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I didn't know that about the school jobs. I may look into that after all then. Thanks!

Wow, this is a much better description of what I had been feeling than I ever came up with. I struggle a lot to find the right words, it's so frustrating. I didn't realize that PAWS could present itself like that and for an ED. It makes sense to me though. I don't have an ED but I do eat terrible junk half the time, because it calms me down. I've tried to quit eating junk and it's impossible for me right now.

I am glad you wrote this and that I found it, this is the kind of stuff I've felt like I needed to know about.

Hi there, thanks for responding. I know, it's hard because everyone with CPTSD has different abilities and triggers.

I should work, because I'm not married, my boyfriend and I live together but our finances are separate. He pays for things sometimes, but even though he makes good money, he's gotten into a bunch of debt recently helping his family, so I really feel pressured to not add to that problem right now. Plus, I don't feel comfortable living off of him. I've been using a credit card lately, because frankly, I'm planning on filing for bankruptcy anyways since I've had a lot of debt for a long time anyhow, and it's definitely not going away now that I'm not working in IT anymore.

My symptoms have gotten worse over time, although they got a little better than before in some ways, This time last year I was still having anxiety attacks every few weeks that would keep me from sleeping. I don't have those anymore (well, for a while anyways, we'll see) but let me think, what do I have..

I have a very short attention span lately. I have been taking a lot of naps when I just can't bear to be conscious anymore. I can't really use drugs because feeling too relaxed tends to trigger panic. I had a little bit of alcohol a few days ago and that didn't go well. When I get stressed, which is often, my arms get so itchy that they bleed from the scratching. I've been doing this in my sleep some, and it tends to wake me up. I've been really depressed off and on lately, usually been in a "* life" mood, wondering why I even bother. Therapy isn't helping lately because I've hit a bump with my therapist, namely I now am too scared to bring my feelings to her anymore, for fear of rejection. Despite having done okay the last year.

When I was still working, I was constantly feeling overwhelmed, and so I would dissociate to "relax" which meant I wasn't working.
At the job I had for three days, I was doing okay the first two, before working live customers. Once I did that, the manager's constant instructions caused me to panic and my higher brain function just went offline.  I excused myself to the bathroom and then quit.

That all being said, my ability to learn is usually pretty good until I feel pressure. I am interested in psychology for obvious reasons, and am going to school to get a degree I can use somehow in the field. I like helping people with important things, but the stress is often too much for me nowadays. I love animals, and volunteer at the shelter, but I don't think I could work there because they require you to be able to euthanize an animal if necessary, and I don't think I could do it.
I've been considering doing dog walking, but my energy level isn't great, I have a walker for my own dog part of the time as it is.
I feel like I have great critical thinking skills, and I like to write, but have never attempted to do anything related to writing.

All my skills are either customer service based or technical.

I'm not really sure if I am cut out for working right now. Part of me thinks it's impossible, and another part of me is saying "you're being dramatic, your symptoms aren't that bad."

Bleh.

I used to feel the same way, unfortunately recently I took a turn towards the mindset of "oh no, this is too risky now, abort, abort!"

I am now stuck with bottled up feelings in session despite having previously been closer and more open. Best of luck, hope that doesn't happen to you.

I might be the closest to ya, being in Seattle. My old workplace has locations near you. It's pretty out there.

Hi everyone, I'm new here and this is my first post. I am curious what type of work people recommend for someone with C PTSD, or maybe recommendations on how to sort out what your limitations are.

I quit my job in September to go to school part time, and I started a job at Starbucks but only lasted 3 days. I got so overwhelmed, it was all I could do to quit with a professional statement to the manager.

Since then, a couple weeks ago, I interviewed for a job where I would have picked out groceries that people ordered online so they could come pick them up, but because I'm an idiot and mentioned that job, I think that's mostly why they said nevermind.

I just don't feel like I know what would work for me. I hate being alone and bored, but I also can't deal with high pressure, fast paced jobs either. My resume for the last 10 years is all tech support, which I hate, and before that I did fast food and some assembly plants. Mostly I know customer service, and that's about it.  I've never worked retail before.

I appreciate any advice. I have a good therapist but she's not really great at ideas for this.