You’re right on all counts. With the help of therapy and medicine I was able to reach a state where I was able to start an apprenticeship as an automation specialist in a regular firm without any concessions that would need to be noted on the certificate of proficiency (just a bit more leniency for sick days (unpaid)). Just a few weeks ago I received my federal certificate for this profession and I’m now starting to look for jobs (luckily, the market is starved for automation specialists).

But as you guessed, it’s still an ongoing process. For the duration of the apprenticeship I had to work 100% and as a consequence was sick a lot (part my body complaining about being overworked, part not always having the willpower to power through). I’m planning to only work a maximum of 80% in future, maybe just 70%.

Some days are still very difficult. Just last week I shut down completely for two days because of the combination of needing to prepare my work project for handover, looking for a new workplace (my current one only deals with apprenticeships, it’s kind of like a school in that regard) and being hounded at home about deep cleaning my room and parts of the house in preparation for moving out (was living with several other people for the duration of the apprenticeship and will move out next month) all at once.

I’m very grateful to the state (canton) I’m living in for all the help I received without counting it as debt against me (unless I suddenly win the lottery jackpot, inherit a fortune from an unexpected benefactor, or start earning disgusting amounts of money). Because of that, I’m hoping I can find work in this state so that my taxes may help in continuing these policies for other people rather than benefit an unrelated state.