Ideas & Opinions Back to work?

Feel a lot of pressure to go back to work. I have both PIP & Universal Credit so am okay financially, just can't stop worrying about someone reporting me for e.g not being disabled enough (hidden disability) and getting sent to prison (intrusive thoughts). For reference, I have not worked since 2018.

I've had a couple of interviews this week and think I might get one of them but truth be told I've been through so much stress & trauma I feel like I am too exhausted to work. On the other hand perhaps it will stop me worrying and would show progress if I went back to work. Anyone had any similar experiences? Thanks x

In the US, there's a government organization called vocational rehabilitation that helps people with disabilities with work-related issues. There's probably something similar in the UK.

If there are services available, they might be able to counsel you on how much work you'd be able to handle, or getting accommodations from an employer.

Thanks for your reply @may71 I hadn't thought about that. Apparently I got the job as they phoned me yesterday but now feeling panicked at the actual thought of it x

You're welcome!

You can always quit the job, I don't know if knowing that makes things any easier. Hopefully there will be some services available to you that can help.

I worry that if you start working, you lose whatever benefits you have, and then if for whatever reason, you can't maintain this job, it would negate or delay getting those benefits again, if that makes sense.

Yeah, I've turned it down, it was working part-time as a lawyer as there's no way I can handle that right now and you're right @AlopexAngel I might be able to manage a week then I wouldn't be able to get up and I would lose all my benefits thanks x

Oh man, Yeah. That can be a high pressure job. If you want to ease back into work, maybe something a bit more lax?

Yes definitely, it's really hard knowing what to do in this situation, never thought this would happen to me, life has been a car crash x

Update; I am trying to be honest with employers about my health issues and the gap in my CV and trying to apply more for administrative type jobs where there will hopefully be less pressure but the only responses I ever get are from companies that want to recruit me as a lawyer which would just be impossible now with my mental health problems.

Why won't people accept me for admin/receptionist type roles. Also, my MH issues are severe (think schizophrenia) and as I present/dress so well (went to a volunteering event) everyone just thinks I'm taking the piss and have like anxiety or something (not that I don't think anxiety can be just as bad). Few invisible barriers it seems 🙁

I had the same problem with trying to change careers. I would apply to junior engineer jobs hoping to break into the specialty but I was ignored because the thought was I would leave shortly because of lack of challenge and money. It might be the perception of the places you are applying to. In USA there is a position of paralegal, is there something in the UK and would it be worth applying as such?

I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with employers Empress.

A lot of employers don't have experience in the area of accommodating mental health issues, so it makes things harder.

Thanks for your replies @cymbele and @may71 and sorry to hear you have had a similar experience @cymbele Yes I actually applied for a paralegal job through a recruiter but he told me he wasn't going to put me forward for it to the company as it was in a different legal area to the area I have trained in. Could have just been an excuse who knows. Then I spoke to a different recruiter who just assumed my time away from work had been cancer and was really sympathetic, I doubt she would have been as nice if I had told her the real story which I didn't have the heart to do🤍

I decided to take a career break in 2019, but chose to return to work in 2020. It was hard to adjust at first because although I had been fairly active whilst off work, it's a whole new load of tired when you first go back to work. Just make sure that you are ready because it will be hard work at first.

Thanks @Butterfly I agree that I am not ready x

Don't be ashamed of being selfish. Sometimes you have to be selfish when it's for basic survival, which it is in your case. And we all agree that some mental illnesses are just as debilitating as physical ones.

Thanks @Winslow I don't feel selfish just worried about the future 👌 x

Have a volunteer day tomorrow, will see how it goes 🤞 x

I hope it goes well