5 Ways Working Helps Me Manage My Mental Health Conditions
Posted on: 9/29/20
Posted by: Anonymous
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. As someone with lived experience of a mental health condition and chronic illness, I can speak to the benefits of employment. Having a job is not only possible for those of us living with mental health conditions, it also can be a key component to our recovery. Here are five ways that my job has helped me manage my mental health condition and recovery.
- Being employed has allowed me to develop an identity other than my mental health condition. I used to identify myself a “client” or “patient,” but now I see myself as a “Research Assistant.”
- My job has given me a sense of meaning and purpose in my life. Therefore, I have the motivation and strength to consistently maintain, and even build upon, my mental health recovery.
- Work provides a distraction from my racing thoughts, a symptom I previously had trouble managing.
- I have gained confidence and self-esteem from my job, which I have been able to apply to other areas of my life.
- Having a mental health condition and chronic illness strips me of control and stability at times. Luckily, I have been able to balance that out by holding a steady job with my current employer for the past eight years. This provides me with structure and consistency, which are both necessary for my personal recovery.
Again, I want to emphasize the importance of employment in the disability and mental health community. I encourage others to advocate and spread awareness this October!
Resources
Applying for a Job: The Young Adults Guide
How to Keep A Job: The Young Adults Guide
Supporting Employment for Young Adults Living with Mental Health Conditions
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR): A Young Adult’s Guide
