Dear Psychosis, How do you keep your job?

Dear Psychosis,

How do you keep your job? I'm a member of a few Facebook groups where people affected by psychosis share their experiences. So many people seem unable to hold onto their jobs, keep their relationships going, or maintain a social life. I completely understand why -  between the paranoia and hallucinations I experience, it can be hard to keep up with anybody except myself. This is why I take medication. As much as I hate taking my meds, I know I would not be able to help support my family without them. Medication is so important. Finding the right medications is important too. The first medication you try may not be the right one for you, but just keep trying. Medication may not make all of your symptoms go away either, but it can help make your symptoms manageable. 

 I have been at my current job for nearly a year now. I work in an office setting. Some of my tasks are answering phones, emails, and welcoming guests to the office. I have to interact with people everyday. A lot of times I'm the first person they see when they come through the door. I have to conduct myself as a professional and responsible person. I have to make eye contact, speak clearly, and listen intently. As you can imagine, this is not an easy task for someone who is in a constant state of psychosis.

    So how do I make it work? Well, it's kind of a "one day at a time" thing. It also helps that I have somewhat of a schedule that I try really hard to stick with. So I have certain things I focus on. I make a list of tasks I need to accomplish for that day. I make these tasks my daily goals. Have you ever met a goal and you just felt completely accomplished? Let me tell you, it feels amazing!

Here is another question I hear and have asked before myself. "Do I have to tell my employer that I have psychosis?". I have discussed this with my medical provider and my therapist. I have come to the conclusion that I don't have to disclose that information. That being said, I felt safe enough to share with my boss (this was not an easy decision to make). I felt like they needed to know in case I had a bad day or week. I can't help my illness - it makes me sick some days and my psychosis symptoms intensify. I felt I needed to have a good and clear communication with my boss to have a healthy work atmosphere.

    At the end of the day, I choose some kind of self-care. This might look like just sitting in my car for five minutes in complete silence. I don't have the choice of not working, and to be honest, I want to work. Choosing to work is not an easy decision for a lot of us. There are also a lot of people who just can't physically work. It all depends on the person, but in my personal experience I can. Is it easy? ABSOLUTELY not. I'm just doing my best. We should encourage others to keep building themselves up and take care of their bodies and minds. I have seen people on Facebook who support family or friends with psychosis ask questions like "How do I get my_____ to get up and do things?" Sometimes it takes every fiber of our beings just to keep living. Give them grace and support. You wouldn't ask a diabetic patient to get up and do something after their sugar levels bottomed out. Mental health struggles are real struggles too. It's not for attention. We can't just shake it away, and some days it is out of our control. That being said, we also have to take responsibility for our health and get help if we need it.