depression

I've been struggling with depression and anxiety the past few years, and it's been affecting my work. I'm doing everything I need to do to help myself- therapy, anti-depressants, yoga, changing my diet, but I've still missed quite a bit of work recently. I've provided a doctor's note to my employer so they know I'm not just screwing around, but I still feel like my coworkers are starting to resent me for having to cover for me which makes me feel worse which doesn't help my depression and anxiety. Mental health issues in the workplace are no fun. I can't talk to the HR department about my concerns because I work in the HR department.

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Ugly truths (sorry)

Aug 21, 2014 at 10:07am

When you get down to it-especially in the working world- people are considered the cheapest resource of all- expendable and easy to replace- that is common in Canada and the United States- few employers care about their employees; oh, they say all the right things...but when you get right down to it- they find a way to force you out- and don't care if it's fair, honest, legal or not. Labour relations (especially L/R) or a Union won't help you- you're on your own.

Please try to get some privte help. I wish you well.

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Lance

Aug 21, 2014 at 11:50am

The worst thing that can happen to you is that you die...we are all going to die...once you stop worrying about death there is really not anything else to be worried about. Also "crazy" people don't know they are crazy.

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Same boat

Aug 21, 2014 at 11:52am

Hey, I'm going through the exact same thing. To make matters worse, I actually work in the mental health field and my colleagues (other mental health professionals) have been making their judgements pretty clear.

Take care of yourself. You're not going to be any help to anyone if you don't just focus on what you need right now. My depression is almost paralyzing and it does impact my work. I try to just focus on the areas I do well at, take on what I can and continue with the self care.

Best of luck to you, know you're not alone.

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James Blatchford

Aug 21, 2014 at 12:08pm

'Ugly truths' is full of bullshit..unions do help each and every day. They have the case files, the disability awards, the return-to-work programs etc. to prove it. Get your facts straight.

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Me too

Aug 21, 2014 at 12:23pm

I can relate too. You're correct that most of your coworkers will probably judge you for it, even if they've had similar problems themselves. So don't give them too much information, just say that you're ill, which is true enough.
I have my illness mostly under control now, but at previous workplaces I had nothing but trouble. My boss(es) wanted to get rid of me, and they did, and they didn't even have the guts to say why. It was like I was a poisonous person and they didn't want me to infect the others.

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@james blatchford

Aug 21, 2014 at 2:59pm

I have to disagree I've worked in unionized environments before and they are just as capable of treating their staff as though they were easily disposable as non-unionized environments.

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I know..

Aug 21, 2014 at 10:30pm

how you feel. Sometimes my anxiety gets really high and my co-workers tell me I think too much and make the easiest tasks seem difficult. That really cuts into me.

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Mental Wellness

Aug 22, 2014 at 11:36am

Well, be glad you can work---about the lowest on society's totem pole are the mentally disabled who can't work. Welfare rates are low enough that you can forget about having a family, unless you're especially sadistic. It's even better in Alberta---they get like $1500/month. Not that that's enough to have a family, either, but it's better than the guaranteed-to-compound-health-problems rate paid in BC, which is basically a mortgage-subsidy program, given the lack of social housing. I sure am glad that we keep the mentally ill alive, instead of euthanizing them or something, so that middle class twits can more easily gain equity in land!

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why the drama?

Aug 22, 2014 at 2:57pm

i am pretty sure i have depression, maybe bi-polar, issues but i never bothered or refuse to get official declaration from an MD about it for past 40 plus years and have been just dealing with it as one of those karma one deals with in life. th more you make it a big deal, the more it WILL be a big deal. i remember getting straight a in high school and feeling depressed.

suck up and go on living, man!

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