To think that you will never be successful career wise if you have certain mental health problems and will remain in low paid jobs even if you are otherwise capable / bright?

[AmountedToNothing]

This is me. It's so frustrating and makes me feel so sad. I am forever skint and just having a job even if it's just nmw feels like an achievement sometimes but I see my friends and family moving upwards whilst I'm left behind counting the pennies with no.chance of ever progressing. Life has been cruel to me and I struggle with it everyday as I look at how it affects my dear children. They deserve a better quality of life.
I feel I have been robbed of my life.

I'm just needing to rant.

I don't think my mental health issues has stopped me progressing.
I'm hopefully going to be promoted soon and my manager is well aware of my issues.
I think if anything I struggle more out of work. In work I put a brave face on and manage any symptoms I get easier.

I've seen examples of people thriving career wise while battling mental health issues. Yes it is difficult but can be done.

I think it is difficult yes. I think it paetly depends on the work you do. My friend who has significant mental health issues has built a career in mental health charities/organisations. They are able to support her when she is ill and obviously benefit from her considerable insight/empathy in the role. I will say that I think some other organisations not related to mental health would not have been as supportive. I dont know what the answer is

It depends what the condition is, how it affects you and how motivated and resilient you are. Also the organisations you apply to and their ethos.

It makes it more challenging but not impossible. Depends on the condition I would think.

YANBU. I think it depends on the problem, and whether or not you are lucky enough to find a match with an employer that can accommodate them.

I think it depends on what mental health problem you have to some degree. My problem means that I just won't ever get a decent job. It's really affected my life and I have even felt suicidal over it. I remember feeling like why me as a teenager and really hating myself for being like this

YANBU. Having said that it’s the same for any ongoing health condition I suppose.

I think it depends hugely on both the job and the mental health issues. I have MH issues (have been sectioned before) and now have what I consider to be a decent responsible job, but I work in a sector that is traditionally better than most with disability/flexible working and have been very lucky in that over time I've got my MH issues fairly controlled so they only flare up occasionally.

Having said that, I know a senior academic with schizophrenia (controlled), I know someone with severe reoccurring depression who manages multi million pound budgets and is paid just below six figures, I know a couple of senior teachers with depression and one with bipolar so it clearly is doable.

Mental illness doesn't have to stop you, but it can be harder. Frustratingly I think sometimes it's getting past the NMW jobs that is the biggest challenge. I certainly found that doing entry level admin sucked for me as no one wanted to make allowances for a data entry monkey they could replace any time.

I think it depends on your support system and how well you manage your symptoms.

One of my daughters has schizoaffective disorder. She was a professional ballerina in a high stress company for 8 years and was very successful, having made it to soloist and was we were hoping for a promotion this year, it but quiet shockingly handed in resignation shortly before Christmas because after much soul searching she felt that period of her life was over.

However, she is married to a wonderful man who has great understanding of mental health issues and loves and supports her. She has a two year old daughter and that will be all she has because mentally she isn't really capable of being a full-time parent and so DH and I pay for her to have an around the clock nanny. We also pay privately for her to have weekly sessions with a psychologist. Pretty much whatever she needs to get through her life and live it well we will provide. Without that support I do think her life would be a lot more difficult so I understand where you are coming from.

I think you mean without money

I think mine make me better at my job because they make me an obsessive perfectionist who is terrified of failure. Mentally exhausting though.

It depends on the type of issues I suppose.

How is you problem affecting you though? That's the main question and thing to possibly deal with. If you are capable and bright and can manage your MH with medication or therapy, then you coupd possibly do better job.

Is it that you can't go to work often? Or that you have self esteem issues? Are you getting any help with the issues holding you back?

Dalia1989 it's great that you have been able to find a good employer. I am too embarrassed to ever tell my employers. It would put them off employing me. I am embarrassed by it

knittedjest your daughter is so lucky to have such a supportive family. Half my problems have arised from the opposite.

OftenHangry I have social anxiety / chronic low self esteem and complex ptsd. All rooted since early childhood. I have never known a life where I wasn't shy. I have an unsupportive family who put me down for being like this. It's been like this all my life. I am developmentally stunted in areas of social interaction etc. I'm not a horrible person or anything I just don't really know how to make small talk/ come across as friendly / work a room / excel at interviews etc.
If I told a potential employer they wouldn't touch me with a barge poll!

I think that MH issues may well make it harder, but it isn't impossible. I have worked with colleagues with depression, bi-polar and anxiety who did ok (but it is a supportive environment).

The issues you describe are ones that can get better with the right help. Are you getting any help? When you are in the middle of a difficult period it can be hard to see that things could get better in the future.

I think you a right unfortunately and that it in inself can add to the mental health problems.
I know some very very talented people who just couldn’t be in work and were off so much they were just overlooked for promotion - just by not being there.
It is less to do with stigma and more to do with non attendance. It is extremely sad as it creates a vicious circle.

Are you getting help for your issues? Is your husband supportive? Focus on those things first - getting help and only interacting with supportive people.

I think it depends on the job.
I know several people with ptsd who are a success in their jobs... it depends if the person and the job is a good fit so to speak. What kind of job do you hold?
You say you are shy (not sure if it is generally a sign of ptsd. Dh has ptsd and is not shy at all). There are a number of jobs that do not require social interaction. Are you working on your shynesswith a therapist?

i have only ever done nmw admin jobs and im a stay at home currently.
my DH is supportive and is lovely about it. I have tried therapy on the NHS but unfortunately it never made much of a difference. If anything it made me worse. I have been trying to help myself in various ways for 20 years. Its a constant battle and I truly believe that I will never be able to be free.

I have complex PTSD and have been in hospital before, had lots of therapy, etc. I'm now a therapist myself and manage fine most of the time....but I wouldn't if I hadn't had the evidence based treatment I needed. I'd be dead to be fair. If you cannot access treatment then YANBU.
Have you tried to ask for s referral to the traumatic stress clinic at the Maudsley?

There are many successful and even many successful and famous people with mental health issues. Wrt careers, attitude can help a lot ime. It's great you have a supportive dh. Feeling like " life has been cruel to me" "I'll never be free" "no one would employ me" is different to "we all have issues and challenges and this is how I manage mine and this is what I can contribute etc". Easy to say, I know! But you know that saying “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right.” Good luck

AliceScarlett im not near the maudsley hospital. What exactly do you mean by evidence based treatment, if you dont mind sharing. thx

I have Inattentive ADHD, Dyspraxia, depression, anxiety, childhood and birth related PTSD and have had two episodes of psychosis.

On a fuck load of medication. Constant therapy of some form.

For 10 years I could only handle part time working and in low stress jobs. However I’ve now just completed my first semester at University studying Biology. Last year I did a year at college. I won’t lie, it almost broke me, but it was now or never and I was bored shitless.