Medically Terminated from work

[ELTee]

Hi, I had lung cancer surgery earlier this year. Recovery was going well and they got all the cancer. I returned to work and was working from home. My employer,  who I have been with for over 30 years, decided I needed an independent medical assessment.  This ended up in me completing tasks, with an Exercise Physiologist, none of which were related to my job. I actually injured myself further. Now they have terminated me. I have suffered depression & anxiety for years, but this is next level.  I'm finding it hard to function. I just want to hide from the world. I am totally devastated this has happened.  Yes I have a lawyer and have lodged claims through WorkSafe. Its this hollow feeling of nothing, clearly I was just a number, they don't seem to care. I can do my job still. They decided I couldn't.  I just needed to vent, so fed up with crying & panic attacks. Has anyone else been through this? I've lost my identity and right now I don't know who I am or even how to exist.

Thanks for reading xx

[white knight]

HI, welcome

Yes, you must be feeling abandoned. So, I'm now retired but in 1987 I had a workplace stress related injury involving a panic attack. 10 months off work and a new profession. In 1991 I had another workplace injury on my low back under workcover (Vic) for 2 years then took redundancy. In mid 1990's I started up my own private investigation company and most of that work was investigating fraud including workcover claims.

So as you can see I'm well versed in the field of workplace injury plus I worked as a prison officer in the 70's and attended many court cases and in some professions gave evidence in court. So I have a quasi legal background.

There is much injustice revolving the - injuries in the workplace system.  It is flawed. Why is this? It's because the fraud level is so high there is few ways that insurance companies and employers, can establish fraud or genuine cases. Employers as scared further injuries could take place by returning workers to their last job, they find ways to move you on, the insurance companies delay the workers wages (or usually a percentage of it) and send you to doctors often accompanied by letters that basically say "if you fail to attend your payments can be stopped". I could go on but you get the picture. So what have I concluded with all my lived experiences with this dilemma?

Those with serious workplace injuries-

• Accept that it is a long road of legal struggles ahead
• Be flexible and if that means changing professions then go that way
• Listen to your solicitors recommendations
• Dont do activities that can appear that you are capable of working or could aggravate your injuries
• Accept that this is life, you cant beat the system as unjust as it is

Creating and maintaining a positive outlook is essential. Remind yourself of how life could be if you were like someone else that is more disabled. I do this all the time, I have leg issues - but I can walk, I have depression and bipolar but I can function in society unlike those in aged care and so on.

Seek out important roles, volunteer work? My wife is a volunteer at the local community house, distributing boxes of food for the needy. I work here as a volunteer. Once settled you'll feel productive.

I hope that helps, reply anytime

TonyWK

[Doors24]

Dear ELTee,

After reading your post I wanted to reach and say hello.

I would be doing all that you are doing right now, and it is totally okay to vent.

I was treated for cancer late last year and early this year and understand the emotions that not only come from diagnosis and treatment, but also the ongoing toll it can take even in surveillance or remission. It is not fair that after everything you have been through, you are now going through this.

It is understandable to have so many questions about your identity and how to move forward right now. Life still goes on and it can be very overwhelming.

For me I have taken a one step at a time approach. Everyday as it comes. I am not able to look to forward into the future at this time because I have no answers. And I, who can be a total control freak and like to be at least 3 steps ahead of the game, has now come to see I have no answers to give myself to feel safe/in control/back in order/fixed. Being stressed about them doesn't conjure them into existence. I have looked inside the box, I have looked outside the box. So, I am after a few months fighting with myself and expending emotional energy I just don't have in the tank, come to accept that I can only do what I can on a everyday basis.And that is plenty good enough.

I have things to do like yourself. So, what is the first step I need to do to complete that task? Once I have completed it,the next answer/step will show itself. And so on, until I complete what I need to get done in it's entirety for that specific topic. Then I move onto the next thing. It is one step at a time to make things simpler and not feed the monsters feeding off heightened emptions. I hope I explained it clearly. It is also accepting that every problem has a solution. I just may not like it right now. But this can always improve in the future. This maybe helpful with your panic attacks.

You don't need to be everything, all at once, right now.

I hope you can get an answer/outcome to your claim soon.

Please look after yourself during this time,

Doors24