Sick leave

When you are depressed, you may find it difficult to do what is best for you and to make the right decisions. You may push yourself into situations which you are unable to cope with. You may also find it difficult to know what is good or bad, and right and wrong at this time. If this is the case and you are considering taking sick leave until you feel better able to cope with situations at work, talk to your doctor about whether taking full time off work is best or perhaps whether you should negotiate a reduction in hours on a temporary basis. This will allow for an easy transition back to work when you are well.

Conflicts    

Depression can lead to conflicts with others. You may express strong feelings such as irritation, anger, anxiety and frustration towards others. You may find that in situations where you would previously have managed to control your emotions, you may not be able to do so anymore and sometimes explosive outbursts will occur. Although your feelings may be valid, it would be better if you could control them and manage the stressful situation in a more positive way.

You might be feeling tired and this may affect the quality of your work.

 

There are a number of factors which may make it necessary to consider sick leave:

• If your relationships with other people are strained due to your inability to control emotions
• If your work rate and quality is affected
• If you are unable to concentrate and your memory is affected
• If you are easily overcome by emotions at work and you are teary
• If you are relying on alcohol or drugs to cope

Open and honest

It is often better to be open and honest about your depression, however, this is not always the case. In ideal cases, colleagues who know about your depression can then be empathetic and understanding. If you have weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of being open and honest at work and are still unsure, talk to someone you can trust such as a good friend or your doctor or psychologist. This will help you to make a decision in your particular situation.