Obsession
 

I generally think most people aren't satisfied with their work. They want to forget about it as soon as they're out of the building. But Lately, I've been so obsessed with my job that I've been thinking about it day and night, even in my dreams. Of course, dreams only happen when I'm asleep, and I haven't been fully asleep for more than 3 hours per night. It seems that every time I close my eyes, the job-related stuff just comes to mind. I want my life back!

The problem is that the folks at work whom I depend on for data are simply not informed. One person tells me "okay, this is how we do it," but I turn around and hear "nonono, THIS is how we do it." Frankly, this was the case everywhere I've worked: I've been assigned a project, and I'm waiting for details, but either nobody knows what he wants or everyone has a different story. What a shame.

PJ, what kind of work do you do?

Does your employer offer an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) or other counselling, or do you have insurance coverage that you could go to an outside therapist (some EAP's are less confidential than they should be) or can you access a local mental health center? It may be useful to talk about some of this stuff with someone who isn't directly involved with your life or your employer. Doing something for yourself before you go from three hours of sleep a night to no hours of sleep is important.

It's my opinion that therapy is expensive and pointless unless you're really, really crazy. Wise friends are much cheaper and more effective.

Therapy can keep you from getting to the 'really, really crazy' point ... and doesn't have to be expensive.

Supportive friends ARE important and can be extremely helpful. But sometimes the opportunity to go over something like this with someone not directly involved in your life helps.

So, do you think that everyone should be in therapy? And how cheap are we talking here, exactly? $100 per visit?

     Actually Juju-man, I know that just off 71 (or 540 now, whatever) in Springdale they offer counseling at the Ozark Guidance Center on a sliding scale. One adult I know was going there for $10 a pop, hour long sessions I believe. So that's the cost within a twenty minute drive from your home. I have no idea if it did any good.

Wow... I had no idea it was that cheap! I am deeply misinformed..

Waitaminute.. what kind of a therapist gets paid $10 an hour? If I had a PhD and I made $10 an hour, I'd be pissed.

The therapist doesn't get paid $10/hr Juju ... the county or state is picking up the tab for the cost of providing therapy. My hospital does the same thing, only with inpatient treatment (don't get me wrong ... we LOVE insurance because it pays the bills) but we don't refuse treatment based on a person's ability to pay. If medical assistance isn't available for the patient, we apply to the county for mental health funding. If the county can't pay, we eat the cost of treatment. (FOR RESIDENTS OF OUR COUNTY ... before you get any ideas). Sometimes we put the "non" in "nonprofit", but usually are at the magic break-even point rather than running in the red. (I think. I'd have to ask our CFO about that.)

And, no Juju, I don't think everybody needs to be in therapy. Just the people who need to be in therapy.

     Also, please note the words "sliding scale", they evaluate your income and base price off that. I think $10 bucks was the minimum. Someone making slightly more would likely have to pay slightly more.

Nah, just deeply retarded.

wolf: thanks for some advice. It's finally getting better. In case anyone is wondering, I do NOT work for Wal Mart :0)