Minor Mental Issues Affect Job

I have a collection of mental issues. I am anxious, impulsive, socially awkward, have some PTSD. It's affecting my job. They are putting me on a "performance plan" threatening termination. Can I get my doctor to write a letter that might get my company to be more accommodating and committed to working with me? My company is known for caring about its employees.

You can try it....

You might want to talk to a therapist about other solutions...

Do not expect an employer to be your therapist... there interest is in making money.. More money this year then last year... If you cant complete in the work market, you will have to get help looking at alternatives...

Hopeful,

this is a very complex question. You depend a lot on your immediate Supervisor and your relation with him/her and also on your HR consultant. If your HR is poorly educated on MH issues (as most of them are) and intimidated by your Supervisor or too corporate, accommodations may be more challenging. However, nothing is impossible, epsecially if your employer is known for caring about its employees, as you said.

I would love to help you but I would appreciate if you’d share just in general terms the nature of your work, areas where you experience most difficulties (in relation to your mental health - absenteeism?, poor concernation?, issues with deadlines? relations with colleagues?, etc) and also a little bit about this "performance plan". Has something happened at work or just a general concern about your overall performance?

I have experienced a similar problem. Unfortunately I did not feel as though I could gain support in my job. I ended up leaving for another job. If I were to try again and I felt like I had support, I would speak to my doc and get his or her advice. Speak to my boss and let them in on what is going on. In this way perhaps the action plan could actually be something useful to you. Also, if not already doing so, I would look into therapy. After I left my job, and got help, I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and adult ADD. Undergoing treatment has been a long road but in having a understanding boss and outside support systems, I have been able to cope. If you are up for it, medication helps, but you also have to do the mental work with a therapist to be able to improve your life. This is
a hard situation and I wish you the best of luck.

I suggest reading up on the ADA as it relates to mental illness:

http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/psych.html

HopefulOne wrote:I have a collection of mental issues. I am anxious, impulsive, socially awkward, have some PTSD. It's affecting my job. They are putting me on a "performance plan" threatening termination. Can I get my doctor to write a letter that might get my company to be more accommodating and committed to working with me? My company is known for caring about its employees.

Straight up: they're not minor issues if they're causing you to lose your job, you have major issues. Get a sympatethic doctors note, show it to one of the friendlier managers/supervisors and get into contact with your company's human resources officer.

I succeeded in keeping my job without having to pull the mental health card. I'm not sure it is the right place for me, though, and as someone with A.D.D. I understand now how important it is for my happiness to find a place that appreciates me the way I am. In the meantime I am reading books and taking classes and practicing emotional intelligence and relationship and communication skills, but not beating myself up when I fail, just learn and move on.

I'm glad you managed to hang onto the job. Even if it's not the job for you, it's so much more of an emotional comfort to be the one to walk away from it, rather than have it walk away from you. Even though the job I have now is probably perfect for me and I know I'm good at it, I can never shake the feeling that they're working to get rid of me.

Hopefully, you'll find that place that wants you for you, and feels just absolutely perfect!