fellow sufferers of depression - if you woth have you told work about your illness?

[peanutbrittle]

I've been on ads for 18 mnths now, recently had them increased as things were getting hairy again (but think have suffered long term chronic low grade depression for years). Work don't know anything about it. Part of my issues I think stem from low self esteem and always putting on a brave front. It's sort of worn me down little bt little I think. I need to get more in tune with my emotoins/myself. I know this. I'm reading lots about meditation and mindfulness at the moment and hoping that might help.

Anyway, long winded intro. Sorry. I think the next few months may be tricky as I really want to put enough effort into trying to help myself get better as I can. I know I have let things slide at work over the past 18 months (and more, before I was diagnosed) - I manage to keep it hanging together but have real trouble motivating myself and concentrating. I am wondering whether I should spill the beans to my boss(es) and expect a bit of support from them. As I said, I have a lifetimes practice of "putting on a brave face" and pretending everything is ok so they will probably be shocked. I'm about to be referred for some psychodynamic therapy and so am aware there may be rocky times ahead and I may need time off for appts etc.

so, long way of asking - did you tell your work? and if so what impact did it have? it's not like me to bare all to folk, and so I wonder if would be better not saying anything (I am very private and feel very strange if I think I've told people "too much" - but am aware this may not be "normal")

thoughts/experiences would be most welcome

thanks - confused PB

anyone?

I don't suffer as badly as you I suspect. But it would depend IMO on who you would need to tell and how sympathetic they would be. They wouldn't be able to discriminate against you in terms of employment, so it would be a question of whether you think they might need to know and whether a little support might be useful.

I don't suffer as badly as you I suspect. But it would depend IMO on who you would need to tell and how sympathetic they would be. They wouldn't be able to discriminate against you in terms of employment, so it would be a question of whether you think they might need to know and whether a little support might be useful.

I would be very wary. There is still so much of a stigma/misunderstanding of mental illness. When I was bad with OCD/depression when PG I grappled with this issue - MW advised me not to disclose - in hindsight I think she was correct - I was working in a professional area where the attitude was you should be resilient, and if you weren't there was something wrong with you and you should just try harder.

PB - in almost exactly the same position as you. Can't motivate myself or concentrate and have been on ads for 12 months and see a pyschiatrist at regular intervals.

I will not ever be telling my employers unless it becomes unavoidable. At the moment, they do not seem to have noticed the problem and I think if I told them, they would be watching me and perceive much more of a problem than they currently do.

I suppose it depends on your employer. I like mine a lot, but I really don't think that they would "get" this and they would think it was something I should just pull myself together over.

Good luck.

thanks for the responses. I think I am close to "revealing" because although I say I am keeping it hanging together at work it is by a very fine thread indeed and I anticipate some aggravation from above soon on bits and pieces I haven't managed to keep on top of. I suppose I feel like getting them to lay off a bit while I try to sort myself out. Possibly NOT my finest idea ever though. Maybe I am just looking for an excuse for my lack of concentration and application of late...

hard isn't it?

If you are going to tell them, can you get a Drs letter to support you and state that lack of concentration etc can be a side effect of depression?

My friend suffers from depression and told his employer (a large financial services company) about 18 months ago. It has been a wholly positive experience for him as they have said that he can just ring in and say that he's not up to going in, no questions asked, he has some protection against disciplinarys if its something that is caused by his depression, and they have even paid for private counselling. Since he told them, he hasn't had a day off due to depression, just because all the pressure was taken off him about work

thanks again

I work in senior management in a small company where every absence is a problem. We have no official HR or other support services. We do it all ourselves. I think large companies are very keen not to be seen to be contributing to the illness and so want to cover their backs (being a little cynical here, in some cases am sure they also care about their employees wellbeing)

I just feel like I want a bit of a comfort blanket around me at the moment and pretending to be fine when I just want to go home and think and try to get better feels very hard. Is probably good for me though. Probably good that no-one knows so I can't "wallow" also. But hard. Not being able to concentrate or motivate myself is hard. My work doesn't interest me much which doesn't help.

will think about it a bit more and get doctors note if am going to broach it. Need to go see him soon anyway.

thanks again and good luck to you goosey loosey and ormirim and anyone suffering similarly