Yes, I spoke to headway recently, I called them and the lady I spoke to just let me talk and talk for an hour, such a simple thing but I was so grateful for her time.
They said they'd send me some info by email but I haven't heard from them.


One of the things I wanted some advice about was in relation to working. Prior to the accident I was working in a managerial position which I did sort of try to return to, but I also knew I wouldn't be able to handle it. I tried my best but I was in way over my head, it was horrible, I felt so overwhelmed.

Having not worked for over 7 months, my financial situation is not great. I applied for job seekers allowance as I was not signed off work at the time, but i have now been signed off and am on Employment Support Allowance.
However, I was required to apply for jobs before and I've been offered an interview. I only applied for really low level stuff as I knew I couldn't handle what I'm qualified to do, but I have lost all confidence in my abilities, I'm really unsure of what I can and can't do now.

I feel like working, if I can do it, would help me get better as I'd be occupied so I'd feel happier, gain confidence, use my brain again (good idea or bad idea? Should I be 'exercising' my brain or letting it rest? How long do I rest it for?!) and have less financial pressure on me.
But, I'm scared I won't make it through the interview, or, even worse, I'm scared i might be offered the job!
The job is administrator in the disability section of a university.

Are you guys all working? If so, how well are you managing?

Oh also, I'm considering asking them to make 'reasonable adjustments' during the interview, such as providing the questions they're asking me written down, as I'm sure I'm going to forget the question immediately or have trouble processing what they're actually asking me.

Do you think this is reasonable? Is there anything else I could/should ask them to change/do?

Abbilee,

Welcome back. I think you should do the interview. Rather than ask for the questions to be written down, you may just ask that the questions be simplified. No complex questions with multiple concepts. Those complex questions can usually be broken down into a few separate questions. Often, our verbal recall is fine with a single subject but gets into trouble when the sentence gets more complex.

A disability department might just be the place for you.

It is important to remember that it is rare that our intelligence is effected by our injury. Memory and processing speed are the common problems. Plus, needing to work in a distraction free environment. We usually just have to learn to do things in a slower more methodical way.

Using our brains is important but getting involved in conversation with too many people can be fatiguing.

The important thing to remember is to limit the peaks of mental effort. Taking on a strenuous task with the idea of resting afterward is often a mistake.

Regarding your neck, often the residual injury is not symptomatic in a physical way. It can be very subtle and cause inflammation that interrupts blood flow and nerve signals to the brain. Being disciplined with head and neck posture can reduce the chance of this subtle inflammation.

Stay in touch.

My best to you.

Thanks Mark, I'm definitely going to do it, but from a suggestion from a friend I'm going to call HR and discuss adjustments that could be made to help me to manage the interview.
I think simpler questions would be ideal but I also feel a bit unsure of asking for that adjustment to be made, I'd feel like I was being awkward, you know?