Depakote, usefulness and side effects?

[Andy]

Hey BluMac

Well it sounds like you will have your hands full next term. That is cool that you can go 6-11. I am a night person too and that would be cool...I don't know maybe someday, never say never I guess.

I have no knowledge of the disability in the states at all. Where I live I am on permanent disability. I can work, I don't half to but I can. My doctor has suggested I consider volunteering. I say if I can volunteer then why can't I work and do something I can get payed for so I feel a little less cruddy about myself. I would need this agency to help me because I would need full disclosure with my employer but they deferred me. My resume has so many gaps in it and how do you explain that? I was having A LOT of babies? Bagh. If I am honest I take the risk of getting shut down because of stigma. It's funny because if all these people did not stigmatize mentally ill people a lot more of them would have employment and not be on disability...
lol Anyway, I hear ya, I obviously could go on about that.

Sorry about your ticket. I guess thems the brakes right?!:rant:
Have a good weekend.

 

[Jazzey]

I would need this agency to help me because I would need full disclosure with my employer but they deferred me. My resume has so many gaps in it and how do you explain that?

You tell the potential employer that you were, at the time, dealing with personal issues but, that they have since been resolved. In Canada at least, they're not allowed to ask you any further questions. If they do, you simply respond that you're not comfortable answering those questions.

 

[Andy]

That would be great but personally I don't see it. I have a lot of gaps where I have had hospital stays, one stay was a year long. With all the sporadic spaces with months in between I can't see any employer hiring me-just on the fact that they don't know if I am going to be dropping out again, if I am reliable, should they bother training me? etc.
I know I don't have to tell an amployer anything but that to looks bad because it comes across as your hiding something which seems deceitful. That's why I like this program because the employers sign up and hire people knowing their issues and can accomedate (to a point) if you need some time off or if maybe you need to be in a less stressful part of your job for that day etc.
It's nice to think that we can fall behind "laws" and "rights" but when it comes down to it people are people and they will have their judgements/stigmas no matter what.

 

[Jazzey]

That would be great but personally I don't see it. I have a lot of gaps where I have had hospital stays, one stay was a year long. With all the sporadic spaces with months in between I can't see any employer hiring me-just on the fact that they don't know if I am going to be dropping out again, if I am reliable, should they bother training me? etc.
I know I don't have to tell an amployer anything but that to looks bad because it comes across as your hiding something which seems deceitful. That's why I like this program because the employers sign up and hire people knowing their issues and can accomedate (to a point) if you need some time off or if maybe you need to be in a less stressful part of your job for that day etc.
It's nice to think that we can fall behind "laws" and "rights" but when it comes down to it people are people and they will have their judgements/stigmas no matter what.

Honestly STP, I do understand your fears. But they're not entitled to that information. So I would genuinely say that you were dealing with either personal issues that have since been resolved.

I do understand your fears. I've been battling a few issues in recent times myself. Not to mention that I'm a recruiter for my employer - there are distinct boundaries that we're not allowed to cross. If an applicant says to me, I was dealing with personal issues - that's the end of my questioning on that particular issue.

If you have the credentials, then this is a non-issue as far as i'm concerned (in my experience) - worst case scenario, any employer with any reservation will employ you on a casual basis until they have a feel for your work ethic and ability.

Having said all of this - I agree with you. People will have their stigmas, prejudices - but these aren't employers for whom you want to work in any event. The 'good' employer will hire you based on your credentials and give you that chance to prove yourself STP. I hope you know what I mean in this?

:hug:

 

[Andy]

Hee hee, I'm going to disagree with you again. lol

I get what your saying. I know legally that employers aren't allowed to ask about anything personal. What I mean is that I have been working since I was 12 or 13. I have jobs that are fairly steady until I got really sick. After that my resume goes from a job to 6 months of no work. Then to a job and 4 months no work, work, no work for a year, on and on. If I was to say it personal for every time I was not working, sure they have no right to ask me anything about it but that does not stop them from finding another legal reason as to why they don't hire me. I have no schooling so the types of jobs I have experience in especially a lot of them being mens type jobs have plenty other people applying for them.

I know what you mean by employers being good an hiring for the right reasons. Maybe it's different if you have credentials for a specific unique type job but from my experience with jobs, I am just another employee from which there are many more of and they aren't going to take a chance on one if there are plenty more without "personal stuff" that may or may not come about again according to the resume before them.

I have worked with a company before where they were very impressed with my work. They wrote me up a nice recommendation and everything. They also had talked with my friend and I about working another job after we were done the job we were on. My friend, a foreman and I went out to coffee before the second job and he asked me what I had don't for work before this. I basically got all flustered because I told him I was taking time off. I ended up volunteering that I took mental health time. My friend got hired for that job and I did not. I have no absolute proof that was the reason I did not get hired but I really don't think I am that dumb.

Anyway, I do understand your point of view but in my experiences I would still have to disagree.
I hope this didn't come across as defensive, I mean I know it is a little but I mean it in a difference of opinion sort of way.:support:

 

[ladylore]

What is in your area BluMac, as in agencies that offer advocacy. Jazzey and STP are both right. On one hand - employers are not suppose to discriminate and the disability isn't relative and cannot be brought up in an interview. And yet there is discrimination.

Talk to your therapist about this. What should you include in your resume and what shouldn't you? In Canada, employers can get into alot of trouble asking for that information at the start - it isn't legal here in Canada.

I would talk to someone about it in your area and see if you can get some assistance.

 

[BluMac81]

What is in your area BluMac, as in agencies that offer advocacy. Jazzey and STP are both right. On one hand - employers are not suppose to discriminate and the disability isn't relative and cannot be brought up in an interview. And yet there is discrimination.

Talk to your therapist about this. What should you include in your resume and what shouldn't you? In Canada, employers can get into alot of trouble asking for that information at the start - it isn't legal here in Canada.

I would talk to someone about it in your area and see if you can get some assistance.

Well for my area there is a man an agency at the VA clinic that specifically takes cases on for veterans to find jobs, so I'm working with him, I have to check in with him weekly. There is some financial assistance programs like homefrontcares that take care of vets but they are typically overloaded with returning vets and can't help.

Every day since I got back from the hospital I've been applying to a new job, because finances are very dire now and I may end up homeless. I see where STP is coming from, I believe his point is that employers will professionally not ask you questions about your 'personal time' but personally not hire you based on the amount of 'personal times' taken between jobs. I have a gap or two in my resume too, but I was going to college during those times (most of the times) so that is a viable excuse and one that employers like, so you might just try that, a lil white lie, "I was continuing my education..."

 

[Daniel E.]

because finances are very dire now and I may end up homeless.

Don't the student loans cover housing? At least the federal ones do, though there are monetary limits. (And, of course, there's always living with family.)

 

[BluMac81]

Have no student loans for the new school considering the new Chp 33 MGI Bill promised 47,000/yr in tuition for CO residents. BUT there is a huge backup with the VA right now and sending out the money, hence causing a huge trainwreck in most veteran student's checking accounts. See Who's to Blame for Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefit Delays? - Military Education Blog

 

[Daniel E.]

If you are eligible for certain federal student loans, there is no interest while you are in school. So that may be an option, at least for some people, as a temporary measure if necessary. But I don't know how much of a wait that would be or what other fees may be involved.