One mental condition that can be hard to deal with is post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. It can make it hard to even get out of bed and can also cause pent up anger to come out when reminders of an event come up.

This makes it hard for you to speak with an employer about your PTSD but in the end it can help you out. If you have work-related PTSD things can be a bit tricky it is often best to seek advice.

The best way to go about PTSD would be to be honest and open about your condition.

Those that don’t have PTSD or know anyone with it may not know how hard it is to live with it. This is why you need to be honest about what your condition is like to an employer so they know just how serious you are about what’s going on with your mental health.

Everyone experiences PTSD in a different way so there are going to be different triggers and things of that nature that you have to try to avoid. Before you open up with your employer about what’s going on, teach yourself what you can about the condition and what your triggers are going to be. Then, you can let everyone know what you can and cannot handle as a result of your PTSD.

It can be difficult to speak with others about PTSD but a lot of employers are going to be happy to hear from you about it since they’ll understand that you feel like you can confide in them. Most of the time they are going to want to assist you and that’s great if you’re dealing with this in the workplace.

Preparing For A Conversation That May Be Difficult

One thing you need to be concerned about is that some employers may not be that understanding and may not support your needs. In this kind of case, just stay calm and let them know what to expect from you along with how they can set up accommodations that could assist you in doing your work.

When speaking about the accommodations you need set up, be sure you’re clear about them. Here are some questions to ask when working with an employer:

Does there need to be space by where you’re stationed for your service animal?

Will you need time off from time to time to attend counseling sessions?

Are you going to need your desk in an area so your back is to the wall or where it’s quiet? 

Just know that if you’re realistic and open about what is going on with you and your PTSD, you’ll have a more authentic experience that will benefit everyone involved.

Know that the ball is going to be in your court when it comes to this issue.

And finally, an important thing to disclose to an employer if you have PTSD is to know that you are in control of yourself and the process so you can say or not say whatever is needed at the time.

In the end it can be hard to speak with an employer about having PTSD but when you work with them you’re helping to show them that people with PTSD are not hard to work with. Try to start things off on the right foot by being honest and as open as you can be.