Do you tell your boss? (28 Sep 02) 5messages

The Lumie forum is for general discussion of Seasonal Affective Disorder and all things light therapy. To join in you'll need to register.

We do not monitor this forum every day. If you want to reach Lumie please go to our contact us page.

Anonymous
joined 4 Dec 2008
46743 posts

send a pm

Posted by Anonymous, 16:05 20 October 2002

Do you tell your boss?

posted by Cathy on 2002-03-20 18:45:46

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Everyone

Hope the daffodils are make you feel a bit better.

Just interested about how everyone else copes with work and SAD. Although I use a light box throughout the winter, during periods of extra stress (eg exams!) It still gets to me. Is anyone else familiar with god you look awful today! from colleagues??

You know those days when you feel like your eyes have sunk into your head, cannot possibly hold a conversation with someone and generally feel really poo??

On days like that I cannot concentrate at work at all and even have problems stringing a sentance together!!

I think my boss notices this and just puts it down to hangover (which, I admit, is sometimes the case!)

So what do you tell your boss? Does anyone explain their odd behaviour to their colleagues/boss? I feel like I should as sometimes my performance suffers and I simply cannot get stuff done!

For you is it a very private thing or are quite open about it?

Only close friends know about my SAD and I am sometimes embarassed to use my light box in front of them.

I'd be really interested to hear how others cope with this at work and also who do you tell?

Should we be spreading the word?

Happy springtime everybody!
Cathy

maria

Topic: Re: Do you tell your boss?

posted by maria on 2002-04-02 07:10:35

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Cathy

I told my immediate supervisor about my S.A.D & asked her to tell my boss's & they were all very supportive. I also told my workmates in my section at work some of them looked at me as if to say pull yourself together, but I found the majority of them most supportive & understanding. Hope this helps you. Maria

If you would like to talk to me further about this you can contact me by email at m.younger2@ntlworld.com

Karl

Topic: Re: Do you tell your boss?

posted by Karl on 2002-04-28 09:58:36

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi,

Well, because I have my light box on my desk at work, my bos and just about everyone else asked me what it was for. Some think Im daft, others ask intelligent questions. Some even come and sit by me when Im usising it.

I think as I work in a cube, very common in US companies, it makes it easy to use the lightbox without bothering others.

If your work siuation is imilar you might want to give it a try.

Should be feeling a bit better now with all this sunshine.

Take care,

Karl

Katy

Topic: Re: Do you tell your boss?

posted by Katy on 2002-05-09 01:22:18

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I mentioned my SAD (and the fact that I left my last job over their treatment of me over it) at my interview and they gave me the job and have recently extended my contract. My boss has mentioned to me that she has had post natal depression, so she has been very good about me not being so sharp in the winter and my problems with reducing my medication recently.

I use my lightbox at work in the winter, and have found it to be a useful talking point when I first started, helping me to get to know the rest of the staff.

KT

Karen

Topic: Re: Do you tell your boss?

posted by Karen on 2002-09-28 19:47:57

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi, don't know if this forum is still up and running. But in response to your question. I told my boss last year who basically put my illness down to PMT! He refered me to his line manger who promptly monitored my absences ( all of which were covered with a sick note from my GP). At the end of a particularly bad winter I was called to the office where my 20 days absence was highlighted and my ability to do my work as a secondary school teacher was brought into question. As we reach the end of September my symptoms are returning. I know my work will suffer, I am not looking forward to the next few months.

Anonymous
joined 4 Dec 2008
46743 posts

send a pm

Posted by Anonymous, 13:09 22 October 2002

Hi Cathy,
Last Winter I bought my first lightbox after finally admitting to myself I had definite SAD symptoms & used it quite successfully at work. As my work at then involved sitting in front of a computer nearly all the time I opted for a Bright Spark which sits neatly on top of the monitor.

I did ask my colleagues in the office if they minded me using it & mostly they were fine about it although I think the lady that sat nearest me did find it a bit bright, but as I didn't have it on all day she was o.k. about it.

It caused quite a stir as more people came in to the office & saw it, & like Karl I found some obviously thought I was a bit peculiar while others were very interested & asked a lot of questions, to the extent that I ended up putting a sign on the side of my monitor for people to read so I didn't have to keep explaining!

I think it also helped some people admit to the fact that either they or a relative suffered from symptoms & were fascinated to see evidence of someone actually doing something about it.

I have since changed jobs & for practical reasons I won't be using the lightbox there this winter, but am considering buying a light visor that I can use freely at home instead. I have mentioned in passing to my new colleagues that I get low in the winter & fortunately as we are in a medical field they seem sympathetic.

I think only you can guage how your workplace will react according to your individual circumstances, but at the end of the day it is your health & well-being that matters most, & you are, ultimately less productive if you're having problems. I think any decent employer (especially those with Occupational Health services) would find it in their best interests to accomodate you.

I am of the opinion that depression as an illness is similar in practical terms to any physical condition necessitating noticeable treatment, such as diabetes, & public awareness of SAD as a real condition needs to be raised. The only way to achieve this is to take the plunge, be assertive as regards your health needs & spread the word, as well as the light!

Good luck,

Erica

Anonymous
joined 4 Dec 2008
46743 posts

send a pm

Posted by Anonymous, 04:22 18 November 2002

hello - I've just found the website.

The only way I found out htat I suffered from SAD was when I worked on a government documentary about it 10 years ago!

I've come clean to most of my employers (or potential employers) since. I feel that it's only fair to warn them....one had special skylights fitted to the office ( she turned out to be a sufferer too! - but most haven't believed it atall.
I havenow started my own company (which, is great!) and have realised that the only way to cover up... is to be freelance - so that other people think you're especially busy in the winter......when actuallly being busy is the last thing on your mind....

A back up income as a musician has helped - ( you only have to work nights) but falling asleep in the middle of a song is pretty bad too

SAD seems to have shaped both education, my relationships and my career

I'd like to know if anyone has ever had an employer that really tries to understand.

Anonymous
joined 4 Dec 2008
46743 posts

send a pm

Posted by Anonymous, 22:07 25 November 2002

hello,

i am new to this site. i am a recently diagnosed sufferer of SAD and up until recently i did not know anything about it. i come from portugal, where light is not a problem (we have plenty, even during the winter), but now i am living in london. since i got here, in september, my sleeping patterns have gone crazy, i have gained 6 pounds and have been depressed and unable to focus on anything.

i felt happy to know that there are others like me out there and when i found out that this is actually a big thing i decided to do an article on it. i am a freelance journalist and i am taking my masters in international journalism at city university, here in london. i was thinking if any of you would like to share an interesting SAD episode with me, for my article. i am especially looking for someone who has had problems at work or even faced losing his/her job because of this. i have a tight deadline, tomorrow at 6:30, so if you could email me in the meantime, this SAD girl would be immensly grateful. my email is bluetulle@hotmail.com.

thanks a million,
joana mateus

Anonymous
joined 4 Dec 2008
46743 posts

send a pm

Posted by Anonymous, 12:10 19 December 2002

Hi there,

I too have been diagnosed with SAD and am really unsure how to deal with it. I'm newly employed and was only diagnosed this week.

I'm afraid if I mention the problem, I may loose my job, and the 6 month contract may not be extended as we hoped.

I am also on fluoxetine, which is the equivalent to prozac but I'm not sure quite who to tell. My fiancee knows, and is very supportive, but I so often feel so tired, lonely and tearful.

Can anyone help me?
What do you advise I do?

Becci

Bright One
joined 29 Jan 2003
226 posts

send a pm

Posted by Bright One, 15:43 18 February 2003

:D
I've told my bosses -if I have a lightbox on my desk they ask questions! I've not had any problems at all in fact my bosses usually take great pleasure in pointing out what a gorgeous day it is OR ask how I'm feeling because it's grey and yukky!

I guess that so far I've been lucky. I know that some people think that it's a bit of a 'fake' illness but anyone who's suffered knows without a shadow of a doubt that it's real!

If you have some knowledge about SAD, sSAD and a laymans understanding of what it is, how it works, why it exists then I find people are usually more convinced and more interested. Most say that they feel a little run down or find it harder to be motivated and seem quite please when they realise that 'winter blues' has an actual physical reason...

I'll apologise now. I just had one of my best winters and last year was pretty good too (thanks to my light box and my wonderful husband!) so I get a bit evangelical about people a. knowing what SAD is and b. getting treatment asap. I spent 6 years struggling and very depressed because come winter I lost 'me'-

I don't suffer from SAD
I don't cope with SAD
I live with SAD and right now life is pretty good (could just be the lighter mornings and evenings causing this hallelujah chorus!!) :lol: :wink:

Post a reply

home > forum