Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

Well this has been an interesting thread - so many of us who vehemently disagree on so many other things united by our f**ked up heads. I agree with Neurotic Cat, interesting and comforting to see others discussing their issues.

Punky, would I dare to call you cynical?! Of course I would ya cynical young codger! :D Actually I'm not sure it is that easy to fake the symptoms - and certainly not wise as a GP is just likely to take the easy option of bunging you on anti-depressants (although my husband and wife duo have advised other options, including more exercise and alternative therapies. I do reike weekly - not entirely convinced by it's Japanese healing art claims but by heck it's relaxing and nice. I recommend it). I'm sure there are those who do think they can throw a sickie by faking it but as this thread has rather dramatically exposed, these conditions are horribly widespread. And the help currently on offer is woefully inadequate.

EDIT: Escapee, you're laid back?!! ;) I'm a simmer till I explode type too though now I'm self employed and taken the decision to be spectacularly unambitious (and therefore cut my workload right down) I'm much more content. Poorer, but more content.

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

Well, when's all said and done, it will come down to either accept your word for it. If you fake a bad leg or back, then they'll be some swelling, or discolouration, etc that you can't fake, and you'll get caught on. You may not limp consistently as well, for example.

With depression, there is no way for anyone to prove you aren't depressed, not even with a CT scan.

I would just like to clear something up. My comments did appear a bit callous with regards to the tone of the thread. I posted my comment before reading everyone else's. What I was referring to was all reports a while ago saying more people are skiving off work than ever before, and depression is a good way swing it.

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

Didn't think you were being callous Punk. I still don't think it's that easy to fake because depression/anxiety brings with it physical manifestations. Trust me, I looked like a bag of sh*te when I first went to the docs because I hadn't slep or eaten properly for days.

As for people bunking off work, well if that's true, then it may be pertinent to ask why.

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

Playing at depression to avoid work is dangerous..you may have to keep up the pretence long enough to actually get depressed.

Much better to fake a back ache which is much easier to maintain as a lie...and back ache is the highest used excuse.Apart from the common cold back ache is the reason used for more work absence than any other.

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

I totally agree with the people who say that you need to have experienced depression to truly understand it. The last thing you need from someone who is seeing you crying, hopeless and full of grief is to be told to 'pull yourself together', like I was told. It is so not that easy.

Personally, I think depression is not purely genetic, neither is it purely environmental. It's both. Today's society is perfect for generating depression victims - fast, full of demands and deadlines, it requires you to follow a strict schedule and you devote more time to the economy, at work, than you devote to yourself. No wonder so many people feel so demoralised and helpless - the genetic part of it is that some of us are more sensitive to these feelings. Well that is what I feel anyway.

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

I agree with the symptoms being physically seen in many cases, I break out in psoriasis very badly. I was absolutely covered from head to toe, and didn't realise that it was stress related. My current boss has also developed the same condition since we have had a new director in charge of our division!

I have suffered again since late last year, the counselling sessions are fairly useless. I have however been able to taken a different approach this time and tackled the source of my stress head on, I retreated into a depressed state and let things go on around me that were stressing me. I had a change of direction a few weeks ago and came out fighting, I have now caused the people giving me stress more trouble than they can handle. I can now see they are showing some of the same early symptoms I have suffered myself and I must admit in a callous sort of way I'm enjoying the payback.
I have decided that I will not take a back seat and let others take over, I gave them enough freedom to make a complete hash of things, and now I'm rubbing their nose in it.

I don't tend to get stressed by the pressure of work, I seem to get stressed by the frustration caused by others. I am fairly down to earth and honest about my capabilities, but I am taking great delight in turning it around and smashing these bulls****ers into the ground.

I suppose the counsilling sessions have made me channel my aggression back at the cause. :tu:

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

Damn near impossible to stop it though.

If you're an insomniac, if you're off work, if you're lonely, you end up with too much time, and you tend to fill it with thinking.

I've found the best way to get by is to keep busy, just to stop you thinking, but that's not always possible when you're not physically able to get out of bed, and leaving the house doesn't fell you with joy.

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

It still sneaks in though. When I was home the other day and I had 5 minutes peace to myself, those bloody thoughts krept back into my head, as to why on earth am I still here and why nothing ever seems to go right for us and why carnt somebody give is a break. It is horrible it just feels like this big dark dank cloud is overhead and every think I think always ends up terrible. I want it go bit it wont.

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

I hope you do know that this is not the case. I belive that the human race is basically good

The thing about this as punky has said is that it is a very hard thing to prove/dis-prove. I dont belive many people fake it. But they could be a case that some people see this problem in the media, in the real world and start to think they have clincal depression. Worrying about this would send them in a downward sprial and actual clincal depression then starts. Although i am not sure and certainly am not saying it happpens to people here

I am not sure if that happens but it may, one of the problems is that you then worry about your illness and this makes you more depressed causing a horrible circle that needs to be broken as soon as possible. Also what people have said about thinking, if you have too much time to yourself and not enough things to keep you busy you will end up with a problem, no matter how 'solid' you are. A lack of interaction with other humans does cause mental illness

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

Kronas, didn't really take on your comment before but I do totally agree. There seems to be a lack of caring, of conscience, of principle, out there these days which I find depresssing and disturbing. Sh*t, maybe we are right and everybody else needs the diazepam?!!

Very cathartic all this, whatever ;)

So can we all form a F**ked Up Club? :D
__________________

Are you saying time to get off CF and talk to real people?! ;)

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

Well having read a lot of what poeple have posted, I can agree with a lot.

I am suffering from depression, I do not know why, I have everything I would want out of life, a nice house (rented though) a wonderfull fiance, every consumer durable under the sun, a good job for now until they get sick of me though.

On top of that I have always suffered from panic attacks and anxiety, you know that feeling that you are going to die when you are in a surrounding as serene as a fish shop (aquatics not a chippy!).

I am only just coming around to accepting that I have a problem and have gotten started on a course of medication, I have been to see therapists in the past and done relaxation and stuff but it just is not working any more, hopefully the meds will.

Oh well thats my 2p worth.

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

I would say the more the merrier to this thread but not terribly appropriate! Accepting, or understanding, that you have an issue is the biggest hurdle in my experience. When I first went to the docs (with my exceptionally patient partner) I just burst into tears on the street (Market Street, Diamond ;) - sorry local knowledge) straight afterwards. Not entirely sure why but I think a good part of it was the realisation that something fundamentally wasn't right and that I'd taken a step to rectify that.

Good luck with your own demons

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

Strangly enough, I went with my fiance...

Just out of curiosity, is this normal practice to go with ones partner?

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

well mine dragged me down...dunno if that is normal ;)

EDIT: Guilty of being flippant again. If your partner will go with you, or encourage you to go, it's a sure sign of support. So that's got to be a good thing.

Re: Stress & Depression Biggest Cause of Sickies
 

I actually went on my own, I went twice about my psoriasis but couldn't bring myself to mention the real issue. When I went for the third visit this time a more considerate male doctor, instead of giving me another prescription for cream he started asking if I was anxious about anything to trigger the psoriasis off.

I opened up about my problem, and couldn't believe I was talking about it. I got sent to counselling sessions as a result, I did however refuse any form of medication.

I used to blow my top years ago when I got stressed, and it would all come out of my system. I think my stress in later life has been caused by things that are not as easy to pinpoint or explode about. Saying that I have exploded recently, one example was in a directors office! :D He sat up and took notice, and as a result it has been very positive.

I am trying to blow my top a bit more often ;)

The other strange thing about stress, is I can "joke" about it. I guess that makes it difficult for people to seriously think I am affected by it, but stress affects everyone differently.