Disability and jobs

[woofwag]

I have POTS, which is a disability where I can't be standing up for a prolonged period of time or I will feel like I'm dying/pass out. I'm also autistic, so I can't work public-facing jobs or jobs where I have to talk to people all day (like call centers). Since I have never had a job before, I don't have enough experience to get any sort of remote work since all of them are like "65 years of experience in quantum mechanics and proficiency with Javascript." The others are scams.

So, I have very little options since I can't do a physical job and most remote jobs. Even most physical jobs I'm not qualified enough for anyway. You'd think, oh, apply for disability, yet it takes a year MINIMUM to get approved, and I don't have a fucking year. I have a bachelors in creative writing, but I haven't been able to write in months because of extreme burnout/depression/trauma recovery/general self-destruction. I will be running out of money for rent by the end of this month. After that, my options are A. become homeless, or B. move back in with my mom, which is a death sentence because that was the house I was abused in and she did little to prevent that, as well as being manipulative and gaslighting me often. I will kill myself if I go back. It is not a question of "if." The only reason I survived living last summer with her was because I was waiting to have enough of my meds prescribed to die, and I happened to fall just one week short of that before I moved out.

So basically, I'm fucked. I've been applying to caregiver jobs for the elderly, but even that I have a feeling will destroy me physically. I can move around more than I can stand (moving keeps the blood moving in my legs, whereas being stationary will make all of the blood pool and I will pass out), but moving around for extended periods of time is still very difficult for me. If I get hired and I can't do it, I'm going to use what money I have left to either try to get some SN or just a rope at this point. Oh how amazing it is to be an American...

 

[unluckysadness]

I'ms sorry for your situation. I'm disabled too (rare disease called cervical dystonia) and neurodivergent (probably 90% autistic but not diagnosed). I didn't know POTS disease, so I googled it and it seems awful as my disability is. Do you have muscle spasms too ? I left my work in 2021 because I could not handle it anymore (burnout because of several things like harassment). You're right, we have only shitty options. I hope you can find some relief. This forum is a good place to talk about our problems.

 

[CutePrincess]

I get you. I couldn't endure having a job and it's one of the reasons I decided to cbt. I don't want to live struggling with money and be a financial burden. I was homeless for some time and I considered doing sex work. I believed it will get better somehow if I focused on spirituality and self improvement but I faced reality. I got a job as a Tarot reader but I didn't have enough clients it was pocket money not real income. My parents belive I will be able to work after therapy but I know I won't. I can't live without money and with expectation to do something I'm unable to do.

 

[Olivie_420]

I have POTS, which is a disability where I can't be standing up for a prolonged period of time or I will feel like I'm dying/pass out. I'm also autistic, so I can't work public-facing jobs or jobs where I have to talk to people all day (like call centers). Since I have never had a job before, I don't have enough experience to get any sort of remote work since all of them are like "65 years of experience in quantum mechanics and proficiency with Javascript." The others are scams.

So, I have very little options since I can't do a physical job and most remote jobs. Even most physical jobs I'm not qualified enough for anyway. You'd think, oh, apply for disability, yet it takes a year MINIMUM to get approved, and I don't have a fucking year. I have a bachelors in creative writing, but I haven't been able to write in months because of extreme burnout/depression/trauma recovery/general self-destruction. I will be running out of money for rent by the end of this month. After that, my options are A. become homeless, or B. move back in with my mom, which is a death sentence because that was the house I was abused in and she did little to prevent that, as well as being manipulative and gaslighting me often. I will kill myself if I go back. It is not a question of "if." The only reason I survived living last summer with her was because I was waiting to have enough of my meds prescribed to die, and I happened to fall just one week short of that before I moved out.

So basically, I'm fucked. I've been applying to caregiver jobs for the elderly, but even that I have a feeling will destroy me physically. I can move around more than I can stand (moving keeps the blood moving in my legs, whereas being stationary will make all of the blood pool and I will pass out), but moving around for extended periods of time is still very difficult for me. If I get hired and I can't do it, I'm going to use what money I have left to either try to get some SN or just a rope at this point. Oh how amazing it is to be an American...

I understand your pain. Im 19, living with my boyfriend and ive been tryna get a job for almost 2 years now so i can help him with his rent.

I have POTS, autism, and a myriad of other illnesses. No job wants me, and no job near me is very accessible. They all are either for abled-body ppl or with people of "experience." Ive tried doing art comms, and tarot reading but it just doesnt pull any money in at all. Maybe a few $15's here and there every few months but nothing to actually keep myself from homelessness in December.

I also cant move with my family either. As they were abusive, toxic, and have disowned me. Id rather not be forced back into a household I ESCAPED where ppl would beat me over my every move, throw shit, tell me how useless i rlly am, and honestly HOPE and post about hoping on social medias that I'm already dead. All theyd do is say i was a mentally ill teen who ran away from home (which isnt the case. I was 18 and bc they told me they never wanted me and to leave. Then tried to get me back by lying on my name about crimes and being psychotic) , and send me to hospital or keep me locked in the house.

 

[woofwag]

I'ms sorry for your situation. I'm disabled too (rare disease called cervical dystonia) and neurodivergent (probably 90% autistic but not diagnosed). I didn't know POTS disease, so I googled it and it seems awful as my disability is. Do you have muscle spasms too ? I left my work in 2021 because I could not handle it anymore (burnout because of several things like harassment). You're right, we have only shitty options. I hope you can find some relief. This forum is a good place to talk about our problems.

I don't have muscle spasms, although I have had painful neck twitches from tics and seizures in the past, so I can relate a bit. I looked up cervical dystonia and it sounds so debilitating and painful, I'm so sorry you're living with that :(

I get you. I couldn't endure having a job and it's one of the reasons I decided to cbt. I don't want to live struggling with money and be a financial burden. I was homeless for some time and I considered doing sex work. I believed it will get better somehow if I focused on spirituality and self improvement but I faced reality. I got a job as a Tarot reader but I didn't have enough clients it was pocket money not real income. My parents believe I will be able to work after therapy but I know I won't. I can't live without money and with expectation to do something I'm unable to do.

Ah yep, I also have been considering sex work. But due to the nature of my trauma, my physical disability, and the fact that I'm just not... very good at it lol I've decided against it. I also don't know how much of a market there is for trans guys, and I'm not crazy attractive or anything either. It feels so hopeless not being able to work a job. I wish people understood more how we can't just "get over it" and work.

I understand your pain. Im 19, living with my boyfriend and ive been tryna get a job for almost 2 years now so i can help him with his rent.

I have POTS, autism, and a myriad of other illnesses. No job wants me, and no job near me is very accessible. They all are either for abled-body ppl or with people of "experience." Ive tried doing art comms, and tarot reading but it just doesnt pull any money in at all. Maybe a few $15's here and there every few months but nothing to actually keep myself from homelessness in December.

I also cant move with my family either. As they were abusive, toxic, and have disowned me. Id rather not be forced back into a household I ESCAPED where ppl would beat me over my every move, throw shit, tell me how useless i rlly am, and honestly HOPE and post about hoping on social medias that I'm already dead. All theyd do is say i was a mentally ill teen who ran away from home (which isnt the case. I was 18 and bc they told me they never wanted me and to leave. Then tried to get me back by lying on my name about crimes and being psychotic) , and send me to hospital or keep me locked in the house.

Jesus, I am so sorry. I'm glad you're out of there and living with your boyfriend right now at least. Is there a reason you can't stay with him anymore in December? I totally understand not being able to move back there. That sounds like an intolerable environment.

 

[looking4partner]

I hope this does not come across invalidating since it is advice/ideas I had, but I am only suggesting it because I wanted to be able to help you not have to move back home to an abusive situation again and possibly there is an idea that you hadn't considered that could be helpful since it sometimes helps me to hear ideas from other people.

I know that these jobs can be difficult to make money with, but what about driving for one of the apps like Uber & you would be able to stay sitting most of the time? Or if that's too people-oriented, doing DoorDash? (I am pretty sure the food delivery service is different than the grocery delivery, so all the walking distances would probably be shorter distances. You would also be able to sit a lot for the driving part. And I heard that Uber lets people rent cars to use so they won't have to use/put wear on their own car, but I just don't know if that option is only for the taxi type job which does involve interacting with people more. But Uber also does food delivery, but I'm not sure if you can just do takeout deliveries & no grocery shopping like you can with DoorDash.)

And hours might be more flexible although I did hear that if you can drive more hours weekly, you're given better access to customers. There are also websites that teach you tips for how to make the most money on those apps by calculating distance & tip amount offered before deciding to accept an order as an employee (if you do this, you are not considered an employee though, you're considered an independent contractor just so you know)

Another job that would have flexible hours is reselling clothes online. There are a lot of different resale websites that people use for that & I don't know the pros and cons of all of them, but I know that posting at certain times of day helps more people see them. And reposting the posts you have already made every day will bring your items up higher on search results.

The other thing with these jobs is that it does seem like the people who make enough money to live off from them work even more hours than a regular full-time job would require per week.

Just to let you know, disability can take at least 3 years to be approved, but that doesn't mean it would be impossible to get necessarily. It is just a ton of work. It can be difficult to get approved if you are working while applying & appealing though because they do use that as proof you are able to work

There is also a blog written by someone who applied for disability that has a lot of good advice & info that even the workers don't know.

I understand your pain. Im 19, living with my boyfriend and ive been tryna get a job for almost 2 years now so i can help him with his rent.

I have POTS, autism, and a myriad of other illnesses. No job wants me, and no job near me is very accessible. They all are either for abled-body ppl or with people of "experience." Ive tried doing art comms, and tarot reading but it just doesnt pull any money in at all. Maybe a few $15's here and there every few months but nothing to actually keep myself from homelessness in December.

I also cant move with my family either. As they were abusive, toxic, and have disowned me. Id rather not be forced back into a household I ESCAPED where ppl would beat me over my every move, throw shit, tell me how useless i rlly am, and honestly HOPE and post about hoping on social medias that I'm already dead. All theyd do is say i was a mentally ill teen who ran away from home (which isnt the case. I was 18 and bc they told me they never wanted me and to leave. Then tried to get me back by lying on my name about crimes and being psychotic) , and send me to hospital or keep me locked in the house.

I hope this is not invalidating since I am posting it just in case it helps brainstorm ideas because I want you to be able to keep living with your boyfriend instead of having to move back in with your abusive family either.

I have posted some ideas for jobs that seem like they might be better for people with POTs (less standing, more flexible hours) if it is helpful or you're interested.

I think I have also seen profiles selling art & tarot like you mention on the clothing resale apps such as depop & other similar resellng websites/apps if that's not where you are already posting about the services.

(Sorry, I can't figure out how to post my reply to OP & my reply to you as separate posts.)