Work And Ptsd

[Quarantine Queen]

So I have been missing a lot of work lately and being really hard on myself about it. Today my boss called and left a message stating that when I go in today we need to talk about my attendance. I am a nursing supervisor where I work. I had to take FMLA in February to deal with my problems. I couldnt function at my job and I was tired all the time. I can not seem to make one full week of work and if I do I am really stressed. I have been at my current ob for about 3 years w/o any problems.

My anxiety has grown lately. There is a woman I work with who is often condescending and rude to me and it makes me freak out a lot (internally). I am so depressed. I feel like it wont ever get better. Now today I am worried about losing my job.

My husband and I talked about it last night and decided I should cut my responsibilities at work and just work per diem. I will no longer have benefits but I can get them through his job. My husband is supportive only when it is convenient for him. I feel bad for him having to deal with me and I know I am an added stress at this time for him. He has been drinking more and smoking pot. I only have 1-2 drinks per week and never smoke pot. He says he does it because he is bored because all we do lately is watch TV. Which is true because I dont feel like leaving the house most of the time and need a distraction or a way to just not think or stress. He has his own problems (with anxiety) and he sees a therapist only sporadically.

I am also not happy at my job. Before this new wave of PTSD I was unhappy and have been looking for another job for quite some time but I live in a small are and it is tough even as a nurse. I guess I am writing this for some advice. How do you deal with work and PTSD? I have had problems in the past on and off but these is the worst it has ever been for me. How do you keep going to work? If you end up having lot's of absences how do you deal with it? Is anyone going through the same thing right now? I am really concerned about my well being and my marriage. Is it all just temporary?

 

[babette]

I understand what you mean. I quit my job because I couldn't handle it anymore, I too was not happy what I was doing or with the people I was working with. Plus, I was just a ball of anxiety and anger for so long. Sad, because I was great at what I did (master tailor/dressmaker), but I felt like I was suppressing my emotions by delving in to work. I needed more out of a job after surviving the assault, which was almost 6 yrs ago. It's been about 3 years since I quit and haven't been able to work since - not even doing work from home and at my own pace. I had to leave NYC and move back home because of money. Now, I am living with family. I want my own space and I car, so I need to find a way to adjust - though, I am in grad school now and that helps, but I just can't get back on someone else's schedule fulltime.
I am not sure if this will help, but what I did at the time was -- I kept my journal with me and wrote out my feelings/thoughts/drawings, took breaks as often as I could so I could have alone time, I would say affirmations to myself repeatedly and when I could I would listen to my ipod I would to drown out everyone else - which I am sure would be hard to do as a nurse!

I also can relate about not leaving the house and using tv as a distraction. I am that way now - even with socializing. I want to go, but something keeps me frozen and wanting to be close to home. Good luck to you.

 

[Elphaba]

It is probably not ideal, but I know I will have hard patches to go through where I won't be efficient at work. I haven't told anyone there about the PTSD, but I tend to put in a bit extra when my energy allows, and in hard periods I tend to leave earlier and work a bit from home in the evening to get the basics covered.

In my work place I get a lot of flexibility, so that works there. In my previous job I scheduled home office at least once per week. I worked when I was there, but I found it more relaxing to be from home in my own environment. I had Wednesday as "home office" day so I would never have more than two office landscape days in a row.

I appreciate this may be harder in your type of work, though.

 

[SVAinVA]

look up workplace bullying. Get a lawyer. I was able to get out on disability retirement. YOU CANNOT go back to an environment that is causing PTSD, and they refuse to do anything about it.

I still remembr going to HR asking for help- they threatened me with disciplinary action if 'my work is making me so sick I can't work'....... sounds insane, right?

I say get out while you can. Don't wait too long like I did.

 

[Ted Moen]

If you work in the US, have a diagnosis of ptsd, and have informed your employer about your diagnosis you are protected under the disabilities act. Your employer is required to make reasonable acccomodation for your symptoms and theraputic needs. If reasonable accomodation is not possible, then your employer has to put that in writing in the process of letting you go (depending on where you work you may be elgible for a disability retirement). Once you receive a disability discharge, you are elgible for SSD.

I fought leaving the workplace for years. When I finally agreed to participate in the disability retirement process, it took a lot of theraputic support and medication to help me handle the symptoms the administrative processes triggered. I had to let my notions about the way it ought to be go and learn to focus on my current situation. But it was a good decision for me. I am able to enjoy life and do volunteer work which is very different than regular work and maybe even more rewarding. I mentor elementary students and the elementary level during the school year.

In making the decision, one of the things I had to deal with was the feeling it was about my capabilities. It's not. It's about the long term damage workplace stressors will do to a person with ptsd. If working significantly (to you) triggers your ptsd symptoms then you need to leave the workplace.

Ted

 

[Horse87]

Today I couldn't stay at work I started having major anxiety
I told my boss I wasn't feeling well. I don't know how to tell him I got p.t.s.d.
it's very hard for me to find a place where I can feel comfertable at work because of my anxiety.
Sometimes I scare my co workers by they can see I'm messed up I don't know what to do.