Being schizoaffective and working?

I've recently graduated school which was a difficult experience while being schizoaffective, and I have to start job seeking to maintain my benefits. I'm really concerned about how I'll go working given the state I've been in lately. I really want to try and work before discussing going on disability with my doctors. I was wondering if anyone has an advice or can discuss their experiences of working while being schizoaffective? Did anything help it be a smoother experience for you?

irlart wrote:I've recently graduated school which was a difficult experience while being schizoaffective, and I have to start job seeking to maintain my benefits. I'm really concerned about how I'll go working given the state I've been in lately. I really want to try and work before discussing going on disability with my doctors. I was wondering if anyone has an advice or can discuss their experiences of working while being schizoaffective? Did anything help it be a smoother experience for you?

Howdy, that's awesome you're trying to get out there and work.
I went through my first job via the state.. I highly recommend that. At first I was embarrassed, because people know there's something wrong. After i got the nerves out and started to talk to co-workers, it become a nice comfort blanket..
I was able to last at my job for 4 years, it really is important that your boss knows there's some issues, you don't ever need to disclose what. But when I would have terrible days, if you have the right people around you that understand.. It made me start to feel like I could be my normal in the left field self. Build up that confidence we all need. I couldn't talk to strangers 1 on 1 without my whole body being drenched in sweat, but having that positive work environment, helped so much being able to just say my nerves are through the roof.
Also I highly recommend working only 20 hours a week to start off, I'll share my next block of experience of what happened when I pushed my self through 40+ hours a week..

Working full time sent me into a really bad state to say the least.. Brought out a lot of demons from being a empty vessel on auto pilot numb. Brought me to the point of self harm and needing alot more help. Still out of work, Be smart and don't push your limits:)
There's nothing wrong if you need SSDI, doesn't make you less of a man, makes you smart.

Congrats on finishing school!!! thats a huge accomplishment, I know how hard it is to do (i barely finished one semester)

my advice for working is try getting a job that is not high stress and that you'll enjoy (well at least one that you can tolerate). I know for me if its stressful and I don't have any interest or like in it, my voices start saying bad things (like their trying to kill me or control me, you get the idea) and then I start to freak out and then I quit and promptly go to the hospital to recover.

It is soo important that you take care of your health first, so make sure you are mentally ready for a job, start out part time and then increase to full time (if thats what you want). If you need time off try to explain to your boss that you have issues to work through (after you get the job you should let your boss know about your mental health issues, they technically can't fire you (that's discrimination) and since you didn't say anything during the interview they can't judge you for your illness and not give you the job)

Also, I don't know where you live but maybe try looking for mental health job support, I know in Canada there are programs where people will help you find a job and advocate for you and your mental illness and will be the middle man between your boss and you so that everyone knows the game plan and that you'll be more successful at your job (I think it is a job job though not career so if your using your schooling to get a career I'm not sure if they would help you with that.)

another thing, again not sure where you live but it sounds like your on social assistance, non disability (which requires you to work) did you look into long term disability finical support? (I don't know how functional you are so use your discretion) if you can get on it it'll help with bills and med cost and provide a safety net while you find work and obtain work (though you may have to watch out cause some will say you can only make so much before they cut you off. )

anyways thats my two cents hope you find and maintain stable work!

I'm schizoaffective and I have not worked a real job since 1995 when I got on disability for severe suicidal depression at the time. I was showing up at work with massive tears rolling down my face. Any way, that was 22 years ago and I have not worked all of this time. Now, I am unemployable. No one will hire me now. No recent work history. I seriously doubt that I could keep up with todays work pace anyway. It's very different today than it was in the mid 90's. Scary even. I'm glad I don't work today from the stories I hear. They are horror stories to me. All of them. I don't know how people do it. It must be hell on them. I just pray for them all.

have had serious work problems because of being schizoaffective
but medication has really helped and I believe the advice
is right that you MUST only look for low stress jobs!

stress is particularly bad for people with mental illness