After more than a year off of work I have returned. I am working the night shift at a local involuntary in-patient psych unit. The night shift is eerily quiet. There is busy work to do and very little patient interaction, which is good and bad. So far my pain levels haven't increased. I noticed during my training when I did day and evening shifts on the floor interacting with angry, yelling patients added tremendous stress to my body. Working nights I don't have to deal with that. I don't mind working with people with mental disorders, in fact I enjoy it. But it does wear you out when they direct their frustration and anger towards you.
I haven't had a hard time adjusting to going back to work. It was tough getting up to an alarm clock during my week of training and orientation. Sleeping when I want and getting up when I want was a blessing. Being an arachniac causes sleep disturbances. I get very little restorative sleep. I think that's what has made working nights not as difficult. I only sleep a few hours here and there, that is if I am medicated.
All in all it was a good move to return to work. Now I can get my credit back on track and get new furniture for the house, not to mention a haircut! Sometimes it's those little things we miss the most.
