This is a example of how anyone, YES even YOU can recover, from Depression and put the Past so far behind yourself with the right influences and help! Im Genovieve Psychotherapist and embrace any challanges client brings Anxiety, Stress or Relationship Issue’s. Please Read on…
A case study, here I will tell you with permission from client ‘X’ about her story ths trials and tribulations and how she recovered from Stress and Depression. ‘X a senior manager who had worked up through the position during a 25-year financial banking career, was known for her energy, people skills and go-getter attitude. In business meetings, she was talkative and outgoing. But once back at her desk, she found it difficult to remember a word from her meetings, couldn’t write a report, couldn’t function. The current year she was rebuilding her life after a long drawn out Divorce, finally the 18-year marriage ended, and was ‘X’ was forced to adjust life as a single parent. Then, in the Autumn of 2011, ‘X’ and her daughter were involved in a motor vehicle accident on the Motorway, a heavy goods vehicle hit the rear of their car. Amazingly, they suffered no serious physical injuries. Despite the trauma and the family adjustment, she continued coping. Not wanting to disappoint and let any of the family or employers down ‘X’ was determined to be a good example employee, parent and to her that meant not bringing her personal problems to the office or family. “I internalized. I got scared. I was like a little scared kitten,” ‘X’ said. Struggling with everyday life at this point she mentioned “I couldn’t put pen to paper. I was avoiding my work. I couldn’t produce a single report.” She was losing her confidence, and yet remained hopeful that each new day would bring back “the old ‘X’.” Instead, she ended up more anxious and fearful, and eventually, more depressed.
For 6 months, ‘X’ struggled. Finally she couldn’t hold it in. ‘X’ eventually began to show her emotions in her place of work the volcano was about to erupt; cry during meetings or whenever work colleagues asked if she was okay she simply broke down. Then ‘X’ broke down in front of her Managing Director, who told her to get help from the company’s Employee Assistance Programme. ‘X’ was diagnosed with depression due to past and current events. What ‘X’ didn’t understand was that, in some ways, the hardest part was just exposed the ‘disclosure of her vulnerability’ and could now learn to deal with her Mental Health.
Let me make you aware, if you readers are not already; that Depression and Anxiety disorders affect one in five employees in England. Mental health illnesses still tend to be unidentified in the workplace. It’s not that people don’t notice a colleague behaving strangely. Rather, we guess, “Is it a problem? Is it an attitude issue? Is it a personality or a behaviour flaw”? Instead of risking conflict, people tend to ignore the behaviour until it becomes a crisis. “What’s occurs in the meantime is that relationships are being damaged, reputations are being damaged, performance or productivity may be affected. The longer we allow this to go on, the more harm there is to the health and well-being of not just the person but, in some cases, those who are working with them.” ‘X’ was sent home for six weeks on disability. She took medication and got therapy. At the end of her sick leave, she was terrified about going back to work because of her lack of confidence, but the fear of losing her income was more powerful.
‘X’ was granted another six weeks then returned on a gradual basis, and the next one or two months were hit and miss. ‘X’ would come in for a half-day, something would trigger her illness, and she would go home for the rest of the week. ‘X’ was asked to make a choice: to either return back to work full time or long-term disability. “I made a decision to go back full time, as though I had not been ill with depression. And they accepted it. It’s laughable.” Within two months, she was being offered a severance package. ‘X’ said “because they just didn’t know what else to do with me.” After she left the bank in 2012, ‘X’ began to rebuild her life. She learned meditation and relaxation techniques, and volunteered in the local community. She went back to school to become a career counsellor, and found work, and a work-life balance. Most importantly, she feels she is back in the driver’s seat of her own life.
For me and maybe many others of you, will to associate with such emotions and events. I believe “It’s so wonderful and I have gratefulness for it, because I know what it’s like not to be (in control).”
I hope this case study proves of help to anyone out there in the workplace feeling isolated, and alone to know there is Hope and it’s just a matter of time before you can get yourself back on the right path to Your Life!
