Wanting to talk to other people that I have found ways to deal with recovery

[shelly777]

Hello I am new to the group. My name is Shelly. I have contacted beyond blue on a few occasions when I have been really struggling and they have suggested that I join the forms for support. I have suffered with medical anxiety and OCD symptoms since childhood and the last 12 months has been a roller coaster. I experienced a traumatic incident that happened at work and it led to panic attacks and extremely high levels of anxiety. I am seeing a psychologist and a psychiatrist and I’ve just had my medication increased. I have seen some improvements, but seem to be still having quite a few periods of feeling not great. I have been off work on wet cover for quite some time and it just feels like this is a never ending battle. I would really like to hear from people that have found a way to get their life back on track after having, a long period of a struggle. Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read my message.  

[white knight]

Hi, welcome

I've been a past workcover inquiry agent, been on workcover for 10 months for a work related claim and am experienced in this area. My work injury was a psychological one, so rehabilitation is different than physical and doctors are the one to monitor recovery.

However, if it helps I'll mention some factors that could assist in such recovery from a lived experience viewpoint.

Long term on compensation is not helpful generally unless of course you cant recover enough. In my case 10 months off work from my management of a Govt department trying to corrupt me and turn blind eye to illegal activity was enough to send me into trauma. After 9 months off it was time to re-enter the workforce and choose a far different career path which was the best advice I could ever get. So I went from quasi law enforcement to supervisor of disabled people in a sheltered workshop. 

However, time often does help heal us enough to put aside the trauma of the situation and find positivity to move on, that timeframe depends on the individual, as grief does, so dont be rushed but develop your urges to improve your life by thinking ahead in a productive manner. I had one big panic attack at the time of my injury (incorrectly diagnosed as heart attack!), I also had bipolar, depression etc undiagnosed at the time.

Being on Workcover can be many things, demoralising, stress from paperwork, claims officer pressure, legal support, off work when perpetrators have done the harm (and keep working) and the effects upon ones family and friends further harms us. Insurance companies also engage investigators like I was to ascertain you arent working (double dipping income) but they are purely fact seeking to find out your capacity to do things you claim you cant carry out and seek out fraud. All these stresses places you in a more anxious situation that I fully understand.

So my advice to you is take the required time to recover to the point where you feel recovered enough to seek out a new base of employment. Dont be afraid to change careers, think outside the square like home business or part time work, maybe 2 part time jobs even. Acknowledge that long term workcover can be counter productive, it isnt the answer toward your best interests. Seek out soothing additions to your life like a pet, hobbies, sports (barracking) and activities with friends, attend comedies, movies and a coffee at a cafe. It all has to do with a balance of these activities.

Insurance companies are not interested in actively assisting you with rehabilitation. Your GP has the ultimate power to return you to work and will monitor you in that regard. There is Govt departments and schemes that can assist you in a new career etc so attend centrelink or online.

You might consider to give yourself the greatest chance of a good life and this hiccup is not unlike several ones you could experience in your lifetime. Sometimes there is a light at the end of the tunnel but is too far away for us to see it.

Any further questions please repost.

TonyWK

[shelly777]

Thank you so much for your advice

[blues23]

Hi Shelly 

im the same been off work for a while on work cover, i have psychological/ & physical injuries which has healed the mind not so much , I’m much like u in a state of when does this end I tried to go back to work my mental health deteriorated so badly after a abusive encounter with my return to work co ordinator really set me back a lot and have to resettle myself and decide whether I go back to the hell hole that is my job ( I do love my work but the sheer toxic nature of the people in charge is unbearable) but it’s good money it’s like we’ll do o go back suffer for the cash and leave when a better job comes by or go rehabilitation to work thru work cover it’s soo hard to try to recover again and learn to trust anyone again after all that’s happened