Overshared at work and now can't stop thinking about it

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I have been having a difficult time outside work/at home and as a result have been really struggling with anxiety and depression. I have had reasonable adjustment in place since the stress started as I am finding it difficult to cope with work ok top of everything, and finding it hard to concentrate.

I didn't give any context as to what was going on at the time, and just talked about anxiety and how I was trying different medications.

But this week my adjustments were reviewed and I went into detail about my home life as I thought I needed to to give context and for my adjustments to continue. Now I feel so stupid and I'm cringing. Was I right to do this? It was only discussed with my boss and no one else, and he assured me he has 'heard everything' in his time so nothing would surprise him.

I just feel so stupid because I got slightly emotional talking about things. I don't have any support or anyone to talk to, and now I'm going to feel embarrassed at work going forward.

Is it ok to over share sometimes? I wouldn't normally but felt I had to as my performance at work is being affected.

I think in that context it was absolutely fine to explain why you're struggling.

It's absolutely fine. This would only become a problem if you did it all the time and started treating your boss like a therapist. You are very far from doing that!

Oh, I very much doubt I'll even mention it again, and hope it's forgotten about really

It's not over sharing if you're in the appropriate context, which it sounds like you were.

Did you get what you needed from it in terms of your adjustments continuing?

When I am managing someone who is struggling it is helpful to know if there are outside pressures contributing to it. It's something I'd always ask actually, prefaced by the caveat that they 100% don't need to share and if they don't it won't affect the outcome, but if they do I might be able to offer/recommend other avenues of support.

And, like your boss, I have seen it all at this point!

@shuffleofftobuffalo I did have my adjustments extended so this was good. I'm just struggling at the minute. He directed me to the employee assistance line but I'm too scared to pick up the phone.

Are you getting any support?

Start with Samaritans perhaps, if you need to chat today. You can hang up at any point, you don't even have to explain WHY you are struggling, you can just get some support with the fact that you are struggling.

There is a woman in my work and we know everything!!! People avoid her as its crying and telling us everything daily. I've worked there 6 years. As long as you're not like her no issue.

Do use the employee assistant line. Ive used it for counselling. You usally get 8 x session free. Work dont even get told. Not even hr. They get figures each month of the amount that have used the service. But your name , reason etc is fully confidential

Use the EAP, it’s what it’s there for.

@RustyandDusty no way, I'd never share my personal life with my colleagues. I like to keep myself to myself but I had no choice but to explain this time.

That sounds so bloody mean maybe she hasn't got anyone else to talk to no wonder folks kill themselves. Personally I would ask her does she have a therapist Is she ok

You do know that all this keep to ourselves is utter bullshit stiff upper lip that the brits have don't work does it hence why people suffer from depression etc

She's so unpleasant to everyone and tells us she doesn't care about our issues just hers so yeah 🤷

Well that's different she's an emotional vampire guardian has a great article abiut that

Yeah she's quite awful tbh

I'm in a similar situation although do not have reasonable adjustments. I'm struggling and have a lot going on outside of work. I at times update my manager like the other day I had a stressful event which I took time out for but couldn't work afterwards. I didn't go into details but sent a teams with a brief message. I did update her the following day. I do tell her things although not in great detail so she is aware if I'm struggling at work or need some time etc.

I think what you have done is fine and will help you in the future if you need time off urgently etc