CraftyCath
VIP Member
Hi Faulkes and welcome to the Forum.
I understand totally where you are coming from. I am a RGN and I have Complex PTSD. I left nursing due to my PTSD but I was undiagnosed at the time.
I suffered from abuse as a child and was bullied by a ward sister who falsely accused me of killing one of my patients. I had what I thought was a breakdown but I only found out it was PTSD 20 years later.
The thing is, had I known it was PTSD and had I had access to help I may well have stayed because I sure do miss it. I just was not strong enough at the time and I couldn't handle the symptoms (I didn't understand the symptoms and I was so confused and scared). So I left.
If you are getting help and support (or will be doing) I would try to stick it out for a while and see how it goes. Are you on any meds? SSRI's can help.
A note about the OH appointment. My H is an ambulance driver (non-emergency) who when through some real anxiety issues and was sent to OH by his boss. He found it really helpful and they were supportive in trying to get him better and back to work. A friend of mine was a social worker who had some serious anxiety and depression issues and was given time off on the sick and counselling through the OH. She discovered her problems were not with her job but with her family which was causing her so much stress she could no longer deal with the stress at work. She now drives a taxi.
The thing is not to think 'I have PTSD so I must leave my job.' You may leave at any time but don't do it rashly. As for loosing your job. It is the responsibility of the NHS to provide you with help in order to help you stay in your job. It is only if it is seriously affecting your job, your quality of work, that you will have to consider leaving, and even then, not until you have had some therapy and have discussed it and are sure. You may find you will be able to cope better?
I do not know your circumstances well enough to help you further but I hope I have helped a bit.
:hug:'s Cath
I understand totally where you are coming from. I am a RGN and I have Complex PTSD. I left nursing due to my PTSD but I was undiagnosed at the time.
I suffered from abuse as a child and was bullied by a ward sister who falsely accused me of killing one of my patients. I had what I thought was a breakdown but I only found out it was PTSD 20 years later.
The thing is, had I known it was PTSD and had I had access to help I may well have stayed because I sure do miss it. I just was not strong enough at the time and I couldn't handle the symptoms (I didn't understand the symptoms and I was so confused and scared). So I left.
If you are getting help and support (or will be doing) I would try to stick it out for a while and see how it goes. Are you on any meds? SSRI's can help.
A note about the OH appointment. My H is an ambulance driver (non-emergency) who when through some real anxiety issues and was sent to OH by his boss. He found it really helpful and they were supportive in trying to get him better and back to work. A friend of mine was a social worker who had some serious anxiety and depression issues and was given time off on the sick and counselling through the OH. She discovered her problems were not with her job but with her family which was causing her so much stress she could no longer deal with the stress at work. She now drives a taxi.
The thing is not to think 'I have PTSD so I must leave my job.' You may leave at any time but don't do it rashly. As for loosing your job. It is the responsibility of the NHS to provide you with help in order to help you stay in your job. It is only if it is seriously affecting your job, your quality of work, that you will have to consider leaving, and even then, not until you have had some therapy and have discussed it and are sure. You may find you will be able to cope better?
I do not know your circumstances well enough to help you further but I hope I have helped a bit.
:hug:'s Cath
