prb said:

Reel said:

Most larger companies have an EAP program or something to that effect. This may sound cruel, but an employer "employs" in order to get a job done, and if that job isn't being done for "whatever" reasons...that employer is well within thier right to take corrective action. They are not there to hold any of our hands, that's for our families, friends and other loved ones to do.

With that being said....employers are also human beings. I would think that as a human being one would try to refer their employee for the help that they needed, and back off and give them a little space and time to get themselves together. However, since depression is a disorder that can last a lifetime...it would be unreasonable to expect an employer to wait indefinitely for an employee to "bounce back". At some point "decisions" have to be made.

So no...I would not share with my employer that I had "depression" if I were in that predicament. But if I needed to take a few hours per week to go to therapy or whatever, I'd probably frame it in a way to suggest that I'm going for "grief" counseling. Which isn't really a lie because depression is grieving. People tend to be less judgemental about people who are grieving because everyone knows that they too can lose something or someone and need time and space to grieve. Some people can tend to "turn up their noses" at individuals suffering from depression.

The sad thing is that there are a lot of clinically depressed people walking around and functioning, and they have no idea that they are depressed. However, it is manifested in their actions and the way they treat themselves and other people.

Not all bosses are bad....when i finally got around to telling my new boss (last job) about my depression/anxieties i wasnt sure what his reaction would be....turned out his sister and daughter both suffer the same thing....

he was very understanding....id just have to say i was having a "bad day" and he would just leave me alone to get on with my work.

My anxieties manifested themself in my first job, where eventually i became agrophobic....i couldnt handle staff meetings without the "flight" instinct kicking in...eventually, i was pulled into the HR office, where i burst into tears....a visit to my GP put me on meds and onto a counsellor who helped me gain the skills to cope....

i will never be fully anxiety/depression free, it is a part of my chemical make up, but i have the coping mechanisims to help me realise when i am about to hit a rough patch, and i can seek help/talk about it...before it takes over.

This is good .

I am bipolar and on disability because of it. I am actually using the computer at a place called "the recovery learning center" which is for people with a diagnosis. I come here all the time .

First, you are doing the right thing by reaching out. People who have been there aren't going to say "snap out of it". There are alot of people at this center who have been in and out of the psychiatric ward for years do to cronically feeling suicidal and since joining a club house/ or peer support atmosphere have been out of the hospital for years. So reach out to others like yourself so you don't beat yourself up for beating yourself up!

Second what the Void said should be told to you by psychiatrists but is not. I wish I had a paper that was given to me about preventing depression in children here with me so I could quote it. Something about fast food actually increases depression (white bread, fries etc) and if given to a small child increases their chance of developing depression. No doc ever told me that. Another weird thing, Salt absorbs water, their is alot of water in your brain, somehow a high salt diet also isn't so good. I am going on memory here - sorry. What else get lots of Omega 3's but their is some other bad cholesterol that you want as little of as possible. What theVoid said about walking is the best. When I feel way down, like I would deffinately commit suicide if it would not devestate my 8 year old daughter down, walking during daylight hours helps alot.

Wish I had my paperwork, . It amazed me when I found out how many things that I was doing that were counterproductive to my meds etc. Also don' t be afraid to get a second opinion on meds if months pass by with no change that is noticeable.

this is good information to know, I didn't know some of it. I guess I have to stop being lazy and do more research

I wanted you all to wish me luck tomorrow and the rest of the week though. I have some work shifts and I'm nervous about them, I'm worried about how I'll be after work so I have plan to cheer myself up but if all falls through, I need the positive energy I could get.

If I wasnt depressed, id be more help...im starting to look at those points and consider...as least exercising like a maniac.....

Reel said:

prb said:

Not all bosses are bad....when i finally got around to telling my new boss (last job) about my depression/anxieties i wasnt sure what his reaction would be....turned out his sister and daughter both suffer the same thing....

he was very understanding....id just have to say i was having a "bad day" and he would just leave me alone to get on with my work.

My anxieties manifested themself in my first job, where eventually i became agrophobic....i couldnt handle staff meetings without the "flight" instinct kicking in...eventually, i was pulled into the HR office, where i burst into tears....a visit to my GP put me on meds and onto a counsellor who helped me gain the skills to cope....

i will never be fully anxiety/depression free, it is a part of my chemical make up, but i have the coping mechanisims to help me realise when i am about to hit a rough patch, and i can seek help/talk about it...before it takes over.

This is good .

i still miss that job/store

I'm always reading that exercise will make you feel better if you're sufferring from depression. It's never worked for me. I do fairly intense workouts 5 days a week for at least an hour a day. Been doing it for years and I can't say it's done a thing for my depression. If anything it makes me more depressed because it makes me tired and achy. You should exercise to stay healthy but, as far as helping to ease depression, it doesn't work for everyone. However, I do believe diet may play a part in helping with depression. Clean up your diet. People don't realize the effects sugar, flour and fat can have on your brain. People eat this garbage because they are depressed and it makes them temporarily feel better but it's actually making things worse in the long run.

The only other advice I can give you is to continue with your meds. Along with that, make sure you have a support system in place. Other people are very important in helping you deal with depression. Make sure you always have at least one person you can lean on. It will make all the difference in the world.

I feel good when dancing or if I go somewhere that requires a lot of walking, but I just can't exercise, I see no use for it, so I know where you're coming from

Reel said:

I used to suffer from seasonal depression also.

That's not all you suffer from!

blueblossom said:

I have been diagnosed with depression and am now on drugs. I have stress relating depression - it all got a bit too much for me at work, plus I suffered horrific pain again with kidney stones and its all had an impact.

Does anyone on here suffer with depression and what are you coping mechanisms - I have none at the moment - I just cry and give up - I have no fight left in me. My hair has agan started to fall out and the Dr says that it is all stress and I am not handling it well. What do I do to get better? I can't stay in this depressive hell hole but at the moment see no way out of.

i just hope you're feeling better

I'm still sad but my moods go high and low and yesterday I was making tons of plans again to be active. I've decided to go back to school but it won't be heavy work. It will keep me busy. Plus I'll be doing counselling too around the same time, so that should help.