Orkney Fibromyalgia Sufferer

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side but it can be. I am finding that a bitter pill to swallow. A big bitter jagged pill. I spoke to an old work colleague on the street the other day and whilst talking to him I realised that my previous employer had in fact done me a huge favour and I thought that I should actually thank him because without him working to have me dismissed due to my health I wouldn’t have landed my new job which I am really enjoying. Afterwards I spoke to my mum about how great I was feeling because I had come to the realisation that I should thank him. But she made me quickly realise that he didn’t deserve any thanks at all. Then suddenly all the hurt and painful feelings came flooding back and smacked me in the face with a dose of reality.

It has been a few months since I wrote my last blog.

My new job has been keeping me occupied and things seem to be changing for me. I finally feel like I am working in an environment where I am appreciated. I no longer work in an environment where I am criticised constantly. It is so refreshing. I am constantly learning new skills and my new employer isn’t scared or unwilling to let me learn/gain these new skills. It is like a completely different world. One where I am actually happy to go to work and I don’t have to feel anxious about the day ahead.

My health is still the same but now I am realising my previous work environment was detrimental to my health and played a big part in my health deteriorating.

I still struggle but I really feel like work has become easier since I changed jobs.Fingers crossed I get a permanent post.

Sitting at my desk at my new job thinking how strange it feels to be sitting here. I always thought about getting a new job but the right opportunity never came along. Now my circumstances have changed I lost my job due to my health and now I find myself in a new job something I never thought that would happen. I really believed that I would be at my old job until I retired.

I really hope that this job is a new start for me and it leads onto something bigger and better. The past few years have been really bleak now is the time for me to shine.

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side but it can be. I am finding that it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

I spoke to an old work colleague on the street the other day and whilst talking to him I realised that my former employer did me a massive favour. In fact I ought to say thank you to him. Later that day I spoke to my mother about my thoughts and how great I was feeling about my realisation. She quickly made me realise that he didn’t deserve any thanks at all. Then all the hurt and painful feelings came flooding back and smacked me in the face with a big dose of reality.

Getting a new job has been a blessing and something which I am grateful for but I paid a high price emotionally and physically to get here. A feeling of betrayal that will haunt me all my life.

I was I my previous job for nearly 16 years and I was disposed of like trash. People who I thought I knew and trusted broke that trust. I felt used and completely violated. Had my employer had the decency to face me and tell me what was going on I would never have started suffering with anxiety – something that I have never suffered from in my life before but now I have it is something that affects me every day and something that I have to take medication for. By my employer not telling me what was going on my health suffered and being sacked through the letterbox was like a dagger in my heart. I felt completely paralysed with feelings of betrayal and hurt. I never got the chance to be able to look into the eyes of the man who was about to kick me when I was already down. Not only was my job and my income taken away. I was robbed of the chance to face the man whom I had once looked up to, respected and trusted betray me in the most cruel way. There was no opportunity for closure. Until I have this I will continue to carry this heavy weight around with me.

Last week I was offered a job as an admin/project assistant at my local council. It is a temporary post which is only for a couple of months, The contract may be extended and I am hopeful that this happens. I got the job through a local employment agency which will hopefully be able to offer me more employment opportunities in the future.

It has been a long journey to get this opportunity, I have been through some hard times with my health, my friends and losing my job. I deserve something good to happen in my life and I am excited and nervous at the same time. I do not want my health to get in the way of my new job. The great thing is that it is only for a few weeks and after that period I can go back to consentrating on my recovery. I really want this to be something that does me good and gets me back out into the world and leading a normal life instead of spending all my time at home. I never though this moment would come, I am going to grasp this positive moment with both hands and enjoy and make the most of the new skills that I am going to learn. Wish me luck. The tide is changing for me and I am so happy. One door gets slammed in my face and finally another door is opening for me.