In Practice

A Practicing Doctor's Views on Psychiatry and Contemporary Culture.

Peter D. Kramer is a psychiatrist and author. His books include Against Depression and Listening to Prozac. See full bio

August 27, 2008, Depression

Comments on "A Quick Note: It's Depression That Keeps People Off the Job"

A Quick Note: It's Depression That Keeps People Off the Job

By Peter D. Kramer on August 27, 2008 in In Practice

In manic-depressive illness, it's the depression that leads to time out of work. Read More

My depression has gotten so

Submitted by anonymous on August 27, 2008 - 7:35am.

My depression has gotten so bad that I cannot even find it within myself to find a job after being laid off 6 months ago, it has affected my ability to do anything and the longer time goes on the worse it gets. I truly feel as if all I do is just breathe. Yet it is just viewed by others as me not being responsible.

It's a vicious circle,

Submitted by Anonymous on September 4, 2008 - 1:15pm.

It's a vicious circle, really. I got depressed, so I had to leave my job. Since I had to leave my job, I can't afford psychiatric help, and especially not therapy. Since I am not getting any better, I can't even imagine looking for a job. And the problem is not just that OTHERS think I am being lazy/irresponsible/weak etc., but that I find myself worthless, too...

I am in a similar vicious

Submitted by Anonymous on October 1, 2008 - 9:57pm.

I am in a similar vicious cycle. I was depressed and highly anxious at work but now that I am no longer employed I feel even more helpless. My workplace was unhealthy for me but now I am stuck in my own mind all day and I feel I can't get out. I feel worthless right now and want to get my act together but it is hard to even get out of bed. I am grateful to have such a supportive and loving family but I still feel embarrassed when I am around them...like some worthless, unemployed loser. I am so scared I will never make anything of my life. I graduated from college with such high hopes for myself and now many years later I feel like I have accomplished nothing. I know I need to change my thinking, be aware of my cognitive distortions, get out and run again, etc. I know what I need to do to get better but I am having such a hard time doing it. My insurance just ended so I now have lost my psych resources. I just want to get out of this deep hole I have dug for myself, but I have no ladder.

Depression and Employment

Submitted by Wendy Aron on August 27, 2008 - 8:22am.

The question is, which comes first, depression or unemployment? When I was unemployed the lack of structure almost led me into another depression. When I went back to work, the depression lifted.

Wendy Aron, author of Hide & Seek: How I Laughed at Depression, Conquered My Fears and Found Happiness
http://www.wendyaron.com