RE: how does ptsd affect your civilian job

This is an excellent question by a new member.

Any thoughts?

Personally, I was just getting to the point where I was able to start looking for a job when my PTSD blind sided me. At first, I thought it was just anxiety about going back to work after so long. I would sit in the parking lot of a place I was going to drop an application off to for like an hour just feeling angry or panicked with my chest all tight. It wasn't until the problems started at home and the nightmares came on again in full force that I started putting A and B together.

I started getting very paranoid EVERY employer was discriminating against me being a disabled vet no matter what job I was applying for. It felt like no matter what I did, I would never get a job, no matter how over qualified I was. I kept getting the "Call back in a week" routine or "We are always taking applications routine" but come back later and they would say "We just hired a bunch of people for that position but we will keep your app on file" I would get pissed off!!! I would come home and yell and scream sometimes at the wife.

After a point, I just gave up and started to seek answers. Now after getting my evaluation of PTSD for certain and my current state of mental health I dread the thought of working in or around ANYONE. I can't even go out in public without my iPod blaring as a distraction. I hate when people look at me or try to talk to me. Don't they get it! I don't feel comfortable and they press the issue. It's not like I point out their physical flaws. Maybe I should and give them a taste of their own medicine.

Well sorry for the rant. Hope this helps vindicate some feelings you have or suspicions you may have had about your situation.

Matt

for me, it just prevents me from working. but when i was working (for about 6 months after i retired) no one knew i had ptsd. the could tell i was anxous, and tired, and not feeling well, but didn't know what it was.

i didn't find that it prevented me from getting the job, because well, no one knew about it. that was one paranoia i just didn't have.

i do think it's important, if u have severe ptsd, that cause a situation where may not be able to work sometimes due to ur medical condition, that u inform ur boss, that u do have a medical condition, u're being treated for it, and some days are just going to be better than others.

if u're in a right to work state, it won't cause u to get fired, any more than if u don't say anything and start acting nuts -- in fact, it may help keep u at ur job longer.

what i've been told by other people who have this problem. is government jobs, have the best track record in keeping employees with ptsd, and being as accomodating as they can.

if u do't have agoraphobia, or anxiety around strangers, that might be a place to seek employment. i've been told by several people that working for the dod or dept of the af, army, navy, or the feds, or even the state, they will be pretty open about accommodating u. more so though than private companies.

I'm a truck driver. after years of trying to make it in the corp world,as middle managment,I switched. was laid off for not "playing ball" with upper eschlon ppl.a friend asked me to fill in as a part time driver.led to full time long distance and never looker back. It was good,living by yourself in a truck.no boss over your shoulder,communicate over a key board,no direct contact with ppl for days.Yes I was married and had kids,we got along better,cause I wasn't around much.I had a drinking problem during the corp yrs,didn't drink on road.am now running local with wife #2,(#1 died in '95),going good ,but city traffic reallycan set me off!! .go back on road?? don't know

Earning money on the side on the Internet?

Well it has been reported that I am chronic unemployable, and maybe they are right. Heck, I even get fired from my volunteer jobs. My tolerance level is pretty low, and I have a slight sleeping problem. The Neurologist suggested I should not even drive a car. Without proper rest it seems the body will have occasional shut downs, and I fall asleep without warning. I think that is part of me being so grouchy.

Now as far as making a little money on the Internet. The Internet has been the only place I find that I can make a little money. Very little, but some. The reason is I work at my schedule. I am not lazy, and when time permits I get some decent work accomplished. As far as going to a scheduled job requiring specific times I am dead in the water. So the Internet is my choice of weapons.

My mind is clear, but it is that I don’t have the choice of when it is awake.

This is what I would suggest. Find something that you enjoy and build a theme website that can express you interests if you are passionate about your activity let others, that have a common interest, help them. For me it is golf.

My Therapist told me, true story, that she wanted me to do three things to help deal with stress. Deep breathing, more golf, and more sex. WOW, was I shocked , I ask her to write it down on her prescription pad. She informed me that they didn’t have prescription pads, followed with “Why, your wife won’t believe you?” I replied. “Nope, I am not worried about my wife not believing what you prescribed I wanted to show it to my golfing buddies, because for sure they won’t believe it.”

Next week I was in again, and she asked “How are the stress methods working for you?”, and I replied, “Well all the extra sex has messed up my golf game.” True story. She asked “How is that?”, and I said, with straight face, “All that sex made my wrist swell up so much I can’t grip a golf club.”

Nuff said.

Here is an example of my Golf sites only to give you some idea of what I am talking about..

<< MOD Note - links Removed - Current rules prohibit links to most sites - except military, goverment and Service Organizations >>

Here is another, to help other Veterans through my experience.

<< MOD Note - links Removed - Current rules prohibit links to most sites >>

They are not big sites by anyone standard, but they are good therapy , and they made a “little” money. I never want to paint a picture that you will get rich.

If I help someone with these comments great, and for the all my Fellow Veterans, Thanks for Your Service.

Salute.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dave_M,

Be careful about the side money that you may take. I can only lead to trouble in the end.