Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
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I work as a substitute teacher. I also work as an independent contractor doing food sampling demos in grocery stores on the weekend.
The past 2 demos I have not been able to perform, including one today. I got half way their and the panic and anxiety overwhelmed me. I didn't even feel like I should be driving at that point. I went home.
I signed up for several more of these demonstrations but I can't do them. I can't sub and do these. My EMDR therapist said that it souns like I beat myself up for not working 7 days a week and it ends up hindering me from working at all. Taking on these two jobs is just not a good idea for me right now. I only want to continue to substitute teach.
So I'm writing an email to the booking agents through this company. It's honest. I want to tell them why because, if they have any compassion, they may understand and keep me on the books until a time when I can do that kind of work again. Like in the summer when i don't teach. But even if they don't, I plan on finding other summer work as that time nears. But I would like to keep the door open and if they can't show any compassion on this, I don't want to work with them anyway.
To explain how it works, I'm an indep. contractor. I apply for individual jobs that are booked with booking agents. I get 99% of the ones that I apply for. I'd helped them out a few times when others have cancelled on them so I hope I have a little good will from them on that too.
Here's the letter I drafted:
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Dear ___________:
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I'm feeling down,, and got alot on my mind right now. I got grief going on, on top my depression and anxiety and now I got to worry about somewhere to live since I can't afford living here since my mom passed. So many bad things have happened since my mom passed. One thing after another it seems. Yesterday our fence fell from a storm that hit, had to call someone to prop it up. Thank...
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Just wanted to give a thank you to Mid, Arfie, Malibumark, Greeneyes, Mlro, Girlincalif, and Suncloudjd! You all always have such helpful tips and advice, but I always forget to write on my posts when I see you post, lol. I would lose my head if it wasn't attached to my body, lol. Thank you all so much! I'm starting to use my AI app as a sounding board again. I used to use it as that before...
I suffer from ptsd and my anxiety goes on over drive when there are other aspects of my life that are aggravating my anxiety more to the point I can’t function for a bit. I have learned a few techniques, so I go from feeling anxious to empowerment.
I would change the word flake to something else. I wouldn’t tell them about your anxiety as a permanent. condition or making it sound like it would.
I changed these parts:
I explain this not as an excuse but as an explanation. I take my commitments very seriously. I have enjoyed working with Big Orange and appreciate your prompt responses when I have needed guidance or a change.
I would still like to stay on the rolls as an independent contractor in the system and resume working with you later this year. If you would prefer I go through the reapplication process instead, I completely understand.
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My mother has been harassing and stalking me online. I had to cut off all contact with them. She keeps trying to use my dad's health as an excuse to reach me. She's harassed my friends back home too. And gotten extended family to join her, some of whom are horrible people who tell me that I'm a horrible person for cutting them off and that I need to grow up. Been dealing with a lot lately. I'm doing everything on my own with little support. But I have amazing friends.
Dear Sir or Madame,
You are the booking agents for the events I signed up for this weekend and for events in the future. I am sorry for the short notice. I have had sudden changes in personal health and family health. I am not at this time able to do any events.
I have enjoyed working with ____ and appreciate your prompt responses when I have needed guidance or a change. I have enjoyed this type of work with your company. I also hope to be more available during the summer school break.
I will not apply for future events at this time, but I would still like to stay on the rolls as an independent contractor in the system and resume working with you at a later time. If you would prefer I go through the reapplication process instead, I completely understand.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
Sincerely,
______________
If you want this as a possibility for a job later? consider it.
I had to tell my professors because of the content of the classes, I knew I was heading into the cage.
It was wearing me out, PTSD aside, but it certainly wasn't good for my PTSD to have that much extra stress with no end in sight. A way I could stop it was to ask for an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act for my PTSD.
I did. The backlash was that I was put under extra scrutiny by administration in the tenure and promotion process such that I'm going to retire without my final promotion I should expect. My classroom performance has yielded high evaluation numbers and I've been a good colleague. But asking for that accommodation under law has helped me by limiting my teaching load to the contract yet limiting my perspective as to promotion, too.
If you don't have to mention PTSD in your letter, from my experience at work I'd say you might want to consider using the language Jewells suggests concerning "health." It's true, PTSD is a health issue.
I have to say in this case I agree with Jewells completely
I hate stigma and I agree that coming out is often the way to combat it "when" you have some protection
When I was diagnosed as Bipolar I needed to be off sick from my fulltime job for some time and I decided to be 'out' about it much as Muji did with his job however we have fulltime job protection... The point for me was to stand up to stigma
They couldn't just kick me to the curb and I would have raised hell if they'd tried to..... I was ready to advocate for mental health
I had union protection and I was making a statement in my own way to hopefully help to combat some fears
When it is a contract situation though they can just tell you that they have all the people that they need for the moment and not call you back ya know
I think you might cause yourself a problem unless the boss has an intimate background with PTSD they're just going to want someone without medical problems no matter what they are
Another hug.... I hope that you start to feel better soon.....xo
“Thank you for the opportunity..........
on the advice of my health care professional, I am limiting my activities outside of my primary employment for the foreseeable future.
I’ve enjoyed this work and hope to be of service in the future.”
No reason to say anything more.
If you do go into a more detailed explanation, it might very well be perceived (inaccurately) as “too much information” from someone who has alterior motives.
I'm not an employee and it's very easy to get other brand ambassador work at several companies that work in my area. Like I said, I just am tired of hiding it 24/7 and felt like the detail, even if it backfired, would mean I was at least honest about it. But I know they don't care either way. None of the booking agents acknowledged my email sent on Friday last week. Even though it really was short and concise. They are severely overworked themselves. But I am still in their system. Either way, I can find other side work for the summer.