Is it a good or bad idea to let my co-workers know I am depressed?

In February, I started getting overwhelmed at work. I had to work a couple of 12 hour days each week which left me with no time to think and reflect on what was happening. They just laid it on me that I had to work this overtime and that I would be getting training the next week on the job. So in addition to this, during the day at my normal job, another co-worker was treating me pretty badly. It all began to do a number on me and I started to lose my memory, I started to get paranoid that people thought I was stupid, I began to get stomach problems and I couldn't sleep. All I could do was think about work. My entire body began to shut down on me and it signaled my brain that I needed to get out of there.

The worst thing I did was telling them anything about what was happening to me. On a Friday, after working two 12 hour days the previous two days, I started to crack. I spoke to a co-worker about how I felt and she put out a bulletin so to speak that I was losing my mental health. It was true, no doubt, but she went to my boss. I also went to my boss and spoke to them about my concerns because at this point I was absolutely worried and a mess. I wish I hadn't done any of this!

So my boss and my co-worker spoke...I was also having trouble internally. So I was having to go to the bathroom a lot. Well my boss sent me home, and the next thing I know, co-workers are coming up to me and talking about it. One of my co-workers boyfriends came to the office, and he goes to me "Hey aren't you the one with the doo-dees?" Like what an asshole!

Then my boss calls me into the office and starts telling me that he's talked to HR about me. He says he talked to other departments about me and that they wouldn't take me because I couldn't handle the busyness...which is total ******** because I do more than any of the other people doing my position at other places!

So basically, I realize that I am in the beginning stages of being mobbed. The entire office feels like they are beginning to collude against me. If I even say anything else about myself, or if I am not absolutely perfect and make no mistakes, that will be the only way I can peacefully work at this place. Right now it's horrible. As soon as you show any weakness, people jump on you. To me this is a joke of a society. These companies say they are on your side and want to help you etc. But they are not. They ask you to self identify yourself if you have a disability but it's a complete joke. They want you to self identify so that they know not to hire you. This is all it is. At least that's how it is in Canada.

I know now that I will never tell them another thing about me. I worked really hard to obtain this position with this company, who were named one of the best employers in the country but it's a complete fraud. People are people, period. And the majority of them know nothing about mental health, even when their work methods are the cause of it. They look at mental health as a weakness and it's human nature to pounce on people because they aren't properly educated on mental health problems.

I think that the fact that they overwhelmed me, has ruined my job prospects for good at this company. I am pretty sure that after my temporary job ends, or that they lay me off, I will end up leaving this company. There is no way I will get promoted now. I wish I knew before what ******** this company was. I am really starting to hate my job.

So bottom line, do not tell your employer what is wrong with you! It is career suicide in my opinion. Until more awareness is done to help recognize mental health issues in the workplace, I would never disclose anything. Humans are not evolved in the issue of mental health issues at all. I think that is disgusting. Rather than help you, they will gang up on you. There is an entire book on mobbing that you should read on the subject. Emotional Recovery from Workplace Mobbing by Richard Schwindt. As far as I'm concerned we still live in the dark ages at every job I've ever had.

Many of us shared with each other our mental health issues at work . I even know who is on what Meds for anxiety or adult add or depression. We do share within limits. But we still can't be late to work or not get work done. With my line of work that is not possible. Simply mental illness is no excuse

I am a bit surprised that if you are an adult and have a job your parents can forbid you from taking Meds or being in therapy. Doesn't make sense. I have crazy dad so I understand but I immediately moved out at young age and never lived with them in adulthood. I would move out ASAP

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I went out on medical leave last summer because of depression. My managers were awesome and very supporting. When I came back, they were happy to see me and glad I was back. I had a few people come up and share their battles with depression.

I went on partial FMLA for depression about 3 years ago. It wasn't too noticeable because I was still working during most of the workday. (12-5). My company has very good employee privacy protections set in place. HR did not tell my staff manager why I was going to part-time and I was not required to tell her either. However, I did tell her what was up because I have a good relationship with her. Also, a co-worker I am friendly with did ask me why I went to part-time (out of genuine concern) and I told her the reason without going into detail. My officemate knew too, because it was going to be pretty obvious to her that I wasn't there in the morning anymore.

Other than that, I keep very strict boundaries regarding my personal life with everyone else in the building. There are many different personality types in this world and not all of them understand mental illness, nor do I want unsolicited advice from them. Don't go down that road. My depression is heartbreaking enough as it is and I do not need to introduce unnecessary stressors into my life.

As of late, I am going through the same thing you are -- I'm finding it really hard to get up in the morning. My mood is just **** in the mornings. Sometimes I go to bed feeling moderately ok, and then when I wake up the next morning I feel like complete ****. My God, it is just like a light switch...this past Friday (the 26th) was awful. At work I kept looking at the clock aching to get home and under the blankets on my couch. Almost every weekday morning, I will stall and stall at home until the last possible moment, sometimes staying in bed for another hour and a half. I manage to make it in between 10 and 10:30. Like I said, my boss knows why and I always get my work done and don't let anything slip by. As a matter of fact, I just had my yearly review on Thursday and there were no issues. All the best to you.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think that when we share our personal struggles with others at work, we are just seeking empathy. It may be a childish way of trying to get it, but I am guilty of doing it, too. It's sad that we have to hide who we are just so that it is not used against us.
477