How to Secure a Job Despite Mental Health Challenges

I am here to tell you that the Universe is always working in your favor and you are always exactly where you are supposed to be — even if you are currently unemployed or even on disability! It took me a long time to learn that and I sometimes forget to appreciate where I am and know that even if I feel stuck, I am making progress and moving forward.

Being on Disability

With that being said, I am currently on disability (I get SSDI) for my bipolar disorder type 2 and have been on disability since 2011. I hope to eventually get off of it and make a full-time income, but for now it’s what works for me. I get Medicare and it’s awesome insurance. It’s also hard to get off financially because honestly, sometimes I can make a better hourly wage if I stay on it. The system makes it hard to get off of. When I can I am going to lobby to change the Social Security system for disability to make it easier financially for people to get off of it!

Me and my Fifty Plus Jobs!

Anyway, you are reading this because you want to know how to secure a job despite mental health challenges. So, here we go…I have had at least fifty jobs in my lifetime. This includes all my temporary, part-time, and full-time jobs. I am what some people call a job hopper. I have the habit of taking jobs that I am way overqualified for and in a short time I get bored and depressed and I quit that job. It’s a pattern that I have worked hard to break. However, my average stay of employment is still less than a year!

How to Manage Mental Health Challenges in the Job Environment

So, how does one secure a place of employment despite mental health challenges? It’s tricky, especially if you experience debilitating depression where all you want to do is stay in bed all day. But I’m here to tell you that you can do it.

Read my post on 5 Amazing Ways to Function with Depression for some tips on managing your depression. If you have anxiety, you need to exercise to get that excess nervous energy out of your system. And if you experience panic attacks that prevent you from working, go to a psychiatrist for an evaluation to see if you need to be prescribed an anti-anxiety. When my panic attacks were at their worst, taking an anti-anxiety medication was a lifesaver. It prevented me from walking out on several jobs.

Marketing a Job Hopper

And what if you are a job hopper like me? How do you market yourself so you can get a job when you’ve had so many jobs? I used to be afraid that my prospective employers would see the job-hopping as a red flag, but these days it’s not such a bad thing to have a wide variety of experience in multiple positions because this can show the prospective employers that you are flexible, adaptable, and a quick learner. And that’s how you need to market yourself when you are on the job hunt.

Other Ideas on Securing a Job despite Mental Health Challenges?

Well, I hope this helps you secure that dream job and keep it. Let me know if you have any other ideas on securing a job despite mental health challenges by commenting below.

The author is not a health care professional or medical professional and the contents of this website are for informational purposes only. Whilst the information and opinions found on this website are written based on information available at the time of writing, and are believed to be accurate according to the best discernment of the author, the content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any health concern must be assessed by a doctor. If you think you require assessment, call your doctor or local emergency department immediately. Reliance on any information provided by the author or the contents of this website is solely at your own risk.