Career Changes Support Group
This community is dedicated to the difficult challenges of transitioning from one career or job to a new one. Especially as we grow older, it can be very difficult to acquire the skills and relationships and take the financial risk to make the switch.
hi. I would just like to seek advice from you guys. I graduated from nursing six years ago. I tried completing a certain training. I finished it but i was having a hard time. I was so stressed out and the other nurses where noticing that too.I have anxiety disorder and depression (that could be schizoaffective-that was the doctor's impression on me just 2 weeks ago). I attended a second training finished it, but again i barely survived. I was not calm and always worried. I get obsessive compulsive and I always check what im doing. Then I decided that the job wasn't for me because its too stressful. I tried going back to school twice to study to become a teacher. But due to anxiety and brain fog, it didn't work out. I applied for a call center job twice but i was not accepted. I attended a one day seminar about jewelry design but the hands on is difficult for me. I cant focus. But i refuse to give up. Even if it hurts big time. I figured out recently what about selling baked goodies. So i went to to a baking school for a 1 day class. It is a demo class. I was able to cope. Through watching the demo. But i figured out if I can make enough money out of baking. I don't know if can do it.
I never had a job in my life because of what i have in my head, the anxiety is there every time im trying something new. I see my friends having the best time of there lives. I cant help but to feel inferior. Just two weeks ago i had a talk with my doctor and he said my thoughts are negative. To the point that I cant move on.
Right now at 28 years old, I'm lost. I worry if there is a job suitable for me. My friend is inviting me to work on a day shift call center job. I want to earn my own money. But i worry too if i can keep up with the stress in a call center. A lot of people are telling me that its stressful to work there. I am completely lost! Any advice??
I never had a job in my life because of what i have in my head, the anxiety is there every time im trying something new. I see my friends having the best time of there lives. I cant help but to feel inferior. Just two weeks ago i had a talk with my doctor and he said my thoughts are negative. To the point that I cant move on.
Right now at 28 years old, I'm lost. I worry if there is a job suitable for me. My friend is inviting me to work on a day shift call center job. I want to earn my own money. But i worry too if i can keep up with the stress in a call center. A lot of people are telling me that its stressful to work there. I am completely lost! Any advice??
Then think about what stresses you out specifically - as well as what helps you feel more safe and comfortable. Once you know that, you can customize your job search.
Check into the laws regarding selling baked goods. There may be some rules you need to abide by and knowing that up front can help you to decide if this is for you or not. If you decide to go forward, there are a lot of places that can provide support and suggestions for selling your product.
Consider other skills you have that you could utilize. Can you make a craft? Could you do medical transcription? Do technical writing for medical devices?
There are really tons of jobs out there that we don't think of so defining what you want rather than looking at job postings may be the way to go.
I graduated from medical school here in the states but could not finish my residency training since I was too ill at the time. Unfortunately, once one has a mental health break while working it is hard to resume training. I lost everything.
I am doing well now and am thinking about returning to work as a mental health care worker in another country where they will accept me. I have to redo my licensure exams and training but for me it is worth it. I want to help others with mental illness using my experience and training.
I have schizoaffective disorder and am stable. I learned from my experiences that medication is the key to my stability. I also learned that it is not wise to disclose one's illness to anybody. If you need reasonable accommodations then ask for it. I know of some doctors who received extra time on their exams and also took their exams in a separate room. You should consider such accommodations if necessary.
I also had a hard time during medical school due to medication side effects and incompatibility. I went through many medications before settling on abilify 15 mg daily. This is all I take now and it works.
I think since you have a nursing degree I would try to utilize it in some capacity. I have tried other lines of work too and now am helping with my family's business. However, I am passionate about helping others with mental illness and want to do my best in my capacity to do so.
I have to restudy my medical school work in order to pursue my goal though. And, I have to take the exams in another language. This is my problem though and I am learning to deal with it.
You should do what you think is best for you. I know of other people with schizophrenia who are psychiatric nurses and are doing fine. May be you can be one of them.
I know that your symptoms can be debilitating. You must address these issues before you do anything too stressful again. My past problems were non-compliance and side effects due to too many meds. Now, I take just one medication and am compliant. I have minor sedation and akathisia at times but it is bearable compared to psychosis.
I am doing well thankfully to my medications and family support.
I hope things work out for you too. Take care!
I started out my career in the creative field but I let depression and anxiety get in the way of my true passion. I left the field that I wanted to be in because I thought it was the logical choice when in fact it was completely illogical for somebody like me to not be in the creative field. So now I work in an office which is fine but am learning web design and development on my own time.
What would you do with your career if you didn't have depression and anxiety holding you back? Would you want to be in something creative? Work with people? Work with animals? Do research? Where does your passion live?
It takes time unfortunately for the depression and anxiety to be brought under control. It took mine 10 years. I feel like I've lost 10 years but I'll be damned if I'll lose the next 10 years. I agree with the others about assessing your skills and narrowing down what field would fit for you.
Also get a new doctor. No shit you have negative thoughts. Did this doctor offer any useful ideas? We all have negative thoughts. Get a good therapist and psychiatrist to help you, one with a little more insight than your current doctor.