Getting back into work with depression.

Aeroboi · ‎02-10-2018

So this is possibly the first time making a thread, I’m looking for some advice on something.

some background information, I have had depression for along time now and for the past 4 years I have been slowly recovering from a series of negative life events.

i am on medication and see a psychologist quarterly, as such I won’t see her anytime soon to ask her the questions I have.

i haven’t had a proper job in the past 4 year and I expect to experience some issues in returning to work, I recently had a 3 day assignment of hard laborious work. By midday I was ready to give up and go home, however I stuck out the full day.

the following two days I called in sick because of my depression, I think that I pushed myself to much and didn’t have the energy levels remaining to overcome my depression.

My question is more about understanding the connection between my depression and the hard work preformed, assuming they are indeed related.

Doolhof · ‎02-10-2018

Hi Aeroboi,

Congratulations on being able to create a thread. I know when I first joined, that was quite a thing to achieve.

My thoughts regarding your question are that maybe it has to do with your depression and also the fact you have not worked for a while.

It can be quite overwhelming to try to do something you have not done for a while. Even going for a walk is a whole different scenario than trying to go for a jog if you haven't done that in ages.

When we feel like we can't do something, than that can trigger our depression and make us feel worse.

You did manage one day! That is an excellent start. Hopefully you can concentrate on what you were able to do!

Do you have the opportunity to continue with this line of work?

Hopefully you will have an opportunity to find a balance, to be able to build up your strength and your resistence to work.

I am currently out of work and am looking at making enquiries regarding some extra volunteer work. This will help build up my self esteem, get me out the house, learn new skills and meet different people. This will also make me more work ready and may well help me with my depression.

Working can help to reduce our depression! Hopefully you do have the opportunity to continue.

Cheers from Dools

Aeroboi · ‎03-10-2018

This line of work is labour hire, as it was an 3 day assignment the opportunity has been and gone. But that is okay because I took the opportunity to see how I could cope with it, so I don’t believe such hard work is right at this time.

thank you for your perspective on the matter, it was mostly what I was thinking before I felt down.

Today im going for an interview with someone else, trying to find the right role for me. Admittedly it’s hard to find and thus hard to keep looking.

im glade to hear your in a similar situation, I did do volunteer work before but after some discrimination regarding my depression I decided to quit.

good luck with your enquires!

Doolhof · ‎03-10-2018

Hi Aeroboi,

Thanks for the explanation and all the best with your job seeking. It can be difficult doing something labur intensive when it has been awhile since you were pushed quite so much.

I'm recovering from an injury, spent a little time in the garden today weeding and am now paying for it with pain and discomfort! It can be a struggle to find something that works well.

Sorry to read you were discriminated against due to your depression. That is so morally wrong and I am sure it is legally wrong as well to show discrimination on many different levels.

Hopefully you will be able to find a position either paid or voluntary that will suit you and be very beneficial to you!

Cheers from Dools

smallwolf · ‎03-10-2018

Aeroboi,

Hi. Transitioning back into work can he hard. I recently had time off work for stress related issues. But returning to my old work place was a case of building up the hours bit by bit, until I was comfortable with it all. I started with 1/2 day a week, then 1 day etc. I am still not working a full week yet. In relation to your question, was it tiredness, stress related, or ??? (Rhetorical question - what thoughts were running through your mind?)

It is also a pity to read about the discrimination issue. Unfortunately, some people dont understand, or dont know how to respond. After all, you and I just look like the next person, except for our thoughts, and they cannot be seen by another person?

The other thing I also consider is how much I will divulge to another person. If a stranger asks how I am I will say OK or getting there. That is not a lie, but I allow them to work it out what it means. If I know the person the person a little, I might say, "depends on the answer you want" which makes for a real conversation opening vs those I know and can tell them what I really feel.

Tim

Aeroboi · ‎03-10-2018

It is wrong but sadly some people just don’t understand what they are doing. I don’t hold a grudge on them, I simply moved on because teaching them didn’t seem worth the effort.

Sadly I don’t believe I’ll ever find the right role for me, this society is built on ethics I simply can’t meet. That is to say I can’t work to the normal expectation, not that I can’t work. Conveying that understanding so that society can adopt me as opposed to bringing me into conformity, well I just don’t believe that will occur. Thus it’s highly unlikely the right role will become available to me, as you know once an impossible situation is present the likelihood of depression increases.

i guess you could say that I have given up on giving up, a roundabout way of continuing on.

@smallwolf

when I woke up the next day I was without the desire to get up and continue. I was lacking in energy and the effort to get myself up felt great. Because of this I felt that I was unable to work,I concluded I wouldn’t make it through the day if I was able to force myself. it was this reasoning the led to myself taking the day off.

the following day I was plagued by dreams that disturbed me, they left me feeling extremely anxious. The first one was early and I attempted to sleep it off but experienced multiple. Dreams haven’t had such a profound impact for awhile, but they are known to exasperated each other.