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activist, advocacy, Advocate, bipolar, depression, employment, humor, inspiration, jobs, mental health, mental illness, mentally ill, psychiatry, psychology, schizophrenia, stigma, strengths, weakness
Dear Corporate America,
I am writing to you to inform you of my desire to work for your company. Let’s get one thing out of the way first, I have a mental illness. Why do I think you should hire someone with a mental illness? You say that you like people who can think outside of the box and that is a strength you are looking for. Well, those of us with a mental illness can easily and quite naturally think outside of the box. In fact, some of us have even experienced different realities and may be able to put a twist or a spin on that problem you are having that you never even imagined.
You mention that you value creativity. Most people with a mental illness are creative in one form or another. They haven’t proven it yet, but there have been several studies conducted trying to link creativity and mental illness. So far, the results appear to be in our favor.
You claim to value team work. We are masters at working on a team! We have a psychiatrist that we work with, a therapist that we work with, a general practitioner, group leaders, family, and anyone else who is concerned about our care. We work on a team considering the most intimate details of our lives. I am certain we can handle working on a team in a corporate environment where our lives are not at stake.
You wanted me to address my strengths and weaknesses. For those of us with a mental illness, that is the same thing. Our strength is that we battle a mental illness every day. Our weakness is that we battle a mental illness every day. It is really the same thing. Consider it for a moment, and you will see this is an example of us thinking outside of the box, or using our creativity. What forces us to be strong, also makes us weak.
You advertised that you want someone that is detail oriented. Those of us with a mental illness have trained ourselves to notice details. We pay attention to our environment for triggers that will set off our anxiety or paranoia. We pay attention to our sleeping patterns. We make notes about our moods, and our medications. We share most of these details with a team (back to our strength as team players).
I know you didn’t mention it in your ad, but I know it is of great concern to issues of morale, people with a mental illness won’t add negativity to the work environment. We will be so concerned about people judging us, and underestimating us, and seeing everything we do through the lens of mental illness, that we won’t have the time, courage or energy to gossip, complain, or bad mouth any of our coworkers, bosses, or policies.
You wanted me to mention my experience in regards to the position you are hiring for but I know the fact that I have a mental illness is the biggest obstacle you have to overcome before you hire me, so if you can do that, I’ll tell you about my previous experience in the interview. I have actually had some great jobs.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Excellent post. 😐
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Thank you! You are always so supportive and I appreciate it. I hope you have a great weekend. 🙂
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Fantastic post! Thank you for voicing these issues so eloquently. 😌
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Thank you! 🙂 I hope you have a good weekend!
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This is bona fide brilliant!
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HA HA HA! My husband thought the same thing. Do you think I can get it to the right people and get an actual job?
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I think the right people would be whoever could give you a syndicated column! Go for it!! 😍
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P.S. The timing is right. I could read your weekly article in The Washington Post!
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I wish! 🙂
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Great stuff. There is a type of counseling position often called a peer advocate or peer partner that requires the person to have a mental health diagnosis. You would be great for that kind of job
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Yes, I think I would like that work. Thank you! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often and commented:
A Journey With You writes a great letter to corporate America about mental illness. Well done!
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Thank you! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Michael's Origins and commented:
Not only is this a good read, but also shines a light on certain truths on Corporate America when trying to get your foot in the door.
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Thank you! 🙂
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wow, powerful posting, thank you!
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Thank you! 🙂
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You are so welcome!
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Reblogged this on Wang and The City and commented:
What a powerful post especially with how the media always links “mental illness” to violence and crime. Thank you.
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Thanks! 🙂
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Not enough has been said about the link between mental illness, creativity, and productivity. And thanks for the wonderful reminder that a strength can often be considered a weakness too, depending on perspective.
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Thank you for reading my post, and for your thoughtful comments! I hope you have a good Sunday! 🙂
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Really enjoyed the read. Too often those with mental illnesses are illustrated as dangerous and unfit.
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I agree. Thank you for reading my post and for taking the time to comment. Have a great Sunday! 🙂
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That’s a fine CV rolled in one in my opinion.
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Thanks! 🙂
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You speak truth! I know what you mean;)
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Thanks! I hear you! 🙂
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I really like the image you use for your blog, too. Very good.
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Thank you. I took that photograph during one of the best times of my life – a road trip with my husband that lasted six months. The trip was life changing. We hope to hit the road again one day. 🙂
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Travel nourishes the soul! I wish you well toward that goal:)
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I agree, and thank you! 🙂
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Reblogged this on cuppajoeandthou and commented:
Awesome!
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Great post and keep up your good work! Will follow your blog
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Thank you so much! 🙂
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I love this.
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Thank you!!!! 🙂
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Amazing. This post should go viral.
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Thank you! 🙂
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🙂
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This post totally blew me away. I live with mental illness and have struggled to maintain jobs. I have spent so much time trying to prove myself in the wrong scenarios and worrying that I’m not doing enough. Your letter sums everything up so, so beautifully. Would you mind if I reblogged it?
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Thank you! Yes, you can reblog it. 🙂
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Thank you!!! 🙂
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Reblogged this on The Wishing Well and commented:
I can’t resist reblogging another amazing post today. This one is a letter to Corporate America signed a person living with mental illness. If you have ever struggled with employment due to mental illness, as I have (and even if you haven’t), take a look at this eloquent post from A Journey With You-Living With Schizophrenia.
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Well said!!!! As someone who left my last job,cause I couldn’t handle it I know what you mean.Have a great rest of the weekend!!
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Hope you had a nice weekend!
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