Telling your boss
Before you disclose your diagnosis, it helps to assess your relationship with your boss and to determine how much information you feel comfortable sharing.
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Withdrawal is a symptom of depression, not a solution. Work-social gatherings meant to be fun can feel more like torture.
You might be able to manage five minutes, maybe catch up on a work discussion with a colleague in a quiet corner, then leave. If you've shared your struggle with an office buddy or two, they can help by hanging out with you away from the action.
- Get enough sleep at night.
- Nourish yourself properly – even when it's difficult to put food in your mouth.
- Take a walk when you can; a light jog or run can churn up endorphins to ease some depression symptoms.
- Meditation helps some people with depression or stress.
You're not alone – and once you start talking about this condition, you'll find that there are more people who are sympathetic to you than those who are critical.
While you're being proactive about treatment, take it one day at a time and be very gentle with yourself.
"To stay with it and maintain an independent and productive life -- it's important to identify it, get the appropriate treatment and then stick with that treatment."
If you're not dealing with depression but want to be more attuned to your colleagues, step away from the computer every so often.
Just walk the hall, poke your head in a few offices and say hello... It never does more harm than good to ask how somebody's doing: 'You seem a little low today; is everything OK?'
- You're tired all the time.
- Cooperating with colleagues takes an enormous effort.
- You keep your office door shut and interact with your computer.
- It's hard to concentrate and impossible to summon up a positive attitude.
- Your productivity is down the drain.
- Deadlines don't motivate you.
- You're calling in sick or you're burying yourself in tasks to avoid your emotions.
Depression can run in families, and some of your relatives may have already been there themselves. They may be further along in managing their condition and can give you pointers on how to get through the day.
It's hard when you can't function as well as you're used to, but slogging on doesn't work when you're in a downward spiral.
When you're at a crossroads in terms of your mental health, you need to really say, 'OK, I'm going to ask for five days off. That might mean the difference between me not having a mental health breakdown, or needing to take additional time off.
Even people who are in treatment and have learned how to cope can still return to an acute phase of depression that leaves them totally withdrawn.
Whether they're mostly relying on medications or counseling, they may need a"therapeutic reset."
As you get a handle on depression, you develop your personal tool kit to manage it.
Sometimes you can anticipate depression triggers and prepare in advance.
With chronic conditions -- like depression -- you have workplace protections against discrimination.
Many workplaces have employee assistance programs that include confidential mental health services. Also, look into your health insurance coverage for treatment including counseling and medication.
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Working with a therapist or support group is the best way to help you cope with your symptoms, which in turn will help you better manage your professional life.
Depression is a serious mental illness and can be overlooked by friends and family because the depressed person expends precious energy just to camouflage the problem.
Depression is like a chameleon for therapists as it has different manifestations for different individuals based on their age, gender and a cocktail of other emotional issues that form a unique package.
There are many misconceptions about what depression looks like. You might envision someone who is too distraught to get out of bed. Or you may imagine someone who isn’t able to work or do activities due to their low mood.
But, in reality, depression takes many forms and can range greatly in severeness. Sometimes, people have what’s called “functional depression.” Even if they look OK on the outside, and they seem to be functioning just fine, they may be battling issues you know nothing about.