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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by yoyoma on June 15, 2004, at 16:22:41
I was just wondering if all of you guys have jobs or occupations since everybody seem so messed up with and without meds, including myself. Just curious since i have been looking for a job for six months now and am starting to attribute it to social anxiety and depression.
Posted by Tony C. on June 15, 2004, at 16:35:17
In reply to Do any of you have jobs??, posted by yoyoma on June 15, 2004, at 16:22:41
Yes I do, I am Self Employed, and work for Father's Business also. For me I HAVE to work, total inactivity (NO WORK) means I am more prone to depression. Now 7 years ago I suffered a VEGATATIVE Major Depression/Anxiety episdode, and could NOT work, but then a few weeks later working and staying busy helped me on my road to recovery. I reccommend trying to stay mentally and physically busy as you try to recover or stove off your depression. I mean when you hit rock bottom like I did, it is a LONG, SLOW ROAD to recovery, but I promise as you take your med, change your attitude, and pray to God if religious, you will and CAN put your depression behind you, but it takes some backbone and willpower on your part, and believe me it is hard, but it can be done.
Sincerely - Tony C.
Posted by tampagirl70 on June 15, 2004, at 16:35:53
In reply to Do any of you have jobs??, posted by yoyoma on June 15, 2004, at 16:22:41
work full time and haven't missed a day yet this episode, although in the past i've missed some time. its hard to get out of bed in the morning and i've got it timed as to how long i can lay there and not get up. then, once i DO get out of bed, i come back and lay down while i'm getting ready. ain't life great????
Posted by Catgirl on June 15, 2004, at 18:33:41
In reply to Re: Do any of you have jobs??, posted by tampagirl70 on June 15, 2004, at 16:35:53
Yes, I work 40+ hours a week. My biggest fear is that this depression/anxiety will force me to quit but so far so good!
Posted by roobie on June 15, 2004, at 19:20:25
In reply to Re: Do any of you have jobs??, posted by Catgirl on June 15, 2004, at 18:33:41
Yup! I have been working at the same company for 19 years (very POPULAR one that lays off a lot) :)
A few years back, I was a MAJOR nervous wreck having been the youngest one of the group being newly promoted to manage folks who were my peers. I WISH I had known about all of the meds available to help with anxiety. I shook all the time and cried and barely ate (which losing a few pounds wasn't necessarily a BAD thing).
Later on when I was at my TENSE-est, I finally decided I needed something not to be miserable. I started Paxil and LIFE WAS GOOD! I was able to totally get my head into my work and not panic when I had a 'fire-drill' to get done. 20 pounds later, I switched to Efexor hoping it would help me not feel like lying around all the time, which I do have a little more giddy-up.
However, I feel a little 'un-nerved' reading some folks 'bad' experiences, but I guess we all handle things differently.
GOOD LUCK!
roobie
Posted by cubic_me on June 16, 2004, at 9:27:35
In reply to Re: Do any of you have jobs??, posted by Catgirl on June 15, 2004, at 18:33:41
I'm a full time student and have jobs in the holidays. I haven't missed or failed anything due to depression or meds, but it does make things so much harder. I guess it just depends on the type of depressive you are. I tend to be able to appear normal to everyone else, have hobbies, work and play hard, but it is all a front and I think of suicide every minute of the day. For other people they find it impossible to get out of bed or communicate with others - each of us is individual.
Posted by irishcatholic on June 16, 2004, at 10:52:52
In reply to Do any of you have jobs??, posted by yoyoma on June 15, 2004, at 16:22:41
Tony C. has a great reply - I salute him.
I work for a major corporation in a pretty good technical position. I have the good fortune of being on a flexible schedule which helps a lot - I'm really only rated on accomplishment not "face time".
Some days are much tougher than others but you learn to cope.
Staying busy is much better than not.
Most of my peers do not know about my depression and anxiety, only a few close friends and my immediate family.
Posted by Sebastian on June 16, 2004, at 12:18:58
In reply to Do any of you have jobs??, posted by yoyoma on June 15, 2004, at 16:22:41
I have social anxiety and depression and a lot of other conditions. I've had a job most of the time I've been sick, the last 9 years. I took the occasion leave for a couple months, but they held the job for me, or I didn't have any problems getting a new one.
I always worked full time on in school full time or both. I got a degree. Bla ...
Posted by starlight on June 16, 2004, at 14:57:08
In reply to Re: Do any of you have jobs??, posted by Sebastian on June 16, 2004, at 12:18:58
I have a full time job that I like and a side job teaching yoga in addition to having a band. I stay pretty busy even when I'm depressed, but I accepted a long time ago that I would have to work hard to do well in life and so I work hard rather than fight it. When I'm depressed, I focus too much on the things I screw up and my past. But workwise, I just push past it.
starlight
Posted by Simcha on June 16, 2004, at 23:48:36
In reply to Re: Do any of you have jobs??, posted by starlight on June 16, 2004, at 14:57:08
There was a time before meds that I lost the ability to keep a job or look for one. I was in a severe vegetative depression and my anti-med therapist sent me to my doctor to get an evaluation to start medication. I had fought meds for about ten years.
Now I have a full-time 40 hour a week job. I'm currently seeking a transfer because I'll be starting an internship as well as being a full-time grad student. There is the possibility that I could be a social worker in a couple of months at with my current employer as a trainee earning hours toward my license.
I attribute this to good treatment and my willingness to take my medicine.
Keep at it. It's been a long and difficult road. Somehow I've found medication and therapy that works for me. I hope you find what works for you.
Blessings,
Simcha
Posted by King Vultan on June 17, 2004, at 10:17:32
In reply to Do any of you have jobs??, posted by yoyoma on June 15, 2004, at 16:22:41
Yes, I've been working for the same company for 15 years and haven't missed a day due to illness in 12 or 13. I suffered through some brutal stress and anxiety in the early days, but the experience overall has been constructive and therapeutic. I've gained enormous insights in the process of doing my job and learning how to handle the stresses and frustrations, and I've become a much better worker and person during that time.
Don't underestimate the value of having a good boss and working with good people. Money isn't everything.
Todd
Posted by delna on June 17, 2004, at 18:20:06
In reply to Re: Do any of you have jobs??, posted by King Vultan on June 17, 2004, at 10:17:32
Saddest thing for me is that I can't work (at least as things stand) and I feel so unaccomplished.
BTW, I have bipolarII, mixed in with several other things. I struggled all through my masters degree by finally made it. I had several jobs but kept quitting and ending uo sick or in hospi.
My last job was amazing, I just loved the work but the mood instability caused me to do strange things at work- hiding under the table when panicky, crying at meetings and becoming vegetative during depressive spells and then arguing aggressively with my boss and collegues during hypomania. My boss was great he even gave me time off . But that didnt help. I just was not productive. It killed me to have to give it up- the job gave me a feeling of self worth if not a great salary.
Now I am trying to set up my own Medical advertising company so I can work at my own pace.
But my current rapid cycling mixed states aren't helping things.
Sad, but I am dependant on the kindness of my parents and sister....at 30. I makes me cringe with guilt.
D
Posted by snapper on June 17, 2004, at 18:30:26
In reply to Re: Do any of you have jobs??, posted by delna on June 17, 2004, at 18:20:06
>
> Sad, but I am dependant on the kindness of my parents and sister....at 30. I makes me cringe with guilt.
> D
>
I can't work either.I can barely leave the house. I too live with the kindness of my parents and sister. I know it is very hard.but *try* to not be too hard on youself
Posted by Sinnielou on June 18, 2004, at 10:16:47
In reply to Do any of you have jobs??, posted by yoyoma on June 15, 2004, at 16:22:41
I myself don't work I also struggled through college, but made it through. I'm hoping to start working again very soon now that I have found the right meds and am in therapy I can accomplish anything!!
Shannon
Posted by King Vultan on June 18, 2004, at 19:41:23
In reply to Re: Do any of you have jobs??, posted by delna on June 17, 2004, at 18:20:06
You sound like a good and conscientious person who is trying your best, and that is more than I can say for some of the people I've seen in our operation over the years, a few of which we are unfortunately still burdened with. I don't think that society in general has quite accepted the notion that mental illness can be just as legitimately disabling as physical illness. People are much more likely to feel sorry for someone bound to a wheelchair than a physically healthy person who lives in a shelter or with their parents because of psychiatric issues that make it difficult for them to cope with their jobs.
My own background is anxiety and long term unipolar depression, at times severe and anguishing and requiring massive amounts of effort and determination to keep going. However, I do not believe it is as difficult a problem as your bipolar disorder is, and I doubt if I would have done much better in your situation, perhaps not even as well. I urge you not to give up hope, and if nothing else, keep trying to be the best person you can under the circumstances. I think that's where real feelings of self worth come from.
Todd
Posted by chemist on June 19, 2004, at 3:02:55
In reply to Do any of you have jobs??, posted by yoyoma on June 15, 2004, at 16:22:41
hello there, chemist here....yes, i work. all the best, chemist
Posted by watergirl on June 19, 2004, at 15:45:29
In reply to Do any of you have jobs??, posted by yoyoma on June 15, 2004, at 16:22:41
Yep. I have lots of jobs. First: Im a single mom with a 3, almost 4 year old son. Then I have two jobs. Real Estate & Family business. I just finished a course at the local college.
Every day is a struggle but I must go on for my child's sake. I think I would be long gone if it werent for him.
Cindy
Posted by Dr. Bob on June 22, 2004, at 7:41:57
In reply to Do any of you have jobs??, posted by yoyoma on June 15, 2004, at 16:22:41
> I was just wondering if all of you guys have jobs or occupations since everybody seem so messed up with and without meds, including myself...
Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to redirect this thread to Psycho-Social-Babble. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040619/msgs/358927.html
Thanks,
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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