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Cant work due to depression


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  • SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

    Also visit the online treatment locator.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.

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Last Updated: 08/30/2022

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Beware of depression! Should I tell my boss about my illness?

The difference between a depressed person and a healthy person is very simple: in the case of depression, it is almost impossible to enjoy life, be active and experience positive emotions. This mental disorder brings bad mood, fatigue, mental retardation and lack of desire to do anything. It is extremely difficult to work in such a state. Recognizing depression and explaining your condition to others is even more difficult. We share with you the stories of people who have gone through this.

A year ago, I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder by a neurologist. By autumn, it seemed that the anxiety had gone into remission - I was calm. But on New Year's Eve there was a short and very stressful project. The working chat in Telegram was bursting with messages. They came constantly - both at 3 am and at 8 am. I dreamed that this chat would just stay in 2020 and never appear again. Then I took sedatives because it was impossible to sleep, but I did not think that I was depressed.

The January holidays passed calmly and routinely. After returning to work, everything started spinning again - and the stress returned.

In the spring, I found out that I had health problems that required an operation. The blues and melancholy continued, but now I thought that the reason was in the diagnosis. In addition, the first priority was urgent medical matters - preparation for the operation. It seemed that as soon as everything ended well, I would become a happy person.

Before the hospitalization, I decided to ask for a week's vacation in order to take all the tests and have some rest. Colleagues picked up communication with clients. But as the guys kept writing and asking questions, I kept doing a lot of work. Now I understand that I overdid it. Colleagues could manage on their own.

After the sick leave, when I went to work, it turned out that I had a new client in addition to the existing ones - a colleague quit for family reasons, and her project was transferred to me. In the office, this girl was condemned for dropping her business and leaving. She was not understood. It also made me angry at the time. As a human being, I sympathized with her, but I got her projects in poor condition, and this made me angry.

The first week, when I was waiting for the results of the operation and was in touch with the doctors, I was constantly shaking. I thought about taking a break and telling my superiors about my condition. I consulted with one of my colleagues. He replied: “You can only say that it’s hard for you if you are ready to say goodbye to this job.” At the same time, he himself had problems, because of which he was depressed, but also did not say anything to his superiors and did not take a break.

Depression interferes with work. Any work task causes panic. The body gives out a constant physical reaction - trembling or heat, tension presses on the temples. Super inefficient. Realistically do only something very simple or work with familiar projects. It is difficult to take on large clients, conduct large deals and launches.

There are flashes. Suddenly you become very efficient, like performing well or doing a lot of tasks on your way up. In this state, it is dangerous, for example, to subscribe to KPIs with clients - the view of things is not entirely realistic, and then the depressive mood returns anyway.

It becomes hard not only to work, but also to hang out. There is stiffness, and alcohol does not help to relax. Probably 70% of jokes are impossible to understand and you just have to smile when everyone laughs. The feeling that all the good that is in me, in my head, is hidden under a layer of darkness and it is impossible to break through it.

I often compare myself with other people who are also in a difficult situation and cope with it. It seems that it is not possible to export only from me alone. It seems that I am afraid to face not only external stigma, I blame myself internally for what is happening.

Now I have changed my psychotherapist, I am taking antidepressants and waiting for the result. At work, I never said that I had a depressive-anxiety disorder.

* The heroine's name has been changed

My depression has lasted for 16 years in total. Exacerbations happen quite often and take several months. I worked in the office for about 6 years. I did not tell the employer, I was shy. The official hospital with a diagnosis of "depression" did not ask the doctors and just drank the medicine. Therefore, when exacerbations occurred, she often lied that she was poisoned or something else happened. Or came home from work, overeat, drank wine and slept until the morning. Then it was necessary to suffer for 8 hours at work and you can sleep again. But, in general, this is a so-so strategy. Because of this, she left the office for project work and freelance work.

Freelancing is easier: in remission, I try to earn a financial cushion and do not take long-term projects. If all of a sudden I am running a long-term project and an aggravation begins, I finish everything on moral and strong-willed efforts and do not start anything new. It was difficult to accept that my resource is limited and sometimes I can’t work at all, but only stare at the wall. There are signs by which I already understand when the battery is running out and it is necessary to complete current obligations and look for something that will give a resource. Or, if there is no strength for this, the doctor corrects the therapy - and I'm waiting for improvement lying down.

The employer, with whom I constantly do projects, knows about my depression - I told him everything honestly when it came to transferring me to a permanent salary instead of project work. He does not always understand, but he accepts and for some reason still works with me. Although he himself adheres to the position "in the army it becomes easier for everyone." I keep stubbornly refusing the constant so as not to let him down and drive myself into a corner with guilt.

In terms of money, of course, it comes out less and not so stable. But my life is dearer to me, and in general, for 5 years now I have been able to balance and twist.

When the depression started, I was 18 and in college. Then there were more episodes. One happened when I was working in a publishing house. Due to the fact that we had a friendly team, I was able to transfer most of the processes, push everything away from me to just lie down. But even then I had to work, just less. It was terrible anyway. Each action - such as opening the mail - already required enormous efforts, it seemed unbearable, and even writing a letter ... I told the authorities about depression in general terms, it didn’t really bother anyone and didn’t affect the attitude towards me.

Depression was difficult, I had to overcome myself. Managed with the support of family and friends. I tried to relax, put off work, contact people.

To minimize the risk of depression, I try to listen to the slightest bells, and it is even better not to bring them to my attention. I try to make my life varied and fulfilling. Quite simple things help: food, sleep, walks, people, books, sports.

If you don't have the strength for it, you have to lie down. It's so hard to work, I can't do much in this state and therefore I try not to take projects. As soon as strength appears, I try to invest it in something useful - try to cook something balanced (vegetables, cereals) or walk, go out, maybe even swim in the pool - in general, do something that will fill me up later and let it last for a while. I try to do something simple - wash my face or wipe the table - and be sure to praise myself for it. It is important not to devalue your condition.

I took antidepressants for a long time, but I have already stopped them. I'm lucky that I can somehow manage without them, but for many without the support of pills, it's completely impossible, and this is also normal.

I have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder. At that time I was already in psychotherapy, and my therapist referred me to a doctor who prescribed antidepressants.

At work I didn't say anything, didn't consider it necessary. Actually, the work saved me: I had to go to it, and then one question appeared, another - you look, and already got involved. It was rather scary to go home, where I was alone and everything could worsen. Here, probably, the key point is that I like what I do, and my company is very humane. Elsewhere, the situation could only get worse.

In a state of depression, sometimes it took a lot of strength to get together to do something. Especially new and incomprehensible. The illness lasted for about a year. I took medication and continued to go to therapy. I hope that this material will help other people, I think this is an important topic.

In world practice, more and more people openly talk about depression and adjust their professional plans because of this disease. For example, Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka recently refused to participate in Roland Garros, and the youngest British MP, Nadia Wittom, went on vacation due to post-traumatic stress disorder and tweeted about it.

In Russia, the disease is still surrounded by stigma and guilt. Usually it is not customary to talk about it at work, where the employee is expected to effectively fulfill contractual obligations. The problem is that an employee with depression needs the help and support that the company can provide, and ignoring the problem affects not only the person's personal life, but often also business performance.

“It is impossible to give a definitive answer as to whether or not to tell management that you have clinical depression. It all depends on the culture of the company and how it relates to human health, says Marina Lvova, Director of Organizational Development HeadHunter .

Marina Lvova, Director of Organizational Development HeadHunter

If the company culture allows you to explain what is happening to you, and you trust your manager, you definitely need to talk about it and get support. Perhaps the company has access to psychologists or the HR department knows where to turn.

If you work in an organization with a fairly rigid structure and understand that you will be pressured after such a recognition or that you may lose your job, I would recommend not to speak, but to think about why you are in such an environment at all.

In any case, first of all, you need to take care of your health, because depression requires treatment. Only a doctor can diagnose it. If you are at the stage where you can combine treatment and work, keep working. If it’s hard for you and you can’t get out of bed, take sick leave or write an application for leave without pay - in this case, your condition is primary. ”

If you decide to take a breather, it is important to know that an official sick leave with a diagnosis of depression can only be issued by a neuropsychiatric dispensary or a psychiatric hospital. In other cases, sick leave may be issued for another reason.

In the fall of 2020, the State Duma proposed giving paid days off with a doctor's report on depression. The initiative is based on data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, according to which the productivity of an employee who is in a state of depression is reduced by four times. Whether this proposal will be accepted is not yet known, but it is a good step to help employees of companies experiencing this problem.

Being depressed and having to keep working is, of course, difficult. This is confirmed by the stories of our heroes. If you find yourself in this situation, the most important thing is to take care of yourself as much as you can now.

Talks about how you can support yourself Maria Shumikhina, psychologist, executive coach, member of the board of the International Association for the Psychoanalysis of Business and Organizations :

Maria Shumikhina, psychologist

“If you find symptoms of depression in yourself, try to seek professional help as soon as possible. Of course, you will be told stories about how depression was cured by meditation and douches, but it’s not a fact that you have enough time to try all the random recommendations. Unfortunately, very often depression, which is not treated, ends with a loss of working capacity.

Once diagnosed, it is important to understand that depression is a long marathon and how you take care of yourself and your ability to keep running will determine your destiny. You are the author of the most important part in the recovery process. A psychiatrist selects medicines, and your part of the job is not only to drink them, but also to be aware of the process of change, learn to listen to yourself.

Psychotherapy will help process traumatic experiences and teach sensitivity to one's condition. Often people, especially those most prone to burnout, lack self-compassion, and without self-support, we can rarely handle high overload.

In the process of psychotherapy, among other things, we learn not to succumb to the cognitive distortions that we find ourselves in during depression. They are quite easy to identify if you understand this mechanism: depression makes a person think in a certain way, gives him a specific view of reality.

This “voice of depression” says:

  1. “You are the problem” (guilt and shame come to the fore during depression).
  2. "Everything makes no sense, there is no solution, everything is already useless."

In a healthy person, such experiences are balanced by a more complete picture of the world and oneself. If the drugs are chosen effectively, these cognitive distortions disappear, “tunnel thinking” goes away, and the ability to look for new solutions appears.

If you need to look for new solutions in your work, healing will allow you to keep this skill. But, if depression is not treated, you can lose the ability to make any decisions.

The state of depression is a period when the body's resources are depleted, and this determines life strategies. Time to invest wisely everything you have: energy and physical strength, money and social connections. The restoration of the body is no less important than the restoration of the psyche. In some countries, recovery through regular physical activity is a prerequisite for receiving insurance-based psychotherapy. A good doctor will also give advice on improving sleep and nutrition. There is, for example, a high correlation between depression, neuroinflammation processes and an increased amount of carbohydrates in the diet. The microbiome (yes, the one that lives in the gut and prefers greens) is on your side in the fight against depression.

Process optimization is required to be able to stay operational. It's hard to do it alone when you're depressed. Is it possible to discuss at work how tasks will be temporarily redistributed? If yes, this will help you a lot. And a supportive atmosphere at work provides much more loyalty to all employees than forced sick leave or dismissal because it was not possible to redistribute tasks.

If you suspect depression and are unsure whether to see a doctor, the first step may be to complete a questionnaire. We recommend not to delay and if there are signs of the disease, immediately contact a specialist.

Aaron T. Beck Depression Scale Online Test

Zang Self-Reported Depression Scale

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↩ Back to articles that prevent us from finding work. What other psychological reasons for failures in job search are, Work.ua found out from psychologists.

It happens that the reason for the inability to find a suitable job is not external factors, but internal reasons and psychological conditions. What are they and how can they be weakened or even eliminated, we asked our experts.

Julia Sulaeva

psychotherapist, trainer, head of training center Content

Depression

The impact of depression on job opportunities is often underestimated. But in vain. The current pace of life, the pursuit of achievements and constant stress have led to the fact that every fifth person is faced with this unpleasant condition is pretty serious. Main symptoms: low vitality, pessimism, lack of motivation, loss of interest in life, inability to enjoy, inability to make decisions and concentrate on achievements, chronic fatigue, increased or decreased appetite, insomnia or excessive sleepiness, decreased sexual desire. It is necessary to distinguish between short-term depressive states as a reaction to grief, loss, stress, change in health status and long-term depressive state, which lasts from several months to several years. And no matter how much others urge a person in depression to get together, stop moping and strive for achievements, this does not help. Depression is a disease, and another kind of help is needed here.

What to do

If you find yourself with most of the symptoms, and they are quite pronounced, remember how long this condition lasts. In the current situation of quarantine, almost all of us are going through depressive periods as a stage of experiencing a loss of stability and certainty.

a) If the depression is not long-term - do not worry and give yourself the opportunity to live it. Get plenty of rest, do not scold yourself for low productivity and, if possible, replenish the resource. It can be contact with nature, delicious food, warm communication with loved ones, communication with animals and so on. Some simple and accessible things that make you feel fulfilled.

b) If depression lasts more than a month, seek help. A competent psychotherapist will determine the cause of your condition and the method of treatment. Sometimes depression can only be managed with psychotherapy, and in some cases it will also be necessary to consult a psychiatrist and receive medication.

Learned helplessness

Sometimes, in the case of experiencing a strong fiasco, loss, crisis, and most often from a long series of failures, a person falls into a state called “learned helplessness”. At the same time the ground under my feet is lost, "hands drop" and there is a feeling that all efforts are in vain and nothing depends on me. This has a strong impact on motivation, since it is influenced not only by desires and needs, but also by the assessment of the ability to achieve the desired. If there is no certainty that “I can, I can do it”, then there is no need to invest much in achieving the desired readiness.

What to do

a) Reflect on the fact that every failure is an experience and the next step towards achievement. All successful people at first went through a series of mistakes and failures. For example, Edison made about 10,000 unsuccessful experiments while trying to improve the incandescent light bulb and did not give up.

b) Create your experience of successful achievements, your “Achievement List”. Make a to-do list for the day, starting with very simple and easy things. Let this list be more than 20 items. For example, get up in the morning and do 5 squats, brush your teeth, drink coffee, call a friend, read 1 page of a book, look at vacancies, select suitable ones, send 2 resumes, and the like. After each completed task, mark it in the list. Strive to ensure that all tasks are completed by the end of the day. This will gradually create an experience of success and a feeling that you are influencing your life. As your sense of confidence grows, you can add more complex and important things to the list.

Inadequate self-esteem

Both low and high self-esteem hinders finding a job. From the point of view of psychology, these are two sides of the same coin, since a person inflates his own grandiosity due to the fact that inside he feels insignificant. The key to achievements, successful development, a healthy mental state and harmonious relationships with others is an accepting, warm attitude towards oneself and an adequate understanding of one's strengths and weaknesses.

What to do

a) Sit back, relax, close your eyes and say the phrase "Despite the fact that I ... (the main claim to myself), I completely love and accept myself." Listen to your inner feelings. If this phrase causes rejection and other unpleasant emotions, this topic needs to be worked out. Repeat it daily and watch how the sensations change.

b) Think about the messages you received most of the time from your parents as a child. Were these more critical remarks, or did you receive more support and approval. Usually a sufficient amount of support and the absence of severe stress in childhood form a fairly adequate self-esteem. If this does not happen, then you can correct the situation now. Pretend you are small and write that boy or girl a letter of encouragement and encouragement. Reread it from time to time.

c) Make a list of 20 reasons why you are good / aya ​​ . Include both personal and professional qualities in it.

d) And only after you feel that your attitude towards yourself has warmed up, make a list of qualities and skills that you want to improve in yourself. Map out the first steps towards achieving them.

No desire to work

If you have been looking for a job for a long time, but you still can't find it, find out if you really have a desire to work. If there is no desire to work, then the employer easily “considers” it. Yes, and you will always find unacceptable shortcomings in the proposed vacancies, subconsciously rejecting even good options. The reasons for the lack of such a desire may be different. It happens that a person has experienced many unpleasant situations at a previous job and is subconsciously afraid of their repetition. Perhaps, due to excessive stress, zeal and regular overloads, he received a “professional burnout”, and in this state there is absolutely no desire to work. The cause may be depression, which is described above. Perhaps you are doing a job that you do not like, or you have already grown out of it. Either there is a strong desire for another person to provide, such as a marriage partner. So a woman can dream of doing housework and raising children, and entrusting the material support of the family to her husband.

What to do

If you honestly admitted to yourself that deep down you do not want to work, then try to determine the reason. If the reasons are: severe trauma in the previous place, professional burnout or prolonged depression, it is definitely better to seek professional help, it is extremely difficult to correct such conditions on your own. In other cases, look for options that are acceptable to you - it may be worth considering new areas of activity, agreeing with a partner on the distribution of responsibilities in the family, and so on. It all depends on the cause.

Inability to present oneself

Many of the applicants, despite good professional training, are very lost and embarrassed at the interview. Because of this, they are perceived as not professional enough, insecure and weak. Judge for yourself, ceteris paribus, who would you prefer? A person who speaks calmly, kindly and with dignity, looking at the interlocutor, without nervousness, clearly, with good articulation, or someone who mumbles, looks away and shifts from foot to foot?

What to do

Upgrade your communication skills. There are many good videos on the Internet on this topic. If possible, take courses in public speaking, it is a very useful skill to present yourself, your ideas and projects with inspiration and persuasiveness.

Dmitry Kushch

psychologist, trainer, leading specialist of the training center Content

Fear

Sometimes applicants talk about fear, fear not only of participating in a competitive struggle for the desired place, but also of the necessary changes after achieving the goal. Preparing for an interview, everyone tries to present themselves from the best side, investing both time and effort into preparation. Gathering his strength and flashing all the colors at the interview, the applicant finds himself in a situation where he needs to maintain his new bright image even after receiving the desired position, that is, to give all the best at work all the time, day after day. For some, as a result of this, even before the interview, a subconscious fear arises from the prospect of living in constant tension. Of course, every employer wants to get the best employee, but common sense says that people are not robots and are capable of maximum dedication only at critical stages of work, otherwise any professional will burn out.

What to do

Look for a harmonious combination of workload and your opportunities , but do not forget that learning and improving your professional level is the key to your success.

Learn more