[infoGuy]

Have psychotic depression and people at work think i'm odd. should i tell the lady i'm working with, she is wondering. I'm afraid she won't want to have me here. Experiences? The level of stress i have just being around people i don't talk to is extraordinary, coupled with symptoms. I'm not sure. I think that's what bothers people really

[mgran]

Hi infoguy... I really can't say. I've had very bad luck with work. Every time my symptoms get bad I lose my job... starting with when I was sixteen. I've never told an employer, I wouldn't even know how that works. My gut instinct is don't ask, don't tell. I was first diagnosed as psychotic depression, then bipolar, then schizoaffective. It felt like each subsequent diagnoses just made things worse, and it felt as though opening up to anyone was just begging for trouble. I don't know how old you are, how long you've been working at this place, how long you've been ill... all these things would factor in whether you should tell someone or not. In a perfect world you should tell I think... but in a perfect world we wouldn't be ill. The stress level round people sounds really debilitating... is this something you've put up with for a long time, or is it recent? If it's something deeply engrained in your character it's going to really impact your work.

Hope you're okay... I remember when I first joined (under Mgran71) I was having tremendous problems with my work. Ended up having to leave, did get compensation, but I haven't worked since.

[KUREHA]

I don't think I would tell them - maybe just say you get anxious talking to people you don't know well.
Everyone gets anxious - so she'd understand that more.

[mommyof2girls]

I personally have been working at the same place for 8 years.....My job and the staff know all about my mental health issues....They have been very caring and very understanding as well ......but that is stricktly up to you .......

[costello]

I wouldn't tell them.

[lil-angel-wings]

i didnt tell anyone for years...this last year i finally told my boss because id had so many problems at work and outside of work...after i came home from hospital this last spring i decided that i wasnt going to keep it to myself any more... he and the other managers were really nice about it... now i wish i had not told them... i know they laugh about the crazy lady now....you just dont know how people are going to respond and some people just are not very nice... its a personal dessision, but be ready for what ever comes of it...

if i didnt need the extra money i would quit my job... i only work 8 hours a week, but cant aford not to have that little bit of income

[costello]

Originally Posted by lil-angel-wings

i know they laugh about the crazy lady now....you just dont know how people are going to respond and some people just are not very nice

These are the two reasons I wouldn't share. First, not everyone is nice or understanding. Even people you know well might react badly. And, second, even the nice ones will look at you differently. If you get angry, if you have a complaint - no matter how legitimate - people will assume (or at least wonder) you're just crazy.

Very, very few people could be trusted with this info. Need to know basis only IMO.

Hi infoGuy! I have been diagnosed as having psychotic depression too. Personally I hate telling people about my mental health problems. I had to tell my Uni (because I needed to take time off) and they treated me like crap after that, constantly making out that I was incapable of doing the course, and wrote me a god-awful reference for a job in my final year saying that I'd never hack the pressure! This all paid a big role in me dropping out. As such I would be wary of telling anyone about my problems, especially a boss. Do they need to know? Are you not able to complete your duties? I would recommend speaking with your pdoc about how you are functioning at work and whether it might be worth telling them.

*Willow*