Work-related PTSD

Hi Livingit, it seems that you have been through a lot of unnecessary trauma. The work rehabilitation system for people living with psychological issues is totally inappropriate in my opinion. The system does not differentiate between physical rehabilitation and mental health recovery. I made this gripe known to Workcover WA via an email. I received a call back the next day from the "advice and assistance" section . The chap showed no empathy, was rude and didn't get that mental health recovery is different to physical rehab. He pretty much said that they often have to "push" people back to work. "Sometimes people need to be pushed" were his words. Pretty much anyone accessing Worker's Compensation is guilty of rorting the system according to him, and they can be told what to do if they are having trouble making decisions. This is why I was re-traumatised. Anyhow we agreed to disagree. I followed up with a written complaint and I will be speaking to the team leader of his section.

The moral of this story is that people with psychological injuries are not getting access to basic mental health necessities. The Workers comp system does not appear to acknowledge the basic rights of people affected by psychological injuries. There has been no mention of trauma-informed care, mental health recovery plans or the principles of mental health recovery in my personal experience. Instead of paying $15 000 for a Vocational Rehab case manager, I would have preferred the insurance company use those funds to provide me with a peer/mental health advocate. Someone who can work alongside me, instead of someone that's goal is to get me back to full time work ASAP to fulfil their own KPIs. I would encourage others to complain about their experiences if they have beenn through negative experiences. I feel better after getting that off my chest. I look forward to hearing from others that have been through avoidable trauma due to a system that is very inadequate.

Ah - a fellow single parent hey? I guss the universe must have thought we enjoyed a challenge! Lol.

My psychiatrist reckons my meds can bring on vivid dreams, so I'll satisfy myself with that explanation.

I like your "bruised brain" term. 🙂

I hear you, Livingit. I first became damaged in the military and some of the triggering events are things I'm not allowed to disclose (and never will be). My relapse was in another organisation which ended up paying me hush money to go away under legally enforceable condition that I'm never to say anything disparaging about the company or anyone in it. Makes for some very evasive conversations with people! And, like you said, all you want to do to move on is to expose what happened so it doesn't happen to others and to feel vindicated.

What a horrible experience you've been living through! I'm so sorry you've had a backwards slide as a result of seeing that psychiatrist. That's so awful! I guess, on the up side, you have a wonderful friend at your side and a good psychiatrist to check in with. I get the impression that, through all this, you're the sort of person whose friendship people value tremendously and that you've managed to make some good choices around how to look after yourself as best you can. Props for that!

Ah! Yes, that's a great explanation. That's what happened to me, over numerous incidents that compounded.

The bit about being kicked in the same spot makes good sense too, because I can see some common threads. I hadn't connected the incidents until the psychiatrist suggested (very gently) a few months ago that perhaps my initial (10 years ago) diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder with depression and anxiety should actually have been PTSD. It was like a light went on and everything made sense. It wasn't just a case of me being a bad luck magnet after all. And it helped me understand that I had a vulnerability to stress, particularly certain types of stress, that set a cycle in motion between my symptoms, behaviours, reactions of others and escalating stress levels.

There's no denying that incidents were real, but appreciating that I will probably always have a vulnerability is really useful because it gives me permission to go easy on myself rather than pushing myself harder to prove how capable and worthwhile I am (thus adding to the escalation of stress!).

Absolutely - cream and bandaids are good. lol As is, becoming wise enough to see the kicks coming and duck!

Your ex "doesn't believe in mental illness"?! Maybe he thinks MI is like Santa and if he doesn't believe in it, it won't come to him. lol I'm confused, who are the crazy ones again?

Think I'll stop believing in climate change. haha