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Original poster

Job advice- difficult situation

41 replies

Clausesorcauses · 18/08/2023 06:21

Can anyone please give some advice about how to earn money in these circumstances:

Have agoraphobia due to trauma and cannot leave the house alone, sometimes not even with someone else. So cannot go out to work or sell physical products etc.

Cannot talk on the phone or video call.

Haven't worked for 10-15 years and then it was temporary/admin type jobs but unable to do those now due to them being jobs you have to go to in person or deal with people over the phone.

No qualifications.

Are there any possibilities? Thanks in advance for any help.

OP posts:
WomanAtWork · 18/08/2023 06:32

Your best bet is to be self-employed.

I’m going so sound horribly ignorant so please bear with me: Can you open the door to people you don’t know, if it is pre-arranged by email? Do you have a back garden and can you go into that?

I am currently looking for a small-pet minder - if I knew a lovely person who I could drop my pet off to, who had the right set up at home that would be fab, I’d use that service several times a year.

Alternatively perhaps you could start a craft business - supplies and customer delivery services picking up at your door. Browse Etsy and see what kind of things you could do yourself.

Dollydaydreeam · 18/08/2023 06:33

The fact you can't take phonecalls is the major downfall here. There's a lot of call centre jobs out there you can happily do from home, which you can also do without qualifications. Do you have any hobbies your good at that you can maybe make money from? Such as making things and selling on Etsy?

RantyAnty · 18/08/2023 06:35

Therapy and agoraphobia group.

RandomMess · 18/08/2023 06:37

Lots of customer service stuff is via wen chat now BUT you would need the training I suspect.

Original poster
Clausesorcauses · 18/08/2023 06:41

Thank you everyone for the replies.

Unfortunately I cannot open the door to people or go into the garden.

I also cannot have therapy or attend an agoraphobia group as I have agoraphobia and cannot speak to people face to face, on the phone or by video chat.

OP posts:
Neighneigh · 18/08/2023 06:50

Hi OP, how are you on Word/Excel etc? Have you thought about emailing any temping agencies near you and asking about data entry roles, or any data analysis type stuff? You'd need a CV to send to them and they'd likely say 'oh let's have a chat', but if you explain your situation from the outset you may find a sympathetic ear.

Is there anyone who can take a phone call for you while you're there together?

I'll keep thinking!

Original poster
Clausesorcauses · 18/08/2023 06:59

Neighneigh · 18/08/2023 06:50

Hi OP, how are you on Word/Excel etc? Have you thought about emailing any temping agencies near you and asking about data entry roles, or any data analysis type stuff? You'd need a CV to send to them and they'd likely say 'oh let's have a chat', but if you explain your situation from the outset you may find a sympathetic ear.

Is there anyone who can take a phone call for you while you're there together?

I'll keep thinking!

I'm quite good with word and excel and I'm good at doing repetitive tasks with accuracy so that's a good idea. I'll email some agencies today. Thank you 😊

OP posts:
gogomoto · 18/08/2023 07:00

Rather than work, can you get onto a programme to help you overcome your anxiety. My neighbour was like you, couldn't take her children to school, couldn't answer the door to get the shopping in when it was delivered (her 17 year old dd was our babysitter) etc. she started small, creeping onto the patio when her younger ones were playing and her eldest was there, that's how I met her, she was able to talk over the fence as it's a barrier (no way could she have invited me around at that point). She had a personal therapist he gradually got her to go out, and over 3 years she built up to being able to take the bus to the therapists office in the city 5 miles away. She also took a computer based job at home data inputting.

Original poster
Clausesorcauses · 18/08/2023 07:15

gogomoto · 18/08/2023 07:00

Rather than work, can you get onto a programme to help you overcome your anxiety. My neighbour was like you, couldn't take her children to school, couldn't answer the door to get the shopping in when it was delivered (her 17 year old dd was our babysitter) etc. she started small, creeping onto the patio when her younger ones were playing and her eldest was there, that's how I met her, she was able to talk over the fence as it's a barrier (no way could she have invited me around at that point). She had a personal therapist he gradually got her to go out, and over 3 years she built up to being able to take the bus to the therapists office in the city 5 miles away. She also took a computer based job at home data inputting.

I can't talk to a therapist unfortunately, I did speak to someone via email who could advertised they could help with agoraphobia to see if they could do text based sessions, but they said they weren't able to help with the trauma that caused it, just the agoraphobia itself, so suggested seeing a therapist but they all want in person or video chats or phone calls. That's brilliant to hear about your neighbour though, I'm really glad she could overcome her agoraphobia.

OP posts:
Neighneigh · 18/08/2023 07:17

Good luck! Focus on all the experience you have - the world of work has changed so much, honestly office roles are so different now, and wfh saves companies so much money that they're happy to have admin roles done remotely.

My other thought might be editing work, I think a lot of that comes via existing networks and people you know but again there may be agencies that can help. Have your CV ready to email to them as they'll definitely ask.

Actually have you had a look on your local council website too? They may have 'back to work' type support pages and could be useful.

Davidsdaughter · 18/08/2023 07:20

you can do online qualifications, I would start with building up your qualifications first. You need to overcome the agoraphobia, obviously, unless you intend to spend the rest of your life inside. How will you do shopping etc on your own?

Birdsongsinging · 18/08/2023 07:21

There are online therapists and also online courses out there. A lot of the first interventions are computerised.

While you may be able to get work it would be good to feel better about what has happened to you if you could try some online therapy. Good luck.

Grimbleton · 18/08/2023 07:21

Unfortunately if you cannot speak to someone you aren’t going to pass an agency or employers right to work checks - they need to verify that you match your ID whether it’s via zoom or in person. It can’t be done via email only. So I think a precious poster has good advice that you need to look at self employment options.

Wakemeup17 · 18/08/2023 07:22

Sounds like data entry jobs would be for you or maybe audio typist?
Card designs? Or design pdfs for self print at home and sell them online on etsy?

But I agree that dealing with agoraphobia would be best, can you ask GP for help?

Original poster
Clausesorcauses · 18/08/2023 07:22

Thank you everyone, I appreciate all your help. I will look into everything mentioned.

OP posts:
Original poster
Clausesorcauses · 18/08/2023 07:25

Wakemeup17 · 18/08/2023 07:22

Sounds like data entry jobs would be for you or maybe audio typist?
Card designs? Or design pdfs for self print at home and sell them online on etsy?

But I agree that dealing with agoraphobia would be best, can you ask GP for help?

I wouldn't be able to see a gp unfortunately, I wouldn't even be able to make the call. It's extremely frustrating because I know I need therapy to deal with the trauma which will then allow me to overcome the agoraphobia but because I have agoraphobia I can't get therapy.

Thank you for the etsy/pdfs idea, I'll look into that.

OP posts:
Mylobsterteapot · 18/08/2023 07:28

Better help do text based therapy, I think.

Do you speak another language? You could do translation work?

Willmafrockfit · 18/08/2023 07:29

have you thought about CBT?

AtlasPine · 18/08/2023 07:30

It sounds terribly debilitating- my heart goes out to you.

if you are willing to reach out though a local website such as ‘NextDoor’ and were honest about your limitations, maybe you could find a few ironing clients who were prepared to leave laundry on the doorstep at an exact time or ‘knock and leave’ and visa versa after you had ironed it?

Original poster
Clausesorcauses · 18/08/2023 07:35

Thank you I will look into better help, I haven't heard of them before. Unfortunately I don't speak another language.

I will research cbt, thank you.

Thank you 🙂 I will look at next door, I have heard of it but I'm not on it so I will sign up today and see how my local one is.

OP posts:
underneaththeash · 18/08/2023 07:48

Well you have to do something OP, you can't just sit in your house for the rest of your life, what if you need to have urgent medical treatment, or have a gas leak. Everyone, no matter what the physical or mental health condition has to do things which are hard in order to get better, whether it is painful physio, learning to walk again on a broken leg or at least trying to speak to someone on the phone. You're not suddenly going to get better unless you try.

You need to write to your doctor in the first instance and explain the circumstances and see if he will refer you. Then at least google some coping mechanisms, watch some youtube videos and see what works for you.

dieselKiller · 18/08/2023 08:03

Are you dosing up on vitamin D? And getting enough exercise?

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

Lack of vitamin D and not enough exercise has mood altering effects as well as physical effects. Your agoraphobia will be hitting you double hard if you’re not addressing the extra diet and exercise requirements that come from staying inside so much.

nhs.uk

Vitamin D

Find out about vitamin D, including what it does, how much you need, and how to ensure you get enough.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

Original poster
Clausesorcauses · 18/08/2023 08:22

underneaththeash · 18/08/2023 07:48

Well you have to do something OP, you can't just sit in your house for the rest of your life, what if you need to have urgent medical treatment, or have a gas leak. Everyone, no matter what the physical or mental health condition has to do things which are hard in order to get better, whether it is painful physio, learning to walk again on a broken leg or at least trying to speak to someone on the phone. You're not suddenly going to get better unless you try.

You need to write to your doctor in the first instance and explain the circumstances and see if he will refer you. Then at least google some coping mechanisms, watch some youtube videos and see what works for you.

I know. I have nightmares where I fall down the stairs and break my leg and have to be around strangers and wake up in such a panic. I know how lucky I am that that has never happened. I will write to the doctor and look at YouTube, thank you for those suggestions.

OP posts:
Original poster
Clausesorcauses · 18/08/2023 08:23

dieselKiller · 18/08/2023 08:03

Are you dosing up on vitamin D? And getting enough exercise?

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

Lack of vitamin D and not enough exercise has mood altering effects as well as physical effects. Your agoraphobia will be hitting you double hard if you’re not addressing the extra diet and exercise requirements that come from staying inside so much.

Thank you, I do take vitamins but it might be worth trying a seperate vitamin d dose to make sure I am getting enough. I do exercise but probably not enough, I will and be more motivated with that.

OP posts:
TyrannosaurusSex · 18/08/2023 08:33

Have you thought about freelance admin work, via an online portal?

e.g. peopleperhour

The jobs you could accept might be limited because of the lack of phone contact, but you may be able to build up a good reputation and get repeat bsuiness depsite it. That, in turn, may lead to you feeling a bit more comfy talking on the hpone - say if it's someone you've already correspnded with over email a few times and have started to know a little bit?

I suspect you won't earn a fortune, but maybe enough?

Alternatively, people make money buying and sellling various things via eBay or similar? You would ned to look to find things you could buy cheaper than you could sell them for but might also be an idea? For example, for a different reason I once had to buy all 12 figures from a Royal Doulton set when I only really wanted 1. I bought the whole set for £300 and then sold off the 11 that I didn't need one by one - they each sold for about £50, leaving me £250 better off (minus postage and fees).

Again, I could see that taking a while to build up and get into a good groove, but maybe would work for you?