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Transitioning Back to Work, Part I

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Transitioning Back to Work, Part I

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 41

Hi Joey,

What an amazing story, It almost sounds like a film!

I hope things get better and better for you from now on.

take care

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 37

Thank you Faryal

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 823

Hi Joey,

Thank you for sharing your story and experiences with us. Your concerns and sentiments are shared by many members and we are all here to support one another during difficult phases.

Your post should be posted as a success story because it seems so many wonderful and positive things have been happening for you recently. It's great to see that you work with understanding and accommodating individuals and that you are able to conquer your PA's and manage your anxiety effectively. Have you been working through the program and tools available here for you?

Congrats on your $1000 win - that is truly something to celebrate! Hopefully you feel less stressed financially since winning and can focus on other important things like your job and living a healthier lifestyle!

My sympathies are with you for the loss of your mother. I am certain she would be beaming with pride for you from above!

Keep your head up and please post as often as you need to.

Faryal, Health Educator

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 37

Going back to work for me was scary. I almost didn't show up the first day. I'm glad I did though. I had not worked for about four years. I was a mechanic when I started getting PA's and they just got worse and worse. I eventually had to stop working. I went to so many doctors, had ultrasounds, x-rays and even had a tonsilectomy. You see my fear is that I will stop breathing. I've been to nursing school and know that the windpipe and the esophagous are two different pathways. But then my lip started to swell. So now I think I'm allergic to cumino although, I know it can be stress or salt or somthing else (because it always swells in the same place) and it goes away with benadryls. I take two benadrlys everyday, .... I wonder if that's bad? Anyways I got really lucky with this job. I got hired in the parts dpt. at a dealership here in town ( and it's down the street from the hospital which makes me feel a lil better). I was then put to work as a technician when all the techs quit and were left with just one. Turned out he was a EMT. Funny how life works out. He no longer works here and have since come back to the parts dpt. but, the cashier that works in here with us is also an EMT. Crazy ...... I'm so glad I came in that first day. I concealed my PA's up until two months ago. They wanted to send me to another dealership to get some training in another city. It was about a fifty minute drive. So I talked to the general manager and explained my situation. Turns out that the owner of the dealerships has a son with the same problem. He was actually the General manager at our dealership when I started working here ...... I always wondered why sombody had to drive him here and back. So I've been pretty lucky so far. Life's tough, ... if you have an opportunity to help make someone's life better ... take it.

p.s. One last thing I wanna share with everyone. I had been stressing about my bills because I went a little bit over my budget these past two weeks. Yesterday I was so depressed and then my girlfriend made feel even worse. I had fifty dollars left and, note I never play the lottery because I don't believe in it. Well I stopped at a store bought a soda, a water and 25$ worth of 1$ tickets. I scratched about ten of them and none of them were winners. I then saw a priest walking by my car and as I scratched the ticket it revealed to be a $1000 winner. It really made my day. Oh and also later that day there was a guy waiting for me at my house. You see I have a small recording studio in back of my home. I really didn't feel like recording him because it was for free (favor) and he takes a long time. But when he finished he gave me forty bucks. I'd been pretty depressed all month. You see May 4, when I was a junior in highschool my mother was shot and killed. That was elleven years ago. Then mother's day come right after and then her birthday on the 21st. So I had been pretty down.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 955

Thanks for sharing your experience Houston.

It sounds like it was helpful to break it up into small, manageable, and achievable steps. By easing yourself back into the workplace environment, you were able to tackle each anxiety-provoking situation and manage it before moving onto the next issue.

Members, does anyone else care to share their experience with transitioning back to work? What was it like for you?

Sarah, Health Educator

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 14

Here's my experience with transitioning back to work. When I first had my PA's, it was during the Christmas holidays, so I had been away from the ofice for a couple of weeks. I did not know what was going on with me. I showed up to work and told my boss that I felt like I was going to pass out. My boss, who knew that I had taken 1 sick day in all of 5 years, told me to go home. She could tell that I looked thin and pale. Before my PA's I was somewhat athletic-looking and had a natural tan thanks to my ethnic heritage. So, she could tell that looked like I was feeling poorly.

My wife came and got me, and I worked from home the next 2 -3 weeks while the doctors ran tests. Lucky for me, I have a job that can be done from home. After a couple of weeks, I started showing up at work. My wife would drive me the 20 miles and a neighbor would drive me home. This was so difficult. I felt so much anxiety at work, but now, my workplace feels like home in terms of low anxiety.

The first step I took was going to the office and having my wife hang around the area for an hour in case I needed to go home. I did this a couple of times a week and worked from home the other days.

Then, I decided to show up most of the week. Following, I drove myself to work with my wife riding as a passenger. After one time doing this, I knew that I could drive and started driving myself to work.

The next goal I had was to be in the office for 5 consecutive days. This turned into 20+ consecutive work days in the office. In between, I started to go to client meetings, grocery stores, shopping malls, etc.

Each of these steps was very difficult. Sometimes, it is still difficult. However, the reward is worth it. It's good to have to do things that take your mental effort out of your own head and into something else. Plus the interaction with others helps.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 955

Members,

For many, returning to work is a scary undertaking. We are here to help! Below you’ll find some great tips to help you transition back to work:

- Don’t go back until you are ready. Make treatment your job. Work hard, take the time to adjust to any medications and work through your feelings. You are your first priority at this time.

- Speak with your boss about potential strategies for going back to work. Trying to ease back slowly is recommended. Working from home or on a casual basis can be a great first step. At this time you can also ask about what changes have occurred in the company or position during your absence and who filled your shoes.

- Tread lightly. Chances are your coworkers may have taken on additional projects or responsibilities. They also may have made many decisions in your absence. Be open to them and do take the time to acknowledge & thank them for their efforts.

- Decide on disclosure. Your coworkers may have questions for you upon your return as to your whereabouts or the reason for your absence. Some have found it a relief to be open about it but with the unfortunate presence of stigma surrounding mental health, it’s best to judge each environment individually.

Have any members here transitioned back to work? Any members in this process now?

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Transitioning Back to Work, Part I