Re: Life is worse than ever since being diagnosed. What do I do?

[Anonymous]

Hi Larynxa,

Actually I have done everything you suggest above. I have loads of documentation and evidence including recordings of meetings (that is legal here in NC) that clearly show discrimination based on prejudice, ignorance, and complete and obvious bull-shit. I’ve consulted with two attorneys and both agree that I have the proof I need to win. If I was single with no children I would fight tooth and nail for however it took to not let them get away with this. However, I have a wife and young daughter to think about, not to mention my own mental health, and as you point out the battle would likely take several years and put a lot of stress on me and my family. It just isn’t worth it. Both attorneys agree its likely I would win eventually but they also pointed out that most of their clients who went on to win in similar cases reported that the settlement they won wasn’t worth the stress and the psychological and emotional turmoil they went through in the years fighting the case.

It galls me to let them get away with it but I think it is healthier for me to move on with my life. I’m learning to look at this in a positive light. Because of this injustice I won’t go on and waste several more years of my life unhappy working for a company in which I could only rise so far because I can’t be the type of slime required to advance further. It still depresses me and I still obsess on it but eventually I’ll find a way with the help of friends, family, and professionals (coach, therapist, etc.) to earn a living doing something that allows me to preserve my ethical beliefs and not be dependent on lesser people controlling my fate. I got a lot of inspiration from this article at http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/07/10-reasons-you-should-never-get-a-job/.

BTW – When I said “I’m going to be fired anyway” I wasn’t speaking out of negativity or depression. I was speaking from firm knowledge and experience. I’ve worked for this company for eight years and I’ve seen how the game works. I just never knew what was going on behind the scenes. I also was naive enough to think I had a good boss who liked me and would want to help me. But I recognized the motions as soon as they started. There is no doubt I would have already been fired if I hadn’t gone out on short term disability. They won’t fire me while I’m on disability because that would support my case in a law suit. Ironically, their act of trying to frame me up as being psychologically unfit for work resulted in me actually being psychologically unfit for work because of the depression and stress it put me under. Go figure.

Regards,

W_W

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