careful who you tell. People can be cruel and use that info to try to hurt you later on. Not everyone out there feels bad when tees sort of things happen. Some can use it as ammunition to bring you down. Just use discretion. You will be happier in the long run for it.

<edited by CB - corrected text speak>

 

[bonbar3]

I'm sorry, this must be very challenging for you!

Is there anything else that the elderly woman enjoys. My grandparents loved playing cards, bingo, puzzles (big pieces), listening to music, crossword puzzles, etc... It was only when there was nothing to do, that they would resort to tv. Maybe find out about her interests before and maybe an idea will come up for you. What was her favorite music when she was younger? What movies were her favorite.

As far as disability, all I can do is share from my experience. I was unemployed for 2 1/2 years and the pressures of being alone a lot, not having money, trying to find another job, not being able to afford to do things with people, too much time in my head (not good for me), this all just made my symptoms worse. I investigated disability, but that's not an amount that I could live on.....or wanted to live on. It's good that I couldn't because I have since realized that I really like being out working again. When my mind is on others, I don't notice my symptoms as much. Just thoughts!

I hope something changes for the positive in your situation since it has lots of pluses too. Of course, there is always the direct approach, but that would depend on the situation and her personality.

<Edited by CB - Added paragraph breaks for ease of reading.>