Returning to work after C-PTSD – Gina’s story

Gina, who lives with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), shares her journey of getting back into work after experiencing crisis. With the support of Coventry & Warwickshire IPS, Gina is thriving in her new role.

I was diagnosed with C-PTSD ten years ago. This meant that my world as I knew it came crashing down. I was once happy-go-lucky and suddenly I was scared of everything.

Despite this, I managed to sustain a high-pressure career in executive recruitment for many years. However, a couple of years ago, everything came to a head, and I reached breaking point. 

To cope with unresolved trauma, I turned to substance use. There were times when I struggled to leave the house some days, even getting out of bed felt impossible. I ended up taking time out of work which I initially thought would be a month or so, but in the end I was unemployed for nearly three years which meant my purpose and identity was shattered.

With support through therapy and medication, I slowly began the process of rebuilding my life. But I knew that returning to recruitment, as I had known it, was not an option. Without my career, I felt I had lost my identity and sense of purpose. I didn’t know what my future could look like.

My Care Coordinator suggested a referral to Rethink to support me in finding employment. Having worked in recruitment since my teenage years, I believed my options were limited. I assumed I would be guided towards something like a job in a coffee shop.

That’s when I met my Employment Specialist. She introduced me to the IPS model and, more importantly, encouraged me to think beyond “just any job” and towards something I genuinely wanted to achieve. For the first time, I began to see that my skills were transferable and that I had far more options than I had believed.

I realised that, after ten years within the mental health system, I wanted to use my experiences to help others who were struggling. I often describe it like a Tough Mudder challenge: you climb a steep wall, and when you reach the top, it becomes your turn to help pull others up.

Jade gave me the confidence to dream bigger than I ever thought possible. When she suggested I would make a good Employment Specialist, something clicked instantly. I knew that was what I wanted to do.

Today, I’m in my dream role supporting others to believe in themselves and to dream big. As an IPS Employment Specialist, I work alongside individuals who have been unable to work because of their illness and are looking for paid employment. I help to build their confidence, find out what their passions are and explore opportunities for them. I also provide in-work support, helping them make reasonable adjustments with their employers.

Going back to work full-time was a shock to the system at first, but because I genuinely love what I do, it isn’t a struggle. Life has a funny way of working out. If I hadn’t stayed, if I hadn’t held on long enough, I would never have believed the life I’m living now was possible.

Looking to the future, I feel truly blessed to be able to use my past to fuel my purpose. I will continue to be a voice for those who feel voiceless and to bring hope into situations that feel hopeless.