Popular Post wanderinstar Posted December 12, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted December 12, 2013 I think I may have mentioned previously that I have not worked for the last five years due to physical and mental health issues. The damage 'the church' did to me contributed significantly to my health problems. For the last five years there have been many times I was hospitalized, I have been that ill. So to finally be able to get a casual job (as well as p/t study) is a demonstration of just how far I have come. I am so thrilled to be feeling kinda normal. The illnesses are not cured but I am stable. I have no doubt that being out of christianity for the last 18 months has helped, as has being able to chat with you guys - thanks. Happy Dance! 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydisplayname Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 I think I may have mentioned previously that I have not worked for the last five years due to physical and mental health issues. The damage 'the church' did to me contributed significantly to my health problems. For the last five years there have been many times I was hospitalized, I have been that ill. So to finally be able to get a casual job (as well as p/t study) is a demonstration of just how far I have come. I am so thrilled to be feeling kinda normal. The illnesses are not cured but I am stable. I have no doubt that being out of christianity for the last 18 months has helped, as has being able to chat with you guys - thanks. Happy Dance! It's a great honour to be the first to congratulate you. What a great way of starting a new year! Congrats. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator TheRedneckProfessor Posted December 12, 2013 Super Moderator Share Posted December 12, 2013 Hey, congrats! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator buffettphan Posted December 12, 2013 Super Moderator Share Posted December 12, 2013 Now that's what I call Good News! Congratulations! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Margee Posted December 12, 2013 Moderator Share Posted December 12, 2013 I am giving you the biggest hug in the world today!! Congratulations sweetheart!! Thank Gawd for Ex-c!! You go girl!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 Congratulations! My husband and I are pretty much in the same boat with employment (underemployment), so I know how hard you had to work to get a job!!!! It's a big deal and you DID IT!!!! Good for you for dealing with your issues and coming so far! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilith666 Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 Good job!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slave2six Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 Wanderinstar, I am so proud of you. Illness, either physical or mental, is no trivial trial. That you have come through and are out in the workplace is a huge step. Please let us know how it goes. I would love to hear your follow-up stories (good or bad). And if anyone at work gives you grief, just give me a name and address..... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymistake Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 Congratz! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravenstar Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 Congrats!!! That is friggin' awesome.. but keep taking care of yourself, k? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderinstar Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share Posted December 13, 2013 Thanks everyone. Your posts mean a lot to me. I had my first day yesterday and it went really well. As I am a photography major they are putting me in the printing department (major office supply store) so it will be fun and helpful towards my degree to learn all types of printing, binding and laminating. My doctors are keeping an eye on me in case my health takes a dive and I am doing all I can to stay relatively well. It is a bit of a test as we don't know how my body will respond to the demands of work (I have Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue) so only time will tell. Unfortunately my car just broke down and cost me $1300 to repair (and it is still not fixed properly but I can't afford any more money - so now I have no heater in my car) so any money I earn in the next month or so is already spent SO frustrating! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creative Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Thanks everyone. Your posts mean a lot to me. I had my first day yesterday and it went really well. As I am a photography major they are putting me in the printing department (major office supply store) so it will be fun and helpful towards my degree to learn all types of printing, binding and laminating. My doctors are keeping an eye on me in case my health takes a dive and I am doing all I can to stay relatively well. It is a bit of a test as we don't know how my body will respond to the demands of work (I have Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue) so only time will tell. Unfortunately my car just broke down and cost me $1300 to repair (and it is still not fixed properly but I can't afford any more money - so now I have no heater in my car) so any money I earn in the next month or so is already spent SO frustrating! First of all congrats I know the feeling, i have very irregular income. Some months i actually don't get payed at all (or better said i cant take any money out off the company). All i can say is save where you can. I go to 3 different supermarkets every 2 weeks (saves me at least 200€ a month -fuel). There is always something that drains your savings. Like broken washing machine etc. Its tough that your car broke before you got to opportunity to save some money. But it can only go up hill from here on 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenaissanceWoman Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Hurray for you! I too know about the mental and physical toll the church can take on a person. I am currently undergoing some very slow and painful physical therapy because I had been storing my angst energy deep in my muscles (and heart and brain and everywhere else), and after several years I could no longer exercise and stretch it away -- time to invest some time and money to clear out the junk. The pain was getting to be too much for me. It's been an awful road, but I am experiencing signs of recovery. I feel you, girl! I can report that the mental part is much better, thanks mainly to the comfort and support I have found here (in addition to my health regimen and other efforts on my part here at home). Thanks for sharing your progress, and thanks to everyone else here for just being here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderinstar Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share Posted December 13, 2013 Thanks for the tips creative. It is tough but hopefully you are right and my financial situation will be upwards from here. RW, I am glad you are much better. It is amazing how well one can flourish once outside religion. Chronic pain is awful I hope you find relief with the physical therapy. Investing wisely in your health is so worth it. I spent a lot of money in treatment and it has helped so much - I have been fortunate to have found two great doctors and a therapist to work with. It has taken five years of very hard work to finally be able to at least give working a go. The effort I have put in has been so worth it. I have come from a very dark, desolate place where I felt certain I will die to being able to actively participate in society again. I am thrilled. And no God helped me. In fact leaving the idea of gods behind has only done me the world of good. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdog Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Thanks everyone. Your posts mean a lot to me. I had my first day yesterday and it went really well. As I am a photography major they are putting me in the printing department (major office supply store) so it will be fun and helpful towards my degree to learn all types of printing, binding and laminating. My doctors are keeping an eye on me in case my health takes a dive and I am doing all I can to stay relatively well. It is a bit of a test as we don't know how my body will respond to the demands of work (I have Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue) so only time will tell. Unfortunately my car just broke down and cost me $1300 to repair (and it is still not fixed properly but I can't afford any more money - so now I have no heater in my car) so any money I earn in the next month or so is already spent SO frustrating! I think it's great you are back in the work force again. Congrats. Oh yes isn't that the case. Money in, money out. Things need fixing at the most inconvenient I times. The good thing is that you will have the income. I understand the challenges of fibromyalgia, fatigue, chronic pain and anxiety disorder as I have those myself. Pace yourself, Go to bed same time if you can. Keep a schedule, hydrate plenty. I wish you all the best in your new job for the remainder of this year and for the New Year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tezia Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 I can definitely relate to this. When I left Christianity I started to get my first jobs. They weren't all that great, but had I stayed with my old church and followed their advice to only get jobs to fit in with the church schedule I still would be unemployed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenaissanceWoman Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 I can definitely relate to this. When I left Christianity I started to get my first jobs. They weren't all that great, but had I stayed with my old church and followed their advice to only get jobs to fit in with the church schedule I still would be unemployed. Or worse, you'd be working toward or in a low-paying church job. For example, our youth minister went to our Synod-based college for 4 years (at least $35K per year), and is now making $19K a year after several years on the job. The only reason she is paying her bills is because there are a few people in our congregation who own rental houses and let her live there free. She gets Fridays off to make up for her full day on Sunday, but she still has to be at the church every time something is going on, which is a lot of evenings and Saturdays too. Jobs like hers within our Synod are few and far between, so she had to take a job with us on the opposite coast from her family -- but cannot afford to fly to visit them. I want to share her and tell her to wake up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Hang in there! I hate those unexpected expenses just when you think you get a little ahead. Ugh! Just keep trying, that's all we can do! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austere Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Congrats! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decafaholic Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 That's great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenaissanceWoman Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 How's the job going? It's been almost a week, plus a weekend in between to reflect. Any insights or successes you'd like to share? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderinstar Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 Thanks again everyone. I have just completed 2 days on 8 hour shifts (and shorter shift last week) and I think I have coped pretty well. My body was aching a lot today though but it was manageable with medication. The brain drain of a steep learning curve has been giving me dizzy spells too. Today was mentally and emotionally tough as the pressure amped up and I got very tired. Most staff have complimented me on how quickly I learn but one of the staff there was pretty harsh to me and had no patience for the fact that I don't know how to do everything perfectly yet. That was tough on the PTSD side - I almost had a panic attack after a sharp rebuke from her but managed to breathe and brush it off. There were moments where I wanted to crawl back into bed and hide. Thankfully I have been able to find the strength both physically and emotionally to keep pressing on but I wouldn't want to be tested with any more pressure. I am close to my breaking point. All in all I think it is a victory to even be able to last these two full days. I have two days off then I'm back into it. I am relishing the fact that I can have a couple of drinks tonight and relax knowing my bills will be paid and that I can rest for couple of days to recoup. Nothin beats the first sip of a beer after work on a hot summers day, hey. Going back to work after 5 years off due to Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue and a massive mental breakdown from PTSD/Mood Disorder is quite a shock to the system. I feel like a soldier returning from battle to a place where no one understands what they have just been through. It is surreal to say the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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