Your colleagues

It is normal to be affected by what other people think. Everyone needs to be accepted, acknowledged, needed, loved, valued and respected. But when you are depressed, you will often feel unwanted, unworthy and unloved. Your relationship with your colleagues may be strained. This is because your illness may make you

• irritable and intolerant
• critical
• angry

Your colleagues may in turn become less tolerant towards you due to your hostile behaviour.

Self-assertion

You may also become self-assertive. The more inadequate you feel, the more you may need to compensate by boasting. You boast because you want people to value you. You may seek out praise and affirmation. You may even become hostile when you don't receive praise in your everyday life.

Criticism

It may be difficult for you to accept criticism, even positive criticism. Your thoughts may be excessively negative, leading you to think

• "It is dreadful, I will probably be fired"
• "Oh no, now they'll think I'm stupid"
• "I can never do anything right"

Tell people about your depression?

When you have been diagnosed with depression and are being treated, you may decide to tell your colleagues. But you don't have to! You only consider telling people when you feel secure and confident in telling them.

Confiding in people can lead to disappointment. You may be disappointed by their reaction and you may feel hurt if they go on to tell other people without your permission. There are still myths and prejudices surrounding depression and mental illness and unfortunately some people will react badly or not know how to react to this information. Remember that if other people are intolerant, prejudiced, ignorant and lacking in understanding, it says a lot more about them than it does about you.