Try looking on job websites and jobstreet. Maybe try self employ and work from home. My mother makes a living from homemade bakery, she bakes at home and and sells it online. You would need to plan it out b4 you really do it though or it'll just be a waste of money and time. Or, you can try being a promoter. Maybe youq can get some simple job recommendations from friends too. I hope this helps

When you go back to work, try to chill and assure yourself that everything will be alright. If something bad really happens, dont freak out. Be calm and look for solutions. Remember, dont freak out when something goes wrong

When I was first diagnosed I was off work for 2 years and I went back to work slowly over a six week period... It might be best for you to first look for a part time job so it won't overwhelm you... I was wiped out when I first went back so part time hours were good...
I have found volunteer work a great confidence builder as well as giving back just feels good so that would be another good way to ease into the work force.... Good for you sweetie... Big hug....xo

I worked for a long time, both before and after my bipolar diagnosis. Somehow, work made me hold it together. I even had one large crisis, took one day off, then went back. It was a sense of pride to me that I had a good career and loved it.

I had to stop when I got RA and couldn't get out of bed the pain was so bad. Many years later, I retrained as a chaplain. It was a better fit for me, with my physical limitations. Again, I liked pushing myself to the limit. RA put that dream to an end too!

So, I think you have the right attitude right now. You realized that sitting around is boring, and you might as well try working. And I believe you can do it! Just don't push yourself to the breaking point. Be realistic about your goals, and if it is working, isn't there some kind of thing in the US where you can get accomodations at work with your disability? Something you might want to look into, or maybe others can help you with this.

I think you are making a good decision. I would take my time & learn your new job. Is a problem presents itself just stay calm & assess the situation. I was out of work for several months after I got divorced. When I finally went back to work as a nurse I was a lot happier. I take pride in helping others. I'm on disability now do to a terminal illness. I can no longer work which causes me great sadness. I know you'll do well.

I was out of work for about four years after first diagnosed but was finally able to go back to school and become a paramedic and I was terrified to go back to work. But, I went and after a week or so I started to feel confident again and did a great job. I worked 8 years before my illness caused me to have to resign once again. Just breathe slowly, believe you can do it because you can!! If something goes wrong deal with it then don't worry that it will.....you're going to be great!! Best of luck!!

it took a while for me to get a job after uni - I was one of Thatcher's 3 million. I guess I'd try and get into a routine to prepare and try and become a little more active so it will be less of a shock when you start.

With my hyper metabolism, sitting on my butt all day is harder work than moving mountains, but transitions are still hard, whether I am going from manic moving of imaginary mountains to office work or construction work to housekeeping.

Whenever possible, I take my transitions in small, manageable steps. When the transition is heaped on me in one big, messy shovelful, I cuss my way through it while I take it by the spoonful. Either way, I lean heavily on my peer support network to help me sort the chaff from the grain.

Good luck in your own transition, Voltaire. Hope it leads you to great developments.

Thank you all for your lovely responses! Here's the update. My friend has a job lined up for me, it's ready to go and everything. I've basically got this downpat, it's more or less an auditing company.

I'm probably still going to apply for Disability because 1) I need a recent denial letter to continue getting my Invega shots (which are thousands and thousands of dollars PER injection) at no cost,

Or, because I'm on ACT now, a community outreach program, they can act as my advocates for getting Disability or Medicaid or some kind of partial benefits even while I'm working. Things are looking up, for once.

But, I've been having a lot of existential crises and even suicidal thoughts and ideations lately over being unemployed and basically bored.

I broke down SOBBING, I mean, bawling my eyes out, mascara running, the whole nine yards when my boyfriend was over and we were just kind of hanging out, because I was overwhelmed with how I have nothing going on in my life, other than seeing him a couple times a week,

(which I dearly value and GREATLY appreciate, don't get me wrong, he's a goddamn gorgeous long-haired metalhead dude if I ever saw one, and we have the same sense of humor and he's super cuddly,

but I want my independence. I feel like independence is a human right and for someone to not have it is equivalent to a civil rights abuse, either inflicted upon the person by society, circumstances, themselves, or any combination thereof.)