[Cheese24]

I know I need to take a leave of absence from work to get my medication right because I can feel myself losing it, but I am terrified that people will find out or look down upon me negatively. I am around 60 coworkers and over 1000 customers that I see every day; when I miss one day everyone is asking me where I was. I'm scared they'll find out why I'm leaving; I'm most concerned about my managers stopping my training for management; thinking I can't handle it. The last time I suffered a bout of depression was almost 7 years ago but it lasted about a 1-year and a half. I cannot wait until this is over.

Has anyone been in this situation with work? How did you deal with it?

I think I am in a lose-lose situation, not only I am I feeling bad but normally I can hide it from other people. I saw a pdoc last Friday and she asked me about 5 times in less than 30 minutes if I am feeling suicidal or having suicidal thoughts, I said no and she told me I looked bad. She will probably try to commit me anyway, I am questioning whether I should go back Friday, my job finding out I was involuntarily committed is probably worse than taking the leave myself.

[justfloating]

I'm not entirely sure on this, but how specific do you have to be in taking a leave of absence? Can you just say it's a "medical leave of absence" or do you have to given them specific diagnoses as well?

Please take care of you.

As important as your job is, are you not even more important?

[Rohag]

Originally Posted by Cheese24

Has anyone been in this situation with work?

Not exactly, but the similarities warrant some sort of answer from me.

Originally Posted by Cheese24

How did you deal with it?

• I sought help.
• I increased my efforts, including changing my exercise routine and diet.
• I kept working and pushing myself as hard as I could.
• Eventually I crashed and was dragged out of the wreckage as a "medical retiree."

Originally Posted by Cheese24

I think I am in a lose-lose situation...

Maybe (I don't know). If you are in a lose-lose situation, can you discern the greater loss and avoid it?

[Mike_J]

I took a partial medical leave, went from working full time to working part time for a month. It gave me a chance to deal with a few things without a total meltdown. If your doctor is willing to sign a note your employer will have to give you the time off. In theory they also can't hold this against you, but in real life it doesn't always work out that way.

[Kircubbin]

Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb! That is a quote more appropriate to your needs, and he also said, "although prepared for martyrdom, I would like that postponed"!You have a life, promotion on the horizion, knuckle down and fight your way through this bad period

[goodgirl62]

It is against the law for you to loose your job or position in a company due to a medical issue. Please google Family Medical Leave Act. It would not be wise for your employer to discuss your medical condition.

[msolson81]

I dealt with the same thing just this past fall. I had to get my medication and such figured out before I could even think about being a productive worker. I was in a situation where people knew why I was taking a leave; things had gotten so bad that I would cry at work and had anxiety attacks. People were really supportive, thankfully. I ended up leaving the job after my leave because I decided the job was part of why my depression and anxiety were getting worse, but I was glad to have that time to take care of myself and come to that decision.

Good luck

[trevorzero]

My only advice is simply to hold your head high and be absolutely unapologetic about your current situation. People around you will take their cue from you. If you demonstrate the proper attitude about your illness, then it is more likely that they will as well.

[Miss Laura]

Hey Cheese24,

Yip I have had to take leave from work twice now. The 1st time was for 5 wks and then I went back for 2 wks and am now off for 3 wks.

I 1st went to my then boss and said I had something to tell her and she said ti would all be confidential. Then after I told her she said just her and the Area Manager would need to know and that was it. How wrong could it be she then told other staff members. Also it didn't help that my colleagues were speaking about me behind my back. I then was given "special permission" to not work with certain Service Users due to my ill health. However this was just aiding me to my depression. So I took initially 2 wks off. However I was pretty bad and had to take a further 3 wks off.

Then I went back to work and was so close to losing it I went back to my docs who informed me if I hadn't gone to see her then I would of had a nervous breakdown. So here I am 2nd wk in 1 wk to go

My Manager left us so my Area Manger is the one I speak to now and she has implemented so much for me yet I can't survive in there at the mo. She says I could do part-time but I just can't afford it. There is a thing called "staggered approach to work" which means you go back gradually. I think I am gonna ask my doc to do that when I go back to see her newx wk.

I hope you can find some peace in the fact that we all know where you are coming from and what you are going through to some extent.

I also thought people would be speaking about me. The people who are, are being genuinely concerned the other (*****es or whatever you want to call them) are not worth it.

Your customers don't need to know nor does your colleagues. Its up to you to tell them if you want. I was told by my Area Manager that its better to tell people as they will see your not being lazy, sloppy in your work or that your "faking" things. You are genuinely unwell

Hope this kinda helps you!!

[amante]

does your work offer a disability plan, perhaps you can file for temporary disability, only your HR department and immediate boss need to know your reasons for the leave. It sounds like you are struggling through alot, I hope with the right medications and T, you can come through the other side of feeling better from the depression. Best of luck to you.