Overcoming (And Embracing) Mental Health Issues When Looking For A JobThe surprising benefits to owning an overly busy brain.

Amental health issue/differencedoes count as a disability and the truth is, if you suffer from one and are looking for a job, you're stronger than you think you are. You're battling something in your mind that's an "invisible illness" to the public, but very real to you, and that has provided you with problem-solving abilities others do not possess.

Here's how to turn a perceived problem into a possible plus when it comes to scoring the dream gig you deserve.
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Identify positive coping mechanisms

Behavioral disorders require us to break things down into bite-size pieces so as to make the impossible seem tolerable. And that is a HUGE workplace asset. We aresolving daily puzzles. Gathering the problematic parts individually, in the unique way everyone with mental health issues does, helps us to complete tasks differently and more efficiently than the so-called "normies" we're competing with. Explaining how you fit yourself into an often overwhelming world showspotential employersthat you bring a unique perspective to a workplace that may need it.

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Study the studies

You may think that you know everything aboutmental health differences, but there's always new information regarding what's going on inside your id and ego. A previous therapist recommended I read the work of Kay Redfield Jamison since I have a mood disorder that she specializes in. I started with "An Unquiet Mind" — which talks about how creatives, with afflictions similar to mine, tend to outperform peers in various problem-solving ways, while sourcing back to multiple studies throughout the course of the book. It has been invaluable in helping me sell myself.

Step back before stepping in

Press "pause" before making a move that couldrisklanding a job just because you're feeling risque. If you need to take a step back? Do just THAT. It's always better to reschedule, in advance, rather than honoring an interview time when you're in the middle of a mental health episode.

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