Hi, I want to talk about something that plays on my mind a lot and I would appreciate any insight or advice from this community. One of the main reasons I am hesitant to seek help is because of my future job opportunities. U see the field in which I am studying and hoping to attain a career in values mental health immensely. The jobs I am looking at require a mentally stable individual and when u apply for them your mental health records/history are looked into. Previous mental health experiences or records can have a significantly negative impact on the prospects for jobs in this field. Fyi the companies providing the jobs in this field have the legal permission to conduct in detail background checks which include mental health. They are in no way breaching anti-discrimination laws or legislations.

Now to get to my point one of the main inner conflicts I constantly think about is whether or not I should seek help (realistically I need help) and essentially reduce my job opportunities for the future or deal with things on my own so that I can still attain jobs in this field. I guess I just want to know your opinions on this issue. Is mental health more important? Or should my dream jobs be more important? Thanks in advance for any advice. I hope u are all well.

Hello Dear Kailani!

To answer your question...now this is my opinion only..

Yes...your mental Health is more important then a job...

Why?...because your mental health is attached to you..It’s you..It’s your life..

Then again..I suppose it’s how bad your mental health is and what your problems are...

I mean..if your working with on your own or with a partner in a dangerous environment, and all of a sudden your mental health causes you to have an episode....panic/anxiety attack..or you’re triggered into PTSD or into a deep depression suddenly...will you be safe? Will your colleague be safe?..If it’s a driving job, are you and the other motorist safe?

No one can tell you what to do...but you....I think it depends what your job will be..and if your mental health is safe enough, stable enough for you to perform your work, with you knowing that you will be and anyone you work with will be safe...

Its your decision in the end..but in my own personal opinion..it’s something that you should consider properly before you decide...

A job is a job only..your mental health Health is not just your thoughts/ sadness/panic attacks....it’s you it’s all apart of your body..it’s your life...

My kindest and most caring thoughts dear Kailani....

Grandy...

It

Hi Kailani

I am studying medical science as well, so I hope my advice could be matched what you wanted to ask, I think almost any field related to medical science does require a moderate level of our metal stability. It is true that a job which you consider it is your future career or you interest is important, but of course our mental health is more important after all in my perspective, important for you and important for the community you will be serving as well i suppose. What do I mean by that ? Taken me as an example, I want to do pharmacology simply because I hope I can help people in term of health, but if I can not take care of my health and be well, I will try to quit the job, because my purpose is not a job I will be doing but the helping people and to serve, so I lost a job but indirectly I think I saved myself and saved people by taking care of myself. When I think of that, I think I did the right thing. i hope it is useful.

Hi I just wanted to say thanks for the responses! I am so sorry I have taken so long to respond, I have hit another rough patch. Your advice is appreciated and I hope u are both well

Just feeling really overwhelmed right now. Exhausted. Frustrated. Angry. I feel like I am at the end of my rope. Everything is just so hard to do right now. My anxiety has been heightened for days now. I just want this to end. I want to be normal. I want to enjoy life. I want to be able to stop pretending like everything is ok. I want people to acknowledge that mental health is just as important as physical health.

Hi Kailani,

We're sorry to hear that you're going through another rough patch. We hear your dilemma, but it sounds like you could really use some support right now. 

Please know that you are always welcome to get in touch with Kids Help Line. They are a confidential and anonymous, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged 25 and under - perhaps this is a step you will be comfortable taking at the moment, as the service is anonymous.

You mentioned that you have been feeling anxious. You may also be interested in some of our pages: 

• "Treatments for Anxiety"- https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/treatments-for-anxiety
• "Anxiety management strategies" - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/treatments-for-anxiety/anxiety-management-strategies

Thanks for reaching out here. We hope that you will find some comfort here on the forums. Please feel free to keep reaching out here on your thread whenever you feel up to it.