Hi there

mike1uz · ‎31-10-2016

Hi there all,im mike,38 and live on the gold coast. In june i was made redundant from my job of 11 years,and slowly have got lower and lower ever since.

After pouring many hours of my life,and missing my children grow up,and being a honest reliable dedicated worker i was outsourced to visa workers who have no idea,and had more health and safety incidents in the first month than we had in a decade. I feel degraded,hopeless,and rejected,made worse by rejection after rejection in applying for jobs.

I have suffered moderate depression most of my life,and about 5 years ago anxiety started creeping in too. Having an income helped to manage my condition,but now things are beginning to get bad. I have had a couple of job offers but its 1.5 hours each way on the motorway each day and mentally i just cant do it. I dont do busy or traffic very well,and im really starting to lose hope.

Thats a brief run down.

Just Sara · ‎01-11-2016

Hi Mike and welcome to our caring community;

The redundant road can be long and winding with few opportunities for those suffering the affects of anxiety/depression. I feel for you...

I'm wondering if you have support from your GP, psychologist or friends/family? You sound as if you have quite a few issues there. If you need to talk to someone in real time, don't forget the BeyondBlue and Lifeline phone services; there are links below to find specific info too.

Have a read around the sections/threads to see if there's things in common with others who may be able to support you. We care...

Please stay in touch; we'd love to hear more about you ok?

Write as much as you want...Sara

g_to_the_g · ‎01-11-2016

Hi Mike1uz,

Just a heads up, this post isn't very well structured at all. My English lecturer would be horrified.

I really don't have any advice for you, but I can sympathise. The outsourcing of work may be cheaper, but will destroy the future of what it was that you were working on, whether it be construction, fabrication, mechanics, (i can't thing of anymore, but I know that there are a host of jobs that you could be in, by the sounds of your message).

You are experiencing a truly horrible time. It is okay to feel like absolute garbage right now. Everyone has to feel that way sometimes. That's what the psychologist I went to, said.

I feel the same, I have been reliant on youth allowance (Government pay for independent uni students) this year, because no one in Brisbane even wanted to give me an interview for a job. I can't tell you how many resumes I handed out, too many, I tell you.

What kind of work is it that you are looking for, I have family that way that may be able to assist? Are you able to reinvent yourself? I know that may seem silly, but for example, if you are a mechanic, could you offer your services for a fee on gumtree and airtasker? I know lots of professions, like sheet metal working and boiler-making is more difficult to do on your own.

Otherwise, I know that it feels like a kick in the stomach, but do you believe that you could take up work in grocery store or a retail outlet until you find something else? I know that places like Coles and Woolworths all over the country are looking for people at the moment, and the money is good, on Sunday's especially. It could be a temporary solution for you?

I'm sure that you are a pleasure to have in any workplace. You are obviously dedicated to your profession, having spent 11 years with your previous employer. With the dedication and effort that you put in during your time at your previous job, you provided for your family. Without your work, they would not have been able to live the life that they have lead thus far.

What do you mean by 'get bad'? I'm going through a rough patch at the moment, and can only offer my unprofessional assistance, but if you need, you know I am here, as is everyone else on this blessed site.

Stay safe Mike1uz, your family needs you. Everything will start looking up soon,

G

Just Sara · ‎01-11-2016

Great response G and welcome;

Hope you stick around! We need people like you...

Just thought I'd stick my beak in to say so ok?

Well done!

Sara..Hugs

mike1uz · ‎01-11-2016

Its not well structured your right. It seems to post in an entirely different lay out. I rarely type on a computer so maybe I'm doing something wrong. Regarding formal qualifications,i have none,except a solid work record mainly in trade assistant roles in the automotive and transport industrys.

Ive registered with coles and attended a group interview which was a total waste of time..i can't even get a job stocking shelves. With other issues going on in my life,of which would take more than 2500 characters to write,it sometimes all seems too much. I currently take medication for anxiety,which maybe helps somewhat,but losing a livelihood and being unable to remedy this does get hard.

My elderly mother put me onto this site,and its taken a lot of courage to write.

geoff · ‎01-11-2016

hi Mike, can I say that when someone is depressed and anxious then it's very difficult for them to be able to write any comment.
There are a few problems that I can see and the first is that you missed your children grow up so I don't know the circumstances around this and whether it maybe because of a divorce, but I would speculate and only answer if you want to.
The second is being made reduntant probably for cheaper wages given to visa workers, the third being to travel this distance would create more anxiety than you wouldn't imagine, so in other words you won't want to do this for a long period of time, it will become too much for you, which I think you know, and last of all is that being rejected has just escalated your anxiety and depression which I am just so sorry for.
You can't wait until your money runs out before you do anything, it's time that you contact centrelink, and was because you were put off then there shouldn't be any waiting period before you receive any sort of payment, because if you had quit then there would be a waiting period.
Are you able to contact a job agency who maybe able to help further, and as you have said 'it's a brief run down', so we hope you are able to get back to us. Geoff.

mike1uz · ‎01-11-2016

HI geoff,ive contacted centrelink and am in the process of jumping through hoops with them.

Touille · ‎01-11-2016

Hi Mike1uz,

Welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry to hear about your work situation and anxiety.

I live over in Perth, WA and I have nearly been out of work for a year now, the economy is not good at the moment, so I can understand why you are so frustrated. I have no formal qualifications as well, just a good working record, I'm 35.

Since I have been on Centrelink, the job agency I'm registered with has paid for me to do a course in which there is plenty of work, so perhaps you could do a course.

Have you thought of starting your own lawnmower business? My Uncle lives on the Gold Coast and he does well in mowing lawns.

It's good you take medication for anxiety, it does help.

I hope you can find work soon.

Take Care

Touille.

mike1uz · ‎02-11-2016

Hey,can I ask which course you did? Once ive signed up to this Newstart with Centrelink I would like to do a course in security. The bills keep coming in the meantime,but I figure getting a few licenses etc could be handy. Overall,losing my job how I did just knocked me down,as well as feeling totally abandoned by people I had helped into work when they needed help.

Touille · ‎03-11-2016

Hi Mike,

Yeah sure, I'm doing a Community Services course. I do know some guys who did a security course and have plenty of work now, so it's a good option. Yes it is tough when bills keep coming in and you have no job. Sorry that others you know are not helping you, try and be positive, if you are trying to get work, you will eventually. There are plenty of people here in WA without work, unfortunately things are slow, so it's good to look for a career in an area which people are not really interested like security and community services.