I havent voted because i'm still waiting to find out how it will affect my job. It affects me because i often feel like i cant cope with work but then i love doing the teaching its self becuase the kids make me happy and make me stop thinking about myslef. I have told my emplioyers about my trauma and ptsd and they have been supportive. As i cant take meds anymore and my psychologist is too expensive and on long term sick leave anyway im not coping again. I told my boss this and she has arranged for me to have 6 counselling sessions which im going to take advantage of. So there are some great bosses out there. However, the paranoid side of me thinks that they are just offering this support to cover my backs and that really they just want rid of my because of my issues. So ill reserve judgement on your poll for now and let you know.
Take care

Did not vote because my PTSD has made me unemployable. I simply fail to show up for work most of the time. That is what finally caused me to enter tx and get diagnosed

I work full time and then some. I tend to be a workaholic. That keeps me functioning in the logical world and helps me to avoid addressing anything emotional. Not exactly healthy . . . I guess ptsd manifests itself in different ways for each of us.

I think it just depends upon the person.
For years, I've been just pushing my symptoms way way down, and holding them there, at the bottom.
I make myself do what I have to do.
I need to, in order to feel as though I'm worth something.
I seem to feel worthless quite often. I have learned to defy what brings me down, and just to keep going no matter what. So I am in a full time position, managing a cosmetics counter at a retail store.
I do what I have to do, and being there with all those crazy girls, helps me keep my mind off of everything. The only problem is, once I get home, I'm falling apart again. At least I hold out for 8 hours.
I keep it under wraps the best that I can, but it does affect my relationship with my boyfriend. He doesn't understand how I can feel as though my life is meaningless and void and pained, when our home life is perfect, and we have each other to see at the end of each day. It doesn't make sense to him. I know he sees that I'm breaking apart at the seams, but I really don't know what I can do about it.
I have to keep my job, and as it seems, I can only block it all from my mind for so long. I don't have the strength to keep doing it after working all day. He sees me lying limp and all depressed-like on the couch, and it makes him very sad and confused.

Gulp...I am employed full-time, but am presently on a short-term medical leave. I had a terrible bout of flu in January which seemed to open a door to severe depression and a resurgence of PTSD symptoms -- I haven't experienced this in seven years. One of my best friends, who has PTSD, is on permanent disability. She's encouraging me to take this route -- she knows me very well and we had a frank conversation last week about my terribly checkered work history (lots of absences due to illness/exhaustion; been fired four times; mediocre performance reviews; always too slow for the frenzied expectations at work...etc.). I am feeling like a useless waste of time because I'm beginning to wonder if I can work full-time...I'm 48 years old; have had one job or another since I was 17, and I am, for the first time, seeing my work history from the perspective of PTSD and its effects. To put it bluntly (and I hope it's OK to use the "f" word in this context), I feel like a total ****-up in the working world. My predominant feeling is of being overwhelmed and most of my energy goes into keeping my head together and not looking like the mess I am inside. I come home feeling utterly ragged and exhausted every day; I work in an environment that is very negative -- autocratic leadership; constant pressure to perform, etc. I would love to hear from anyone who struggles like this with full-time employment. Thanks...Roo.

*sigh* I work full-time right now but just had a break-down and cried, the first time in a very long time, and told my husband that it's just unbearable for me to work right now. We are discussing options - maybe short term disability through my employer. I just can't handle work right now and whenever I'm there all I can think about is walking out - which I have done with my previous three jobs.

After moving away from my family I got a lot better and started working full-time, but I took at least 2 sick days every month. And I worked with the most painful headaches just to keep the sick days to a minimum. After doing some exposure scripts and taking two weeks disability, I went back to work and did much better, but I still need at least one sick day a month and when triggers come I stay at work through some incredible exhaustion. I'm not sure if full-time work is the best for me.
I don't know anybody else with PTSD and of the people I've told, about 5% have responded appropriately. Most people think I should buck up and either work harder or exercise more. So, it has been really good to read so many responses to this question and see the variety of answers.

i dont know how to answer...

i am on disability... in summary, because of cognitive functioning as well of reactivity to the slightest stress..

but

i cant hold down a job any longer.... i could reasonably hold a business together of my own - i think? i do aim to at some stage...
i do parent full-time including home-educating...
tho i do have my husband at home because - it is better for my children and myself if i minimise the stress with some help.... he sort of does most of the doings, i try and do most of the thinkings, but we have a very stressful / dysfunctional family that we are trying to repair atm.... we all have our issues that trigger other members issues, like a big snowball effect..

its devastating

Piglet- For me the poll did not have another choice-which is "Unemployed." I ought to stay on the job. The doctors and the state would not allow it and I was given a disability pension. I was told by my Doc to get Social Security; I fought that as well because I was sure I could beat this in a short time. It took less than a month to be approved on the first try. I was so hurt inside knowing that others were so willing to toss my skills aside. Now I understand that they were right but at the time I was destroyed. Your boss better be careful. The disabiliies act is very clear on this issue.
Good Luck

I have worked nonstop for the past twenty years and at a feverous pace since 2001. My PTSD is officially 7 months old but has been festering under the surface since my stint in Kuwait in 1998.
My workaholic nature has shifted rapidly since January and I am now on hiatus from my chosen career in sales. I broke down at work a month or so ago and the VA has still not recommended I return. I will begin PET treatment in a couple of weeks.
It is apparent that I must deal with my demons. I miss working...I would like to work but can barely even leave the house on most days.

With all of this though...I have renewed hope. I am realizing that sales is probably not the place for me and am becoming ok with it...I think.

Question...if the treatment is effective would you return to prior career? Or pick a new one?

Any advice is always welcome...jen