Anyone not worked for years due to severe sa?

[shoegal]

I worked for 20 years in various jobs and then a few years ago I stopped working due to Fibromyalgia and agoraphobia. I became self-employed and I work from home now selling goods online.

[sunset30]

Lol it is so good to see others in the same boat as me.
Don't you hate it when people ask you what you do, meaning what job.
I feel like telling no I'm too mad to work.

Yeah totally agree. feel like i don't have anything worth talking about at times you know. If i meet people which isn ot very often i try to avoid talking about my lack of work or what i do/

[Colin_Glasgow]

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[LostTomorrow]

I haven't been on this forum for quite a while:blush
Iv'e recently started taking Zyban to quit smoking, its making me feel depressed and today has been the worst so far.
I feel useless for not working, ( I haven't worked for about 6/7 years? ) and decided to look at the job centre online...... then started stressing thinking of my empty CV and how I couldn't cope working with people anyhow. Iv'e been an anxious wreck all day....which brought me back to this forum

I'm lucky in a way that I don't have to work, but the time will come when I will have to. My other half works and I get a carers allowance for our son who has medical problems.

I wasn't aware that I could claim incapacity benefit? I'm socially paranoid/anxious have panic attacks etc even around members of my own family.
Hard to find a job where you don't have to deal with other people, the thought fills me with dread.

OP your definitely not alone.....and I'm glad I'm not.

---------- Post added at 18:13 ---------- Previous post was at 18:07 ----------

Lol it is so good to see others in the same boat as me.
Don't you hate it when people ask you what you do, meaning what job.
I feel like telling no I'm too mad to work.

That's the question I fear the most when bumping into old friends, or being asked it on facebook etc
In the back of my head the answer is " I'm a looser "
I tend to not stick around long enough most times for people to ask that question

[weevil]

I haven't worked for a few years, I have terrible anxiety which has been getting worse every year and I think I've had some version of social anxiety my whole life. I've always been scared of people and found it hard to form close friends.

I have been trying to return to uni though last year and again this year and I'm struggling really hard with that. As for jobs its the empty CV and interviews that I find the hardest. When anxiety has kicked in when I've already had a job I've usually coped okay, one job was actually a welcome sanctuary from everything I was stressed about.

[SANick]

I haven't worked for coming up 10 years which is pretty much most of my working life as im 28. I recently moved over from incapacity to JSA largely due to hearing not great things about the medicals that are being carried out, and also to see if I could possibly manage interaction again but I am finding it very hard.

[frazzle]

hi all i too claim employment and support allowance and have been of work for four years , and i agree with sunset30 there is no shame in not working if you illness prevents you from doing so and society does make us feel guilty for it. concentrate on yourself the sickness benefit is designed for supporting us whilst we cannot work, imagine this from sixteen years of age until 65 thats 50 years of work life according to the state but if you want to take a few years out even twenty years then so be it! you are what matters and we should not be defined by a job!

[sonnyred7]

Hello all,

It's been interesting reading what you've all had to say. I'm in a situation now where I've been told I'm no longer entitled to Employment and Support Allowance. I stopped working about 8 years ago due to GAD and Depression and my condition, the depression mainly has got worse in that time mainly due to the death of my father. Now I'm told I am well enough to work. This poses a real problem. Although I plan to appeal the decision I have to face the possibility I'll have to work again and I really don't know how I am going to deal with it. I couldn't deal with it before and I feel no better now than I did then. Already it's causing my anxiety to be worse. Has anyone been in a similar situation?

[LittleMissSleepy]

Just about to start a new job soon after being a "homemaker" for over 10 years. During that time I did not claim any benefits. I didn't even realise I was suffering from GAD/SA. Just thought I was very nervous kind of a person, always felt I was never given a chance to shine after graduating. So at the moment I am experiencing "eustress".

I too dislike it when others always ask the dreaded " so what do you do ?" and try and pigeon hole you and judge. ugh!

[nok_tok]

i am a full time mum, my parter normally works, but he now has a (possibly long term) neck injury, he has worked since he was 14 (with no empoyment gaps) but we currently now get JSA which is rubbish money

But now he wants me to find a job instead, and im panicing like crazy, i just cant socialise or be commited, i feel like i would rather die than work (not a bum or being lazy no way-i would love a career) but the reality is i am 'me'....My partner has been told by job centre that he should make a claim for ESA instead, but as far as im aware the rates are similar to JSA (which is so low its sending us overdrawn) so my partner wants me to look for work, infact i have applied for a couple of jobs but i think if i got one i would just quit and panic, the thought of it makes me sick and shakey

is there any help out there, like one to one sessions helping people like me get ready for work? i do need some sort of help before i consider working as i couldnt just dive into it no way....i not ready at all, i want to cry.