Chronic illness helps us to think differently about work

29Oct08

Are you finding that looking for a job when you live with a chronic illness is daunting, overwhelming, depressing . . .

or a challenge that you feel ready to take on?

This question popped into my head when I read Em’s (chronicillnesssurvival) comment to Joan’s last post, (Disability leave caused one woman to re-evaluate her career) .

“I’m excited to do research and reading on how to overcome these feeling. It’s nice to know I’m not alone in feeling inadequate and overwhelmed at finding a job that suits my illness. I have learned to gradually ease myself back into work. Sometimes when I’m feeling well and I ‘fly’ into a full-time, energy sapping job and end up having to quit because my health can’t withstand it. I know now to enter work more gradually and with full honesty to my employer about my specific health needs. I’ve also learned to find something that keeps me passionate about life and involved so I have a balance healthy distraction from my illness.” EmI had to reprint what she said because she’s nailed what makes this so hard. Here are some (I couldn’t possibly list them all here) additional thoughts:

“… Enter work gradually and with honesty to your employer about your health needs” . YES! If you don’t give yourself time to ramp up because you worry about what “they’ll” think of you, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Monitor and watch how work impacts you isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I think high energy is an over-rated qualities. Also, if you don’t tell your employer what you need, it’s unlikely you’ll do the job well. Why set yourself up for failure?

“… Find something that you feel passionate about so it’s a balance to your health…” Hmm, passionate. Let’s face it, few of us get to work at something we feel passionately about. But you can and have to find something that you care about in your job/career, whether it’s what you do, who you’re doing it for or just the folks you see every day. Otherwise it’s just a job. And when you’re struggling with chronic illness symptoms, that’s not enough to counterbalance the struggles.

Rosalind Joffe aka cicoach.com

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