Hi,
I was a high flyer back in poly few yrs back. After I've graduated from poly I had went into the working force. However I had hold on to 2 jobs, 1 yr for company A and 1 yr for company B and had resigned from both as I was unhappy.
Because of expectations from parents and friends, I had entered a local uni to further studies. Unfortunately, I was unable to adapt to uni style and stress and I had withdrawn after 2 mths. Ever since, my weight had reduced to 36kg and I suspect I had depression.
I had seen a psychiatrist who had diagnosed my condition as mild depression (3 yrs plus back) after i spoke to him abt the symptoms I had.
I had managed to secure a job 3 mths after w/drawing from uni in a diff team with my previous company B.
However due to work stress that I faced in Comp B, my condition worsen and I had to increase my dosage of lexapro (10MG) from 1/2 tablet to 1 tablet as I was unable to relax and keep worrying. I could not sleep well at nite and was given Clonazepam (0.5MG) and stilnox to help me sleep better. I was supposed to take half a dose of Clonazepam but as it was not working for me I had increased to 1 tablet. I try not to rely on stilnox unless neccessary as advised by my doc.
I felt if I will to stay on in my previous job in Comp B, I will never be able to recover and so i left after 3 and half yrs of svcs. I've then entered into a job, Comp C, which i thought was administrative with less expectations but I realize I was wrong.
I'm now new in the job for nearly 3mths and I'm beginning to feel overwhelmed with more things to learn and more responsibilities to undertake. I'm not sure how long I could hold on. I feel the need to speak to my superior to re-assign my tasks but am worried to reveal my condition coz of social stigma. I also dunnno how i could face my colleagues as we are all doing the same job should I be given less work or perhaps I will be ask to leave the company since i'm still under probation.
My worry now is, should I reveal my condition to my superior?
Are people with depression unable to handle job with "more responsibilities" and will have to go for simpler jobs likes sales assistant or those jobs that duties will not have to be carried over to the next day so we won't worry about unfinished tasks over the night?
Also, i'm getting married in mid next year, sometimes I do no have the courage to enter into marriage for fear of being a burden to my partner but at times I felt i will feel better if i have a partner to keep me company as i will feel more secure and cared for. So far my partner has accepted me for my condition although at times he cant seems to understand my condition well enough.
If i continue to be stretched at work, meaning I have to be on medication, am I not supposed to conceive? I hope to do so in the short term like 1 to 2 yrs later if my condition allows. Is this possible?
Is there any help available for those depressed people to advise us on suitable jobs or we just have to look out for simpler job ourselves w/o declaring our conditon to our supervisors?
I will not know what to say to the interviewers if there will to ask why I switch to "simpler jobs"..
And if i do switch to simpler jobs, it means my pay will be few hundred lesser and i have some financial commitments.
I feel so lost and tired almost every second.
Will greatly appreciate advises to my doubts above.
Thanks!
Dear there,
Depression is caused by the interplay of stress (e.g. work stress) upon vulnerability factors (personality and coping styles). Fortunately, there are protective factors such as treatment compliance, support from the loved ones and stress management (just to name a few).
I noted that you have problems coping during your varsity days and also work stress at previous companies. Do consider seeing a psychologist for stress management if your psychiatrist has not referred you to one already.
It is a common dilemma faced by patients who are working -- to reveal or not to reveal their conditions to the employers/supervisors. Unless you are seriously considering leaving Company C, you may need to highlight to your superior that you are having difficulty coping with the current work stress. This is because with increasing workload, your work performance will be adversely affected and be noticeable to your supervisors and colleagues.
It is not true that people with depression are unable to handle job with "more responsibilities" and will have to go for simpler jobs. The concept of time management is to classify tasks into 4 categories: 'Important and Urgent'; 'Important and Non Urgent'; 'Not Important and Urgent' and 'Not Important and Non Urgent'. Fortunately, most of our work are Important and Non Urgent.
Most psychiatrists will advise their patients not to be on any psychiatric medications (unless absolutely indicated) during the pregnancy period. This is especially so during the first 3 months when different organs are forming in the foetus. The patient should also be co-managed by an obstetrician and psychiatrist as pregnancy and motherhood can be stressful even to females without prior history of depression.
May I wish you all the best!
Depnet