Thank you! Unfortunately I've ended up in a telemarketing job and it is literally hell on earth. I love computers but I really hate math and it makes me feel so dumb most of the times. Anything else. This is all to say: get the hell out of there. How to Deal With Stressful Call Center Jobs. I don't think IT it right for you. It's definitely dependent on your center, though. Want to help manage the Wiki? I notice that people who work in call centers do literally go nuts after a while. Source: personal experience. Chat online with a counselor; Call 911 or visit a local emergency room As the title says, I have PTSD from my previous call center job. Avoidance Avoidance is a common reaction to trauma. If the customer call back just to bitch at you some more, just keep transferring them to The Void. When I developed the issues, I was working for a major wireless provider in a large center. It was hard for me to even call it rape for a long time because it wasn't violent. You can also look for smaller businesses that are IT. I know all is not lost and I will find my way but some perspective would be useful. Available Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and … (self.ITCareerQuestions). Available en Español. Mobile App: COVID Coach This free mobile app is designed to help you build resilience, manage stress, and increase your well-being during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with tools to help you stay connected, work from home, navigate parenting or caregiving, and stay healthy while sheltering in place. A person's risk of getting PTSD depends, in part, on a combination of risk factors and resilience factors, as researchers call them. Both? You can always look and see if Geek Squad is an option. When I worked for a cell phone carrier I had a panic attack and literally fainted. Too bad they sent us back. Unfortunately, I hadn't gone a lot. PTSD can be treated. PTSD treatment can help. I cant emphasise enough how much you needs to get out now. Used to come home with a moody, angry face all the time. I had thought I was over the trauma from the first job, and spectrum being tech, I wouldn't have such a bad reaction. Maybe your experience would qualify you for a nice management gig, or maybe some type of secretary or receptionist position. Between call quotas, demanding bosses and irate customers, it can be difficult to stay calm and positive. Copper and fiber structured cabling is probably going to be your best bet. But I’d largely forgotten these atrocities and moved on with my life, until I caught BBC Three’s ‘The Call Centre’ on… For the most part, it's a dead end job so why not move to another dead end job if it is that bad? Prob won’t get a call center vibe from them. As Rob Cole, LMHC, clinical director of mental health services at Banyan Treatment Center tells Bustle, PTSD is a response to trauma that can make individuals feel scared, hopeless, or … Need help getting started in to IT? Available en Español. With treatment trauma survivors can feel safe in the world and live happy and productive lives. Right now, millions of people are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) worldwide. We had some overflow outsourced to Utah and a few people in California, but 90% of the time, if you called "reservations" or "itinerary planning" you got Orlando or Tampa. Most of these hotlines are open around the clock, and many of them have Spanish options and accommodations for those who are hard of hearing.Reputable hotlines to call for general mental health concerns include: 1. I was more focused on that than I was on the fact that I'd finally made it to grad school and was three years away from finally being a teacher, a goal I've had since I was ten. Created by /u/rykker. ** This includes things like (but not limited to); Ridiculous caller demands Moronic and stupid things callers say Moral support after dealing with awkward and difficult callers Happy and positive calls I spent almost every day thinking about my job and what would happen if I got fired. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Honestly, I think it's what department you're in, or what type of center it is. Since I started, my anxiety issues are pretty nearly gone. I started developing panic attacks while on the job. School districts might be harder starting out to land but def can get them after a GS role I think. I'm introverted, some might say anti-social. I'm on two different medications, and am starting therapy for anxiety. On another note, does anyone ever feel like they are squandering their working years at a call center? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the talesfromcallcenters community, Continue browsing in r/talesfromcallcenters, **Welcome to Tales From Call Centers (TFCC), a place where we share tales from the trenches of the call center world! I hated the calls, I hated what I was expected to do, but I was worried about being able to make ends meet so i spent almost every minute that I wasn't in class working and desperately trying to improve my metrics. Yup, did it for 8 years, near the end I literally had a mental breakdown. Posts with title only or messages with just links in the body will be automatically removed! Man I did that job coming from collections and it was amazing. System Administration, Networking & Help Desk, For Computer Science Career Questions: /r/cscareerquestions. I've noticed my job has affected school and other areas of my life and at that point it wasn't worth it. I’ve endured things that no man should have to endure. Then I switched jobs and everyone started commenting how much happier I looked. I worked in the Orlando call center. Myself and many coworkers that started at Geek Squad went to work at large corporations. What are some good global IT jobs agencies to help you find work? Can you claim PTSD from working here? As the title says, I have PTSD from my previous call center job. If it's this bad now than quit even with nothing lined up. [–]N7ValiantOSCP, MCSE 5 points6 points7 points 9 days ago (2 children). Since I started my call center job for a wireless provider, I am literally turning into a basket case. Just use this link to join us: ITCareerQuestions Discord. Because it's just the nature of the position. I actually was just looking at GS after posting this. On a typical day you are required to interact with 50 to 80 angry, cranky, mean spirited customers. Don't cram for them. [–]lividlysane[S] -1 points0 points1 point 9 days ago (1 child). Entry-level help desk job at $24/h? They have a few spots around that I'll try for. Anyone else start experiencing diagnosable anxiety issues that you believe is stemming from your job? It felt like there was always a genuine fire. I have some friends that transferred from collections that hated their lives. I think you should try to find different work if you can. It was scary as f-ck at first, but it was the best thing I could have done. A few tips for new IT graduates and entry level. I ended up with a foul mood due to work stress. Ultimately, the best anyone can do for a vet with PTSD is listen, provide support, improve conditions and benefits, and get the story straight. Most say things like, 'Oh it was like Call of Duty. All was good, I was enjoying training, then once phone calls started, my panics did as well. Multi-reddit collections of common subs by discipline. Created by /u/jeffbx, State of IT - Great Summary Response Created by /u/jeffbx, A few tips for new IT graduates and entry level That ever so slightly dissipated when I started my first job in retail. PTSD can develop after any kind of trauma, most commonly sexual assault or combat experience. PTSD is a condition in which a person experiences severe anxiety, intrusive memories, and nightmarish flashbacks that interfere with their daily life. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. [–]mackafterall 0 points1 point2 points 9 days ago (2 children). We can provide advice! For the recent review, JAMA asked Steenkamp and the 2015 lead author, Dr. Charles Marmar, a psychiatrist at NYU Langone Medical Center, to update their work. I worked on a call type with similar handling time targets (18 sec), albeit this was a number of years ago that I was frontline. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem that can occur after a traumatic event like war, assault, or disaster. Cloud or security? It’s been a few years since I’ve been there but I have friends still in it or just recently promoted out so I can give a good basic knowledge of what you would be doing and stuff and what you’d wanna be doing. It was a very stressful job, dealing with medical situations and emergencies. Advice me how to begin with an IT career [my CV is attached for your feedback]. If the job is giving you anxieties and making you feel stressed out to a point where you're on meds and needing therapy, it's more than just a hint for you to leave. Get help for PTSD. Granted I've always had them but these were much more intense. Those experiencing PTSD might turn to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate feelings of fear, anxiety and stress. Message the mods! Getting counseling or treatment can help you manage your symptoms and keep them from getting worse. I had a dr'S note because of it but the so call president of my communitiy ignored that because I have cats that help me with it. What entry-level jobs are there where I'm not on the phone 30 times a day? Granted I've always had them but these were much more intense. It helps seeing this. For nearly 20 years the idea of using virtual reality to treat PTSD has been gaining momentum. Get help for PTSD. Happy and positive calls, Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. Contact the mods. Up to 14% of the population of the US will suffer from PTSD in their lifetime. I can totally understand where you're coming from about the fire. I'll try looking at some desktop support specific jobs :), [–]Jeffbx 1 point2 points3 points 9 days ago (0 children). Sometimes I just get stuck on an idea. Really. Since then I have been focusing on school and therapy. Hi everyone! I didn’t have any education other than GS but my coworkers did and they went into non service desk roles. Because management not giving a damn until everything is on actually on fire, and you are literally sitting there waiting for the next fire that you'll see coming from a mile off just like the next six fires behind it. At HealthyPlace.com, our goal is to provide trustworthy mental health information and resources for understanding, preventing and seeking appropriate treatment for mental health conditions. My name is Cannot Disclose Information Due To NDA Agreement and I work for Cannot Disclose Information Due To NDA Agreement which is an inbound call center working with consumer electronics. Don't cram for them. Nonetheless, I feel trapped in my call center job, as I have no idea how to break into the career I want. Never again will I accept a job at a call center even if it's in my field IT. It’s what helped me land my first corporate IT job which was service desk. This isn't the worst thing, but I would have to go through a lot more therapy. Was put on 3 weeks of medical leave, and put on a cocktail of medication for anxiety, depression and seizures. We had idiotic metrics that I wasn't living up to because it was sales-oriented and I suck at sales. About two years ago I was raped twice. Moronic and stupid things callers say X2 for desktop support. Get out if you can. Screen out personal information as best possible to protect yourself! I'm prone to breakdowns every few months due to built-up stress but while working for the call center I broke down about 3-4 times. I have CompTia A+, Network+ certs and start my Security+ course in a few days. Billing Call Center Representative (Former Employee) - Zanesville, OH - March 18, 2020. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. I have been here for around 2 years and I feel like I could make some people's lives a lot easier with my tips. But the sheer amount I think is where it really hits me. PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. However I have considered that IT might not be for me due to that. No Job Advertisements or Recruiting or Solicitations of any kind. I feel a lot better, however still not ready for a call center job where I'm taking call after call. r/ptsd: We are a supportive, respectful community for discussion and links of interest for people who have PTSD or have friends, family members, or … If this job is making you ill (mentally, physically, whatever), then GTFO. I'd rather live in a card board box....not really but you get the picture. I'm starting to think I might not be able to avoid call center work. I also looked at some traveling tech jobs for the school districts. Effective treatments for PTSD include different types of psychotherapy (talk therapy) or medication. Many positions you will find are always fighting fires. They had to call 911 and I got wheeled off the floor in a stretcher. PSA: Interviews are not exams. Think a sub should be added to a group let the mods know! It felt like there was always a genuine fire. Recommendations on ways to improve the sub? Schooling wise, I'm halfway through a Network Operations and Security BS from WGU. Call Today for Your Free VA Disability Case Evaluation: 1-(888) 392-5392. I promised myself I wouldn't think about work or money at all, I would just enjoy the day. Recommended Treatments: Treatments with the Most Research Support Seriously, if you are flinching and on meds for it, quit the job and work retail. I am still SD but higher ranked. I should mention, since I left the job in January I had started therapy. Our National Center for PTSD is the world leader in PTSD research, education, and treatment. I've been at my new (much more relaxed) job for a little over a year and I'm getting better. I left spectrum in August. About 12% of Gulf War vets and 15% of Vietnam vets have PTSD, compared to about 8% of the general population, according to the National Center for PTSD. Every time I got dinged for a performance thing I spent the whole day freaking out about losing my job. Best of luck with everything and please update us. I got a job as a business tech support at Spectrum. It filled me with dread every single day. But the so call president made me rehome most of my cats which wasnt fair. I have PTSD due to my ex husband when he constantly beat me over and over again. I ended up leaving that job. ** Hello! Some places use a chat service you might be able to swing over calls or have a balance. [–]lividlysane[S] 1 point2 points3 points 9 days ago (1 child). I took some time off in early 2020, then covid hit along with some family ICU situations. A VA disability law firm is ready to help you with any VA disability issue you are facing. © 2020 reddit inc. All rights reserved. If changing departments isn't an option, I would suggest finding a different/better job. Find handouts, apps, videos, and courses based on current research. PTSD Basics If it's been longer than a few months and you're still having symptoms, you may have PTSD. I hate it. I understand this. I just have residual things to work through. I remember my boyfriend always commenting how I had become more negative and angrier since I had started working there. I jumped at the chance to work at my call center because the pay was much higher than my fast-food management job at the time and it actually has benefits. Find a way out. After about three months there I requested a day off. Is a Master Degree needed to have a good career in IT. I had anxiety issues way before I started at the call center. Cogito, co-founded by MIT Media Lab professor Alexander “Sandy” Pentland and alumnus Joshua Feast, uses voice analytics to help call center workers build a better rapport with customers, and to monitor PTSD symptoms in U.S. veterans. It just took a large toll on my mental health. More PTSD Topics. No dude you're not the only one. Thusly, I didn't start job hunting for several months after that. Get an ad-free experience with special benefits, and directly support Reddit. Nowadays, I'm off the inbound line at work, and my cellphone spends a LOT of time in airplane mode. I was stressed every day. I will be doing that regardless, but the timeline of fixing my issue and getting a job seems too far. Want to make a change or get that next step in your career? Moral support after dealing with awkward and difficult callers PSA: Interviews are not exams. Working at a call center can be a stressful experience. I barely made it 5 months at my call center job. I started developing panic attacks while on the job. Surely I'm not the only one? I feel like I'm wasting the best years of my life, which is yet another source of anxiety. A job is not worth your health and life over. This site provides educational resources for Veterans and also for health care providers, researchers, and the general public. I was wrong. My manager refuses to acknowledge anyone's mental health issues and sends repeated emails explaining that the reason we're all getting stressed is because we're lazy and weak. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): (800) 950-NAMI (6264). If I could find another job I would, if you've got the opportunity to escape, take it! I'm probably quitting when I have the chance, and I would recommend you do the same if it's affecting you this badly. Call 1-(888) 392-5392 for your free case evaluation or for the veterans helpline! My Theme Park Travel Company had two main call centers: Orlando and Tampa. I already have anxiety, and this job makes it way worse. My depression and anxiety were diagnosed a few months before I had a breakdown and had to leave my call centre job. I still occasionally have the attacks, but not as often. This includes things like (but not limited to); New Grad / Career Path / Cybersecurity or IT jobs with little to no multitasking? Chat online with a counselor; Call 911 or visit a local emergency room Now, the Pentagon is funding a study at three Army medical centers to determine if the technique — long used for the treatment of pain — is truly effective in treating PTSD. I ended up leaving that job. A job should never be put before health and unfortunately a lot of people can't see it when they're in the middle of it, I know I didn't. [–]creatureshockData Center Technician 1 point2 points3 points 9 days ago (1 child). I also flinched whenever my cellphone rang. Thank you for your input! If you need help right away: Call 1-800-273-8255 Press "1" if you are a Veteran. I had severe social anxiety since I was a pre-teen. The fires at that job dealt with serious injury and telling clients family that the client had passed. use the following search parameters to narrow your results: Want to chat with the community via Discord? Call centre veteran here. Afterwards I threw myself into work and drinking to numb the pain, after I was raped the second time, I ended up going to a rape counseling center and speaking to … Easier said than done but you're already being affected by the job. PTSD Treatment Basics. According to the National Center for PTSD, about 7 out of 100 Americans suffer from PTSD. I agree with running for the hills, but when you have bills to pay, a family to support, and a dog you take your meds and deal until something better comes your way...and pray. REDDIT and the ALIEN Logo are registered trademarks of reddit inc. π Rendered by PID 24217 on r2-app-0cfbf511ae2110fab at 2020-12-25 21:03:37.147509+00:00 running 6abf2be country code: US. **Welcome to Tales From Call Centers (TFCC), a place where we share tales from the trenches of the call center world! I regularly have anxiety attacks at work. Hi everyone! Pearson Vue online exam payment method (Just trying to make it to 50 characters, don't know why this is required haha lol). It is natural to want to avoid thinking about or feeling emotions about a stressful event. Call centers are not representative of the whole of IT, so I wouldn't let that discourage you. Kind of trauma, most commonly sexual assault or combat experience might not be able avoid... Point in any it position the customer call back just to bitch at you some,. And there decided that no man should have to go through a lot reasonable... Fires at that job prior to the Void symptoms may start later on, or what of... I love computers but I 'm taking call after call then GTFO brace myself for verbal.. Massive panic attacks, but it was hard for me due to work stress is... Care providers, researchers, and my cellphone spends a lot more therapy center though. Still having symptoms, you agree to our use of cookies a stretcher for you cant emphasise enough how happier... To bitch at you some more, just keep transferring them to panic! Mackafterall 0 points1 point2 points 9 days ago ( 0 children ) with double of... See the days that he did that to me customers, it can be to... Travel Company had two main call centers, what entry level day thinking about or emotions... Which I am literally turning into a basket case is stemming from your job believe. People with PTSD may find it hard to function normally, re-experiencing their in. ( Former Employee ) - Zanesville, OH - March 18, 2020 're dealing with medical situations emergencies! 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