To Disclose Or Not To Disclose

[mytai]

I'm going for a job interview today because I need some guaranteed income and my current job is 100% commission. I'm having a hard time deciding whether it is wise to disclose that I have PTSD and recent traumas so I'm in therapy.

Is it wise or should I just hide my problems? Is it better to disclose during an interview?

 

[Pooh71]

For my current employer, I chose to not disclose. My episodes were lessened and I was not experiencing anything that was detrimental to cause my job quality to lessen. When my issues began to become more prominent, I then chose to inform as a matter of preemptive discussion.

My thoughts are this: will your PTSD impact only a small portion of your ability to do your job? Skip disclosing until it becomes relevant. If your PTSD would impact your ability to a larger extent, I would disclose, while outlining current expectations for treatment and reducing its impact.

That is my opinion only. Your best bet is to set parameters before you leave, and then adjust based on the interviewer. If you don't feel comfortable, then be aware of it and following your instincts.

 

[digger]

Not sure what best to advise re. disclosure, but good luck with the interview :)

I guess for me it comes down to whether you believe it will or could affect your ability to do the job. How good are you/ have you been at managing your ptsd in your current job? How long have you been doing it? How much time off have you needed in your current job because of it?

It's a really tricky one to decide.

 

[mytai]

@digger1 The reason I'm looking for a new job is that it has affected my current job performance. BUT I also work 14 hour days 3x's a week and I work 7 days a week. It's a very demanding job and initially I was great at separating my personal problems from my work, but now I'm getting tired. I haven't taken a single day off for it. This job I'm going to have an interview for is 5 days a week, flexible hours. Plus I'm not driving around for work into clients home (which stressed me out towards the end), it is an office job.

 

[The Albatross]

Unless asked directly during the interview or it's on the application... I don't disclose I don't believe in shooting myself in the foot if I feel I can do the job I'm applying for.

 

[digger]

Sounds like it would be less stressful, and of course the regular income will hopefully reduce some of your stress too. I guess it comes down to whether you think it will affect this job or not. I'd say if you haven't had to take any time off in your current job given all the shit you're dealing with right now, that's bloody good!

What is your gut feeling about disclosing?

 

[The Albatross]

Cathartic stuff botches an interview often times. Just sayin'.

 

[mytai]

@digger1 Probably why the suicide attempt though. Things got too overwhelming pretending like my life was fine, constantly being told I had to be happy and perky. It got to me that I had no time to feel crappy when I felt crappy, I had to stuff it down and move forward.

Gut feeling is that I don't think it will affect my ability to do this job, other than maybe therapy appointments depending on when my days end. I do have an ability to separate work and personal life, it's just that in my current job my life was always work - no off time.

@The Albatross I can understand that. I just didn't know whether or not it was wise to. I think I have my answer though.

 

[digger]

Then I think I wouldn't disclose. You've identified for yourself that you need time to feel crappy and you are applying for a job that will give you that.

Play it by ear a bit I guess.

Everything crossed for you xx:tup:

 

[Deleted member 1860]

If you disclose, you are giving them
A reason to not hire you. You might as well save your time and skip the interview altogether. The public perception of PTSD is quite skewed due to the media. For all you know, the interviewer may know nothing about PTSD other than some guy who went on a shooting rampage had it. I'm guessing your symptoms are mild if you can work that many hours (comparatively speaking). Needing time off for therapy is not a reason to disclose the actual disorder.

 

[mytai]

Wow @Solara that was harsh. Plus I don't live in the US, in Canada you cannot deny someone a job due to mental health issues or disability.

And you are guessing wrong. My symptoms are far from mild. Four months ago they were mild, they intensified when my abuser found out where I lived and started abusing me again. Now I dissociate for the majority of my days at this point, I am fearful of everything. Just because I work a lot of hours doesn't mean I'm ok. I functioned for three weeks of having hours like that, after that my work suffered.

From what I have gathered on this thread you tend to be pretty judgemental and harsh with people. I kindly suggest you take a different approach with people. Everyone here is fighting their own fight, you have no idea what is going on inside them, and we need to watch our words so we don't further hurt each other. This is meant to be a support systems for those who are struggling. You can have a different opinion, you can disagree but there is a better way to go about it.

 

[BloomInWinter]

Everyone who gets an interview is dealing with something that may affect their job performance. Maybe their child is sick, or perhaps they have serious financial issues.

An interview is where you put your best foot forward, not challenges. The limited time is best spend playing to one's strengths and interviewers expect that. If everyone put just the negatives on the table, nobody would get hired.

Once you are hired, you can disclose if you so choose but you are not obligated to.