To not understand why they think I’ve got depression

[User50000]

I’ve recently gone on sick leave. I used the idiom “I’ve hit a bit of wall” to describe why I was off. Without going into detail. A colleague has now messaged me saying she has also had depression and is here if I want to talk. I’m unsure why the phrase I used lead them to believe I was depressed? It wouldn’t be my first thought if someone had said this to me.

Unless you have been undergoing physio and that's what you mean about hitting a wall, mental health issues like depression sounds like a perfectly reasonable assumption to make.

What would be your first thought, OP, if someone used that idiom?

Assuming you don't have any chronic health conditions you could have been referring to, that your colleagues are aware of (fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, etc), it doesn't surprise me that a mental health condition is the first thing that came to mind.

I, like PP, think it's perfectly reasonable that your coworker thinks you have depression. That would be my first thought as well.

I'm curious as to what you're first thought would be?

Burnout isn't necessarily the same as being depressed but it can be.

Winnie I agree. I was trying to make the distinction earlier.

Assuming you haven’t hit an actual walk, I would assume it was a mental brick wall with stress or depression or burn out.

What a caring colleague to msg you with support

burn out is usually temporary and is generally an overload of stress or overwork.

Hit a wall to me means depression, stress or anxiety.

@User50000 isn't coming back!

OP you haven't given us much to go off of here. Yes, if somebody said they've "just hit a wall" I'd imagine it was a euphemism for a mental health illness, probably depression or anxiety. I'd assume if they had literally/physically hit a wall than they would probably explain that in more detail. Your colleague was just offering support, which was really nice. If you don't want assumptions made then tell people the truth instead of using metaphors. If you don't want them to know the truth then come up with a believable lie (of course except in the case of your line manager- as they would see a sick note which I imagine you'd require)

What did the GP write on your sick note? It's unlikely to be 'User has hit a bit of a wall'.

That’s exactly how I would take it. Stress, anxiety etc. what is wrong? Why aren’t you at work? What did you mean by I’ve hit the wall?

Of course people are going to assume it's mental health related.

I'm sure I saw this thread from the perspective of the other person last week?!

Was referring to this

How weird! Is that genuinely User’s colleague or is this someone’s A level psychology project?

I wouldn't immediately think depression tbh… i'd think they're physically run down/exhausted/unwell because of it.

I think I may have seen this type of thread a third time recently as well. I remember being surprised when I saw it a second time.

If I say "I've hit a bit of a wall" with something it means "I'm fucking sick of it" but presumably the doctor would be writing sick notes all day long if that was a legitimate health concern.

What did you mean OP? You don’t normally get signed off sick for hitting a wall creatively which is the only other interpretation I can think of?

I’m stressed which is what I thought my colleagues would all assume. I don’t see how what I said would make people think I’m depressed.

Tell your colleagues you are stressed then. Clearly being unclear about it has led to a misunderstanding. I don't they they ABU at all to jump to the conclusion that you are depressed based on what you told them. Also, what does it matter?

There's nothing wrong with feeling depressed, there isn't any kind of stigma attached to it these days. Your colleague was merely trying to be supportive.
What it is that is causing the stress - something going on at work, or at home? Or just stress in general?

What is the problem OP? (Genuine question) - it's obviously a euphemism for a mental health challenge having arisen to the point you cannot work and require a break, unless in the instance you had chronic physical pain the colleague knew about, in which case assuming you'd 'hit the wall' with pain levels.

You are off with a mental health issue, and there is nothing srong with that. Stress and depression and anxiety very very often go hand in hand. Depression isn't anything your colleague appears attaching a stigma too, she is just offering support and explaining she too has had a mental health issue prior. Is this about the stigma of them thinking you have a 'mental illness' when you would prefer it labelled 'just stress'. If so I imagine you are overthinking it OP, decent sensible people are aware stress/depression/anxiety come in many forms and degrees and are not an indicator the person is otherwise infirm/after attention/less capabale/a failure or any other thing. A person who 'has depression' is not a stressed person who failed to get control of that. "Hitting a wall" definitely insinuates that mental health wise, you've had some degree of breakdown that means you need a break.

Focus on the fact she's wished you well and cares if you can and enjoy your time off, thinking about work and what people think surely cant help. Wishing you well OP, stress is awful