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*UPDATE* Anxiety/Depression issues and work...

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PastaPete

Member
Jul 8, 2005
168
0
0
I'm in between switching medication (weening off lexapro, ive worked my way off of it, so im not on anything, going to start effexor tomorrow).

I write my boss and say I need to take a personal day today (i wrote the email last night) he writes back pretty quickly

"That's fine, but understand there is a lot work to get done for this month. If you are comfortable that everything will get done, feel free to take the day.

But remember, I will be asking for certain reviews that I expect to be completed. If they are not done, then that's going to be an issue."

I took the day off because I couldnt do a thing at work. Id sit there and either have thoughts ruminate in my head and get nothing done, or need to be moving around at work or have myself occupied on anything but work. being at work just made me feel more anxious than i felt comfortable and I feel that taking today off to relax would be best.

I didnt want to tell my boss "the reason is is that I didnt sleep last night because im switching medications"

What is the best way to deal with this situation?
 
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Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
Sounds like your boss is a little passive aggressive. It's hard to deal with people like that, but I personally would not offer up any explanation unless you have a good relationship with him/her (and it appears you don't); that's why it's called a personal day.

 
thespeakerbox

thespeakerbox

Platinum Member
Nov 19, 2004
2,654
0
71
Find out exactly what is bothering you about working. Meaning, what is preventing you from completing your work? It could be a whole list of things: physical/mental pain, ill feelings towards coworkers, a fear of some sort. Figure out what is stopping you , and then try to work on the problem step by step. My advice is to just go to work , try your hardest, sit down , finish the task, no matter how bad it may seem. However you deal with it , just keep active. About the medication see your doctor about side effects and problems from switching. If you need to take another day off, i would just start saying i was physically sick and not able to go to work.
 
moshquerade

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: Descartes
Sounds like your boss is a little passive aggressive. It's hard to deal with people like that, but I personally would not offer up any explanation unless you have a good relationship with him/her (and it appears you don't); that's why it's called a personal day.
Click to expand...
good advice.

will you still be able to get your work done by deadline OP?

 
pontifex

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
for the people who do take medication for depression and anxiety, does it help?
what exactly does it do? how do you feel?

I probably should go see a doctor myself about this type of stuff because i seem to esperience it a lot.
 
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Scrooge2

Senior member
Jul 18, 2000
856
0
0
My girlfriend had this problem and still deals with it. Used to have really bad days where she would cry all day because of anxiety.

We eventually figured out that she needed a therapist. I used to think shrinks were a bit wierd, but they really can help. DOn't just go to one when there is problems, find a good doctor and build a good relationship and see her once or twice a week.

In a related note, I cant understand jerks like tom cruise who would tell people on tv that psycological problems don't exist, maybe not for him and his perfect rich little world.
 
sixone

sixone

Lifer
May 3, 2004
25,030
5
61
Sounds like your boss is worried about whether things will get done. Is he just a worrier, or does he have reason to worry that you won't finish your work?

Either way, don't make a big deal about it. You have enough worries, sounds like. Just be sure you're back on the job and working your hardest tomorrow.
 
TallBill

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
There is nothing wrong with telling a boss that you are taking medication for whatever reasons. It will actually help cover your ass in the future should more problems arise.

Also, it must be fvcking nice to be able to take a personal day! I dont even get sick days. I do get vacation days, but can only take them on certain times :p
 
spherrod

spherrod

Diamond Member
Mar 21, 2003
3,897
0
0
www.steveherrod.com
Originally posted by: eakers
Can you get a doctors note explaining the situation?
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yeah, my wife was in a similar position a couple of years back. It was a lot easier once she agreed to explain the medication she was on and provided a letter from the doctor
 
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torpid

Lifer
Sep 14, 2003
11,631
11
76
I don't know what kind of job it is, but your boss sounds like one of those people who thinks every single task is the most important task in the history of the company. It is totally absurd to object to a personal day if there is nothing in particular going on that day.

However, the type of anxiety you are experiencing does not seem like something that should warrant a day off. I guess it depends on what you mean by anxiety, maybe you weren't telling the full story because of embarrassment or whatever. There are days when I am at work and can get nothing done because something is bothering me. That is a lot differen than the sort of depression and anxiety that warrants taking a day off when you are on a deadline. My ex-gf used to have the bad kind, as in panic attacks, having to leave conversations to go cry, etc. Things that are debilitating. She did switch medications a couple of times, and it can be tough if you are on multiple meds because you often have to go through a cleansing period where you let the old stuff wash out otherwise you'll OD on meds if you immediately take the new one. But her issues were a lot more than simply not getting work done because she is preoccupied.

Earlier this week I was running at a snail's pace in terms of work because I was feeling really anxious about how things are going with someone I'm dating. Taking a day off would have meant giving in. There is a line somewhere that you don't want to cross, where you start making excuses for yourself and setting yourself up for failure. Once you cross that line, it's going to be very hard to ever hold down a job because you will always be able to rationalize how you can't do it on a particular day because you are worried about something. With my ex-gf it was a self-fulfilling prophecy.
 
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MisterJackson

Lifer
Jun 19, 2004
10,860
1
81
Originally posted by: iwantanewcomputer
why shouldnt we flame here? I think most of OT would agree you deserve it.
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I hope you're joking man, if not fvck off.

OP, take care of your health first and foremost. Without good health a job really doesn't fvcking matter. Jobs are disposable, you are not.

Just switch your meds and hope for the best but prepare for the worst, because if it ends up that you lose the job that's only going to cause you more stress and anxiety if you leave yourself unprepared.

As for the boss, I wouldn't worry about him too much, that email can be interpretted in a few different ways. For example, he could have just been doing that to get you to feel guilty and come in anyway, which as someone mentioned before is passive aggressive, and quite selfish.

If it boils down to it make up your work by staying late once you feel better. If you get fired over this, or see that it's headed towards that then go ahead and explain to your boss that you were switching medications and the side effects were adverse so you had no choice but to take the day. He doesn't need specifics about the medications, just let him know you switched, he can guess whatever he wants from there but it's none of his business.

If he is so stupid as to put you on the spot and ask what meds you're on just tell him that's personal and has no bearing on your job performance. If he becomes too much of a d1ck about it tell him you'd feel more comfortable talking with him and an HR rep. That'll either shut him up (and potentially earn you an enemy so do that as a LAST resort), or it will get HR involved and they'll likely tell him to STFU. If it ever gets that far though you're better off finding a new job.

not sure where all of my "wandering typing" on this subject has come from this morning, but I hope something I said helps you.

 
Triumph

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
Is the stuff due tomorrow, or at the end of the month? If something is due tomorrow and you want to take a personal day, then sorry, you need to get it done. Otherwise, do it on Monday. If he thinks it can't wait until Monday, then have a talk with him. Explain your situation and have him explain why it can't wait until Monday.
 
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torpid

Lifer
Sep 14, 2003
11,631
11
76
I would try to avoid explaining any depression/anxiety issues to my boss if I were you. Unfortunately there is a real risk of stigma at your job if you do that and there's the possibility your boss will permanently lose faith in you.
 
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PastaPete

Member
Jul 8, 2005
168
0
0
i appreciate your kind words everyone

except for that d1ckhead iwantanewcomputer...

ill update u guys on monday nite
 
A

aidanjm

Lifer
Aug 9, 2004
12,411
2
0
good luck with the med switch.

if it's not too late, maybe you could time the switch so the worst of it occurs over the weekend?
 
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Conky

Lifer
May 9, 2001
10,709
0
0
It's best to show up to work even if you can't get anything done. Skipping days only increases your chances of getting fired. The majority of employers value attendance over performance as far as I can tell.
 
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DurocShark

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
15,708
5
56
Originally posted by: Beachboy
It's best to show up to work even if you can't get anything done. Skipping days only increases your chances of getting fired. The majority of employers value attendance over performance as far as I can tell.
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Unfortunately this is sooo true in 90% of the companies out there. The reason is that it's sooo easy to measure.

We actually had people written up here for using all their sick time. My response: "WTF? If they're gonna get written up for using it, why give it?" Manager's response (who I had a good rapport with), "Because they're using it too quickly."

:confused:
 
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