Welcome! Introduce yourself here 🙂

[miniACDC]

Hey @tyme 

I got that part. I do have a copy of the report and it states it can be passed on to any Dr as my original GP doesn't prescribe the meds.

It has specific recommnadation and instructioons to follow, anyhow I am interested to find out other members exerpience  and journey with this type of process!

Kind Regards

[AmberGrace]

Hi everyone,

I am autistic, adhd and bipolar. I live with my partner. Its a paradise. [edited by moderator]

I will be studying my masters this year to be a Social Worker. 

I am here because I want to help anyone I can. I recieve a lot of support from family, friends and NDIS. I am in a good place right now and I know some people are strugglingmore then usual due to the psychiatrists quitting.

I love paper crafts, art and writing. ive been learning riverside software and canva lately and I have a podcast about mental health coming out soon on youtube. 

[rav3n]

hey there @AmberGrace welcome to the forums!! 😊

thanks for that lovely intro, so exciting to be starting your masters this year!! how are you feeling about it?

those are some cool hobbies too! mental health podcast sounds amazing, hope that all goes well for you! also wanted to share that we recently had a member start an Art Club here if you wanted to join in, no pressure of course. 

look forward to seeing you around ✨
(p.s. just letting you know we've sent you a quick email so keep an eye out in your inbox)

[Zol]

Hi

I've been through several traumatic experiences and now I can't face employers to get work.

Left fulltime employment to study many years ago. The study was good.
A few years after that, I left my partner of many years.
She had trauma and problems that I couldn't handle.
I volunteered a lot and pursued a few alternative careers that didn't turn out..
I did more study in IT but eventually I found out I didn't want to follow the area I selected. 
I've had a range of casual roles and contract work. Some worked out. Some didn't.
After a number of years, I obtained Job-Seeker financial support, but that is also stressful seeking work. I did get some work but it ended badly.

5-6 years ago, I had a bad experience with 3 people in a volunteer organisation. 
I sought support with their systems and others, but they are not adequate.

I've had a three people in the past 2 years that I've trusted and gained work with / through, but they have all ended in bad ways. 

One case was a employer that treated me everyone badly.
(Many others in the organisation, didn't want to work with him).
Another was a manipulative contact that meant well, but had some questionable morals, was a bully, and abused me for being sacked from a job she helped me get.

The last was the good paying job, but I could not connect with my immediate supervisor, and training colleague. They both had unhelpful communication styles. The work was repetitive and boring.
They almost deliberately set me up to fail, by not providing me with the resources and information I needed to do my job.

The last 6 months I've been surviving on savings, a good tax return and support from my parents. 
I now have very little money. 
I expect I will need to get job-seeker support again, but I am reluctant to go down that path due to the associated trauma.

I can't afford paid counselling, and I've found it fairly useless in the past anyway.

I don't have any friends that I can call on for support.

I have one good friend interstate, but she has her own health issues and I can only call on her a limited amount. 
I've lost my self-esteem and confidence and interest in work.
Work is boring. 
I have ideas about exciting work options, but they will take more study and/or experience and I won't make a regular income for a while.

There are some hobbies and things I enjoy doing, but there isn't enough to keep me going.
I tried online and real world dating, which showed some promise, but when I lost my job, I couldn't continue dating. 
I don't drink often. Just occasionally once maybe a week or 2 weeks or month. 
I have an older sister and brother, but I don't get along with them and don't feel comfortable calling on them for support. I can hardly speak with my brother. 

Well that's a crappy starting place.
I hope you are well.

[tyme]

Awww @Zol ,

I'm so sorry to hear how challenging life has been for you. Sounds like things have really taken a toll on you. 

I hear how hard it is and that financially, savings are dwindling. 

We welcome you to the SANE Forums and hope you get to hear from others who may be going through something similar.

What are things that keep you going? That is, things you enjoy?

[Zol]

@tyme Things that keep me going.

* Hunger encourages me to get up and eat.

* I enjoy hiking when I can. There's a biggish hike tracks (few kms) and shorter options that I like to do, but it is hot during the day so not often and option.

* I have done yoga on and off for decades, but not currently practice. 
I have free yoga membership as I am part of a large studios maintenance team. 
I/We do cleaning and tidying that the staff don't have time to do. 
I will do a 2 hour shift something like once a week or once a month.

* I have some ongoing paid bookeeping and IT support for a small charity. 
The work ranges from 2-10 hours a month. I tend to do more, but I don't like charging more.
I've perfectionist tendencies and maybe I do more than is needed, but if I don't spend the extra time, I can get lost in the confusion that eventuates.

* Listening to music and preparing music to DJ, watching Dj videos, and engaging with DJ posts on Social Media.

But I have never DJayed in public / for other people / a community I am associated with.
I like energetic music, but I keep my music tastes mostly to myself.
I am a little dependent on family for support and too embarrassed or reluctant to let them know this is something I enjoy. Also, I'm getting older and the noise and energy of DJing or staying up late and listening to music takes a toll on me and my hearing. Finally, I am reluctant to purchase any more equipment that I need like bigger speakers, as I may not use them often, and it seems an irresponsible thing to spend money on.

* Reading or mostly listening to good books or talks/podcasts on mental health like Brene Brown.

* Generally once a month, I go to a volunteer bush regeneration half day run by my Yoga studio. I get a free healthy morning tea and lunch. I can chat with others of various ages, but I am too shy or ashamed or know it isn't the right place to get really into my problems. 

* Recenty, to avoid the social media black hole, I have been re-learning to solve Rubic's / Speed Cubes. 

* I watch the best TV or Movies/DVDs I can for free. I don't pay for or watch things on paid TV.

* What makes me feel better is taking actions I get a sense of progress towards my wellbeing or a goal.
> Cutting out something I subscribed to that is no longer useful to me.
(Last night, I think I slept better and had some more pleasant dreams, because I took steps in this area). (Ie: Standing up for what I need and cutting out what I don't need.)

> Getting a bookkeeping / IT task off my to-do list.

> Applying for a job. (Something I rarely can do these days)

> Recycling or tossing out things I don't want or need. Often things that have been given to me, but are not really suitable or wanted, so I then need to find a way of responsibly disposing of them.
Yes sometimes I just chuck things in the bin as I can't be perfect. 

> Tidying an area of my home that has been neglected for a while, so it creates a clear space in my head. 

> Getting out of home to a cafe in a nice area just outside the suburbs.

** So these things each go a little towards my wellbeing, but most of them don't help me financially.

[tyme]

Hey @Zol ,

Nice! Thanks for the introduction!

You may need to attend some Rubik's tournaments!

May need to get creative to see if you can make any financial gain! Even for a hobby?

Are you working at the moment? (please don't feel pressured to respond if you don't feel comfy doing to)

[Zol]

Yes. I may be able to make some income from some of those hobbies.

I'd really like a more regular role in an environment that has supportive options.

For example: Most of my career was in the Public sector. I left over a decade ago, but I may be able to rejoin. I expect it will take some effort to get back to a role that is interesting rather than a routine role. 

I sometimes can finish a job application, but I tend to avoid this a lot.
I think I want to avoid any previous issues I've had with people.
Maybe Ironically, this makes me want to work in HRM. 
I would be at the heart of making the staff and org work well, so would not have to tolerate poor behaviour. Issues big or small should be able to be talked about with respect and a degree of mutual understanding.

[tyme]

Nice @Zol ! 

Sounds like you've got a lot you can work with then 🙂

Follow your passions? Did you find the public sector 'supportive'?

Feel free to join 

Best Friends Club 

[Zol]

There were inevitable conflicts, esp when I was a lower level staffer.
But I have learnt a lot from those experiences.
Esp: communicating more to a staff member or other intermediate person about what is going on.
I think this can remove or resolve issues of conflict. 

That's why being in an environment that allows for this is what I am aiming for.

I admire the work of Brene Brown and Simon Sinek in this regard. 
I may need to do a some HRM related courses for credentials / respect (for my experience) / self-affirming the principles of respect in the workplace. 
I was planning to go this path this time last year, when I was offered the good paying job that didn't work out. 

Perhaps "talking" about this here is giving me more confidence to pursue this path.