Depression and work

I am due to return to work in the next 7 days having been off sick for 5 1/2 months.

I know that I am still depressed and this has a substantial effect on my powers of conversation.

My job as a recruiter requires me to speak to clients and candidates throughout the day every day.

Has anyone else gone back to work whilst feeling depressed and if so might you have some words of advice for me?

Many thanks,

Harvey

Harvey, I don't have any advice for you but I wanted to wish you the best of luck in going back. I'm envious. I'm a CPA and not released to go back yet. I hope everything works out. We're here for you as you go back to work.

Hello Harvey: Well... I have some relevant experience of a sort. I'll spare you the details. (By the way I was a vocational rehabilitation counselor working in my state's workers compensation system. So what I did was similar to what you do... lots of 1: 1 & public contact.

My primary recommendation would be, if at all possible, return to work part time to begin with. Don't try to dive in all at once. Having been off work for 5 1/2 months, just getting used to getting up & out-the-door so to speak every day is going to be taxing enough. Then throw all of the 1 : 1 contact in on top of it, plus the interaction with co-workers, supervisors, etc. & it's likely to be pretty taxing at first.

The other thing that occurs to me is that you're likely to feel the urge to isolate quite a bit... close the door... eat lunch alone... etc. A certain amount of this is okay... even necessary probably. But try not to let it become a habit. Look for opportunities to chat with co-workers, go out to lunch, etc.

Over all... be gentle with yourself. Try, as best you can, to not expect too much of yourself too soon. There will probably be a certain amount of pressure on you to get back up to full speed. And certainly you'll want to do so as soon as you can. But you also have to realize that it's not going to happen right away. Recovery takes a certain amount to time. I wish you well...

I tried to go back to work with a less stressful job and I couldn't take it so I had to leave.

Don't pressure yourself to be a social butterfly. Do your job to the best of your ability now, even if it feels like you're not getting as much done as usual. Is working at home an option?

I went back to work yesterday and it went a little better than anticipated.

I still felt very awkward speaking to people on the phone and I imagine I will continue to do so until this depression lifts.

I'm hopeful that my boss's expectations aren't too high for the next few weeks.

Going back to work is overwhelming in itself, and when combined with depression that is lingering...well, that's difficult. However, adjustment naturally takes time, so patience with the process is important. I've been in your shoes before, and slowly but surely, my functioning became better than it was, although these Bipolar episodes still take work and my medication to help manage. Be gentle with yourself. Don't push yourself too hard too soon.