Employers need to know PTSD comes in different levels

Employers need to know PTSD comes in different levels
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
June 12, 2013

After being without a steady paycheck for five years, I can tell you that looking for a job is hard. First you have to find a job you are qualified for. Then you have to figure out how to make your resume stand out, write a great cover letter and then find the will to repeat it as many times as you can during the day. If you are lucky, you get an interview but do did 30 others.

In my case, I am over 50. While that means I do have a lot of experience I can also prove that I love to learn. Last year I finished training at Valencia College with 5 certificates in Digital Media. I filmed over 40 events last year and created more of them on PTSD. I am a researcher and with almost 19,000 posts on this site, that is obvious. I've written thousands of articles and two books. I have over 25 years experience working in offices and in sales. I even worked at a church for two years as Administrator of Christian Education. I can't find a job! I don't fit in anywhere anymore even though most of my talents are showcased on Wounded Times.

We have to remember that employers and HR representatives are human too. They have their own ideas about people. Even if they don't admit it, they have their own bias. Right now, they have their own thoughts about veterans because of PTSD simplistic reports causing them to misunderstand what it is.

This may help. It is from the VA on how they compensate for "mental disorders."

GENERAL RATING FORMULA FOR MENTAL DISORDERS:

A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication .............................. 0%

Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or; symptoms controlled by continuous medication .................. 10%

Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events) ............................ 30%

Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining Effective work and social relationships ………………..50%

Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships ...................................... 70%

Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought process or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation occupation, or own name …………………..100%

As you can see, they compensate at different levels simply because there are different levels of PTSD. It depends on the veteran and what their experiences are as well as how much it has changed their lives.

If a veteran is compensated between 70% and 100% they are usually not looking for work because frankly, they have PTSD taking over most parts of their lives. We also have to remember that while about a third of the over 2 million veterans have different levels of PTSD, it is being treated in almost 8 million others. Because of privacy laws, they do not have to disclose they have any type of mental health issue. Employers never know if the person sitting in front of them is being treated or even if they are being treated for depression. The rate of American adults being treated for depression is 1 out of 10. Again, all at different levels.

If a veteran has 50% or lower, he or she actually heals faster when they feel useful. The majority of veterans seek positions in public service. Anywhere from law enforcement, firefighters, emergency responders, medical and teaching. Why? Because they are happier doing for others. It is just part of their nature. Even veterans with high levels of PTSD heal better when they are getting involved with helping others.

So why wouldn't an employer want to hire a veteran? It is because they just don't understand them. It is time they were educated so they will not lose out on hiring some of the best employees available. If you are a veterans and have PTSD, send this to the HR department of the company you want to work for and let them know. If it doesn't help you land the job, it will at least open their eyes when the next veteran shows up.

Why should they hire a veteran?