Mental health and employment

I have just read a story from a man who suffers from anxiety and depression which got me thinking.  This man has been lucky enough to be accepted for 15 different jobs in the last 3 years but has been forced to leave them all as they expected a minimum of 40 hours work a week and were too demanding for him.

Whilst many of us want to feel fulfilled in the workplace and to earn a decent living-wage, I think that it is important that we manage our expectations.

I can remember coming back from a doctor's appointment when I was on the road to recovery from my period of anxiety and agoraphobia.  I had mentioned that I had applied for an office job in a local college and he had thrown his arm up in despair, asking me 'Why can't you be content with a less demanding position?'  At first I felt insulted because I felt he thought I was in some way incapable.  In fact, with hindsight, he was right.  I was not yet ready for the 'rough and tumble' of a demanding job.

There are, in my opinion, two vital questions we should consider before we jump back into the workplace. Are our stress-coping mechanisms up to the test of the demands of full time employment?..and...What would it do to our recovery if we tried and failed?  In other words how would we feel if we felt that we had let our employer and ourselves down by having to walk away from a position?

After a period of anxiety it is a good idea to be kind and gentle to ourselves.  It may be necessary to find a position in which we can feel confident and happy whilst earning what we require rather than being stressed out from a demanding high-paid job. 

It is a case of quality of life.  Have realistic expectations and don't take on more than you can handle.  I know that perfectionism can come hand in hand with anxiety which pushes us on to achieve more than average.  This in turn puts an unbearable strain on us and can be counterproductive.

Good luck to all of you who are looking for work - may the position you long for be yours.