Why aren't you working?

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Well I have major difficulties dealing with stress, due to the aspergers(sensory issues/processing difficulties) as well as PTSD which just generally causes a state of being at least a little bit on edge most of the time. I also have GAD and reoccurant Major Depression....which also interfere with functioning abilities, all that also makes it difficult to concentrate on tasks as well. So right now I am on SSI, and usually mostly broke because well 712$ 300 of which goes to rent is difficult to get through the month with, though I realize some people probably have even less to work with not comparing myself to them but doesn't make my situation any more pleasant.

It wouldn't pay to work for me here in Belgium.
We would end up paying the tax man more than what we get in rebate now.

Not working now because of a few reasons.

Lack of motivation in finding a career.

Super ridiculous high anxiety.

However, I know I have so much to deliver and am so smart and capable.

Need to get back on this horse

Wish I was a Ninja Turtle. Or Tin Tin traveling the world.

BY the way I'm going to China in 2 days woop woop!

I'm still in school.

I'm currently working for a youth mental health organisation through a government back-to-work scheme. My year will finish later this month but I've offered to stay on as a volunteer. I'm still effectively on social welfare but off the books. I get paid by another organisation which the government funds.

I have various issues especially social anxiety and sensory problems which make it hard for me to get or keep jobs. I do have a good education to post-graduate level but I have very little work experience and my CV probably rings alarm bells for most employers.

great thread, I came to this forum today specifically to discuss something like this

I feel grateful as I'm really damn smart sometimes. I talk a very good game, but when it comes to the daily slog I get so anxious around people. I kept my first job as an usher at a movie theater for five years high school to college because I didn't have to talk to people. I did at times, but it was always difficult/uncomfortable and the work was tough to boot. Didn't help the management did a number on me and I never did hack it in concessions as the whole cashier thing was a little much. College didn't go well because at the time I was so depressed and afraid of people and my hygiene was ridiculous then I started skipping class and giving up entirely after I quit my job "to write a book". Finally hit the fan when I got another job like the first interview I went on and I just didn't do well enough, management sensed hygiene problems and I was gone. After that I pretty much sat at home until my dad got me a therapist to help me get a job or something and I ended up going through the mental health grinder and got SSDI/SSI, a apartment so I got out of the house and such and I feel pretty great about the whole thing now.

Still scared to s**t of jobs and new things, general procrastination eating my time away daily(EVEN NOW), and my constant desire for junk foods. I spend about 350 of the 750 I get a month on food that is based around 20 bucks a meal and tons of calories. Recently quit therapy, did five years almost and I just decided I need to start challenging this fear of being out there doing things. I'm just so tired of playing the victim and living everyday in some endless fugue in front of my computer.

Oh, I actually have a job through the mental health stuff and its four hours a week and I love it because the job coach is such a nice person and handles all the people issues so I can just move stuff and focus on doing work.

I feel for all of you as I had dark times myself. I guess I'm just lucky that my genetics didn't mess me over in the wrong places, because my environment sure did.

This is a really good thread.

I work as a freelance (mostly) web guy in the SF California area, before that I was in Seattle. I've been able to hack it and keep my life together doing this for the last 5 or 6 years. Sometimes its great. Sometimes it's awful. It's definitely not what I want for my 30s so... I've started trying to find a real job.

I've been interviewing with this one company. They are a startup past their 'second round' of funding. I have had four interviews with them, the fourth early this afternoon. They are a cyberspace company so three of these have been phone interviews. They are all programer types and one designer/programer type so I don't mind talking to them at all. I am starting to freak out though because I feel they don't know what to do about hiring me. I started talking to someone with a C as in Chief in their title. Then I talked to someone with Senior in their title. I figured that makes sense. The big cheese, and then my direct boss. Finally I met the Chief guy. All of these went well and I figured I must be near the end.
Now I am talking to someone who is not a ranking staff member, he is just a programmer. I figured they are having me talk to the people I will work with every day, but I might have to keep talking to this guy, making this the fifth interview. I've been asked the same group of questions 4 times now by 3 different people.
I've been keeping my cool and staying professional, but this is really starting to wear on me.