hi there - a newbie with a dilemma. I want to get back to work, but my last few work experiences weren't, well, stellar. Well, they weren't horrendous either, I did the work part fine, very well in some areas according to performance reviews, but i just missed work a fair bit and put in a lot of overtime because of having difficulty concentrating when i was in attendance (i have ADD as well). My employers said they would give me positive references but I have twice now gotten to the reference stage of interview processes , usually the "rubber stamp" from references, and not gotten hired. Although they won't tell me i suspect its because i don't have a reliable attendance record due to having to take time off work. i only got the ADD diagnosis two yrs ago, along with another physical disorder (similar to MS) and started a new treatment regime that is working pretty well for me now though so I am confident i won't run into these attendance issues again, but even so - is it fair to discriminate against me because my health may require me to actually use my sick time? i didn't go over the limit in either case. - any advice on how to deal with this in the hiring process would be appreciated. I guess its sort of a to disclose or not to disclose question as well.
Thanks Ashley - I work in the human services so you would think these agencies would be supportive. It hasn't been my experience so far. Empathy towards the clients doesn't always translate to empathy towards staff. Although i understand that one has to be well to be able to provide support to other. i wouldn't be looking for work if i didn't feel/think i had my depression under control, with strategies to keep it that way including both CBT, mindfulness and involving myself in the arts. Having both physical and mental health impairments is a bit of a double whammy. Just curious, Do you have depression? In terms of the hiring process, When do you suggest disclosing? How? I also have age playing against me now....triple whammy. help me counter the negative thought - why would an agency want to hire me....its a powerful one...I think i have evidence to counter it, but this attendance thing is the roughy. Truth is, i may need more time off work then the average person. Do i just confront that concern head on? try and convince them i am still worth the risk?? when i am competing with younger, healthier candidates.....
HI - I wish i had found this site ages ago! I have been living with depression and anxiety symptoms since I was an adolescent, though it didn't getting diagnosed as such till my late 20's. I have now had at least two major depression episodes; i wasn't effectively treated after the first one. I think I have a degree of dysthymia pretty much all the time. I have found effexor keeps the weepy spells and intense hopelessness at bay, but still really struggle with motivation. To complicate matters, a couple of yrs ago I was diagnosed with a genetic disorder, the symptoms of which i have also been living with all my life. It didn't get diagnosed because it mimics a number of other disorders, but none exactly. it MAY be the underlying cause of my depression although at the same time I was diagnosed with ADD (also possible connected to this disorder) and have found the combination of concerta with the effexor really helpful. Fromdoing my own research, i understand depression can be a "side effect" of ADD, given the many frustrations and shear exhaustion involved in trying to focus with a galaxy of thoughts bouncing around in your head! I thought that was normal...I use mindfulness techniques to help keep me grounded in reality and have benefitted a LOT from CBT. I also find keeping myself engaged in activities i enjoy - even if i have to drag myself out - is helpful. and i have a dog and cats, which are so soothing, and force me to get out of bed! My dog get s me out walking as well, which has been extremely helpful, even though walking is sometimes difficult physically.
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