Work-related PTSD

Hi @Daz

It's saddens me to here that there are not provsions made for mental health recovery plans. It seems like a system that make it hard for people to stay well. Thanks for starting this conversation.

@Former-Member recently posted here about having experienced PTSD due to work. I'm sure if they claimed this through work cover though, but they might be able to talk about how they got support.

We also have another member @Loopy he served in the police force and has been diagnosed with PTSD. I've not seen Loopy for a while, but he drops in on here every so often. I wonder if he might drop in to give some advice here.

CherryBomb

Hi Daz,

Really sorry to hear about your battles - both with the illness and the bureaucracy. I can totally empathise, having been through a similar thing myself. I found the independent assessment to be a horrible experience, where I was forced into a situation where I had to describe my traumatic experiences (which I'd barely been able to face mentally let alone verbalise at that point) or, as was explained, I wouldn't receive any assistance. In terms of compensation, once it had been accepted, you're so right about the inadequacy of measuring the lifestyle impairment in relation to physical conditions. As my treating psychiatrist explained to me, you'd need to be in the absolute worst few percent of sufferers (ie hospitalised due to inability for any self care) to meet the criteria for much above 10% impairment. By contrast, if I'd had a shoulder injury requiring someone to come over and hang my clothes on the line or reach a top shelf, the impairmewnt would be regarded as considerably more significant. On the positive side,things would have been SO much worse in years gone by, when there was no acknowledgement at all around psychological injuries, nor safe environment to even raise it with anyone.

I was sent back to work way too early, as well. That became a downward spiralling disaster, especially when I convinced myself that "they" must know better than me and I should just toughen up and get on with things. So true about the lack of appropriate return to work support in the majority of workplaces.

That's a shocker about WA police??

Hope you're in good hands with your treatment and moving in the right direction.

ChaiMaker

Hi utopia, thanks for your insight on this subject. I hope your psych review went OK today. Cheers Daz.

Hi utopia,

Likewise, I hope all went well today. You certainly deserve a break in the weather after all you've been through. It's such an awful state of affairs when the very people who are rolling up their sleeves to try to make a difference for others in the community are the ones being badly impacted. In saying that, it occurs to me that perhaps the WorkCover people are the most broken of all?! Have to wonder whether some have gone down with the ship and are suffering in silence themselves (or on this forum??). I guess the upshot is that you can't always pick those who are doing it tough and often soldiering on at their own expense.

Take care,

ChaiMaker

Oh wow, that poor case manager. Must be a job with a Use By date surely.

Hey, that's a great outcome about your extension of sick leave. And also avoid care plan from your respective shrinks. How awesome that you've found a good psychiatrist in particular, as they seem to be quite hit and miss from what I hear.

That's quite a sleep you had! Go you! I so know what those days are like. I went along to a class the other day and it was all I could do to keep my eyes open and focused every time the presenter looked on my general direction. Shocker!

That's brilliant service from your psychiatrist! Hard to believe others have to wait months. Having said that, I guess I had to wait months to get in to the one I wanted. I could have got in faster if I'd been OK about seeing an intern but I was keen to get an experienced person who I knew had worked with workplace claims processes. You have to wonder about the training of psychiatrists when it's such a slog to find someone who has empathy, availability and practical knowledge.

Oh yes, that fine balance between priotising self and kids. I know it well as a sole parent! Like yourself, I also have a caring mum, which is a bonus at times. 🙂

Had a good sleep last night, thanks. No dreams about insects. Lol. Dunno what that's been about of late. The brain is a strange thing.