Hi everyone, I could use some input on the subject of depression and the Boss. I have been awol from work quite a bit over the last year and if not for the fact that I am quite good at my job and there is no one else in the company that can do my job I would have been let go long ago. I am considering telling my boss about my depression but I am not sure if that is the best idea. I am afraid that if I don't shape up before the spring ( busy season begins) I may not have a job any longer.The stigma of depression is powerful thing in my experience even with friends and family, so it could be worse from an employer.

Any thoughts on this one are appreciated.

EY

That is really a tough one. Before I would tell my boss, I would want to be confident that trust and confidentiality were there. If there is trust and confidentiality, I would definitely tell the boss. If there is not trust and confidentiality, I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole. I would definitely recommend seeking help outside of work. Maybe someone else can help you figure out how to cope with the depression while you are at work.

I think it's important to know what's going on. As a boss, I would be much more understanding if I knew someone is having personal problems than if I thought they were just being a slacker. But, that is just me, there are many people out there that are in it just for themselves.

What I did to help deal with my depression at work is pour myself into my job. I use my job as therapy. What do you do? Maybe we can figure out a way to make the depression go away at work. I work retail. There are a few different things I do when I feel depression setting in, but I have the flexibility to choose also. Sometimes I will cashier for awhile. Cashiering takes my mind off me and puts it on other people. Strangers are the perfect people to shoot the s%$% with. Sometimes I will find some product to stock. Laundry detergent is one of my favorites because it is a good work out. I feel good about working up a sweat and building my muscles!! Sometimes I will find someone else to work with that I like talking to.

I hope this helps. It's important not to miss any more work. You will be even more depressed if you have to find another job. It sounds like you like your job, so hopefully you could use it as a tool to help you get through this.

Hi, eastyork. You don't say what country you're in but I'm guessing UK from your name? Different countries have different levels of acceptance of depression as a disease/physical disorder. What you're facing is a very difficult decision and one that's hard for me to advise you on as it depends a lot on your boss and the legal protections you have where you live regarding employment. Whereas most of us wouldn't hesitate to tell our boss we had appendicitis or other "real" diseases, I would probably hesitate to bring up depression. Are you being treated for your depression? With meds or with therapy? Has it been getting any better during your treatment? If you could go to your boss and say "Here's what I've been dealing with, but I wanted to let you know I don't anticipate being gone as much now because it's under control with meds and therapy" that might be a more positive spin for your boss as opposed to "warning" him you have a condition you expect will continue to keep you away from your job quite a bit. I'm sorry I can't give you any great advice, EY, but I'm sure others will post here and offer their experiences as well. I hope it helps, and I hope you start to feel better soon.

((((((((EY))))))))

i agree with kstours

Thanks, I am in Canada and currently take Effexor - 150 ml per day( dose was increased from 75ml yesterday) and I am in the 4th week. Many other meds have been tried over the last 15 years off and on. The last 5 years have by far been the worst. I work in construction and there is a dramatic slowdown in the winter months and that alone is enough to put me deep. My employers are good people ( a family run business ) and I think I could trust them to keep things in confidence but how they may see me after knowing is what I can t be sure of. I also start cognitive therapy today and that is a first. I have resisted therapy up to know as I myself am probably guilty of having doubts about the validity of depression and the drugs they give you. I f Effexor fails the test then I don t know what is next. ECT? Anyway first I need to keep a job.

Regardless of where you live, telling your boss about you having depression is always tricky. It's a matter of trust and confidence in each other. You may be put under scrutiny at your worksite depending on your boss. The boss will usually monitor your productivity and if it drops off in any way, you may be called in for a talk. Mind you, this what could happen. I never trusted any of my bosses enough to tell them about my depression. I also had a job that only I knew how to do well. When the workload became too great for me to handle, they brought in another person I could train to help out with the overflow. I only got into "trouble" the last few weeks of my employment and had to go out on disability. Needless to say, I could not go back to work and they eventually terminated me. I haven't been able to work at all for the past 6 years and am considered permanently disabled.

Have you sought out professional treatment? If not, you should consider doing so. You could possibly benefit by professional treatment and not lose so many days at work. Your pdoc may also give you notes to explain your absences from your job.

There is still a stigma attached to any mental illness. However, the public (especially here in the U.S.) are getting more information which is beginning to break the stigma. Mental illness is not fun to have in the first place. Not being properly treated is even worse.

Hope we have given you some information.
Sheepwoman

Maybe I'm being unrealistic, but I would never tell my boss that I have depression. Granted, it has been some years since I worked for anyone except myself - but I am thinking back to all the jobs I have had. There isn't a boss among them, even the very good and friendly ones that treated me like a daughter, that I would tell. They were people who did not comprehend depression because they themselves did not have it. I find that those who are not depressed themselves do not understand the condition at all - and they view it either as a slackers excuse, or they view it as a person who should be hospitalized. Few people seem to see any middle ground. I am thinking currently of my extended family - and their view is what I describe above. So please - think carefully. Ask your doctor for an opinion of whether that is a good idea. Once you say it, it is out there and you can't take the info back. Sorry to be a downer, but I think I'd just tell that that you're ill, and that you're seeing a doctor to try to figure out what is wrong. That's not actually a lie - but they do not need to know that you are treating depression.

I told my boss once.....after I got out of the hospital I lost my postion took a $3 per hour pay cut and was forced to accept a job I really didn't want but what could a person do after working with the comapny for 17 years. I thought since I worked there that long they would be more understanding but don't assume anything. My advise is keep it to yourself. My work wasn't suffering...I was. We thought we had a family type of bussiness everyone meant something. What a smoke screen that was for a person that went to work everyday worked hard stayed late when needed. When I told him...he rolled his eyes said that's all he needs around here for a supervisor, guess what I wasn't a supervisor very long after that. Please don't tell anyone at work it will haunt you