Unemployment and severe depression
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| Wed, 04-13-2005 - 2:53pm |
A few people here told me they were unemployed, and so am I. If it's not too personal a question, do you think depression or anxiety led to unemployment? Does it affect you on interviews?
My answer: Yes. On interviews, I panic and make a bad impression. My diagnosis was social phobia, so that's no surprise. But in all the jobs I've ever had, I've done a great job once they gave me a chance. But when they see me shaking and stuttering during the interviews, they don't hire me. Also the self esteem issue: interviews are about making yourself look great, and I don't think I am. I know that hurts me and makes a bad impression. Friends tell me to fake it but I can't.
Lately I've been wondering if I should tell an interviewer that I am dealing with depression and anxiety, and it's the reason I've been unemployed for so long. But if they give me a chance, and enough time to get used to the office, I can still do a great job for them even though I make a bad impression on inteviews. Do you think that might work?
Does this count as a disability? I'm thinking of the statement all companies make, that they don't discriminate based on many factors including disabilities. And they have to make reasonable accomadations to allow a disabled person to do the job. Do you know what I mean? Well, that law has never worked in my favor and I'm wondering why. This feels like a disablity...the doctor said it's a chemical imbalance that I did not cause...so would the law treat it as a disablity? All I want is the chance to be judged based on my work, not my confidence level.
What do you think?

Your question about whether you should tell the person who is interviewing you that you suffer from depression and anxiety,,,,,that is hard for me to answer as I worry what you might think. Personally I would never tell a potential employeer something that would possibly make them label me instead, and before they see my potential as a good worker. That is 'my' opinion though. One of my managers now knows I have anxiety problems and am on meds for it,,,but I've been there long enough that it isn't an issue regarding my work performance. Whatever makes you feel comfortable bluerains is what matters though. Also please remember almost everyone is nervous during an interview. I went to extra efforts to fix myself up and feel good about how I looked and that helped me feel more confident, but heck I was still nervous. I was embarrassed too about not working for so long but I still was given the job and hold it to this day and you can too bluerain. I so wish you luck! Take care please,,,,,,Abby
Edited 4/13/2005 9:15 pm ET ET by come_to_nothing
Hi
Cometonothing,
I just want to congradulate you about getting the job and keeping it. It gives me a lot of hope that you faced the same problems I'm in but still got a job in the end. Congradulations, you should be proud of yourself!
Lori,
I was thinking of saying it as my answer if they ask, "Why have you been unemployed for so long?" Also, sometimes the applications ask "Do you have any disablities that you need reasonable accomadation for?" And I always left that blank. But I wonder if I should not.
In my last job, my cubicle was right next to a door. People constantly went back and forth to use the door. We had about 90 people in our department, so it was pretty busy. Every time the door slammed it triggered off my anxiety, I got used to it but it was nervewracking at first. And of course, everyone stopped to chat with me (triggering social anxiety). I wonder if I told them I had anxiety disorder, would they have moved me to a quieter cube? That's the kind of "reasonable accomodations" I'm thinking of.
I used to be a gov't contractor. This is what I observed: the gov't hires a lot of disabled people and makes accomodations so they can do the job. I'm taking about physical disabilities. So if they do it for physically disabled people, why not for us? Why is there a stigma associated with depression, and anxiety, when they are chemical disorders of the brain?
"People tend to get weird about others who reveal a lot of personal issues during the first meeting."
I know what you mean here, but according to the law you have to tell the employer before they hire you what your disabilities are, or they aren't obligated to accomadate them. That's the only reason I would bring it up right away, if I do at all. I'm still not sure if I will try it. It is a risk, and that gets me mad... it should not be.
I don't want employers to feel sorry for me, I don't want to use it as an excuse. I just want to be judged fairly, and not compared to mentally "healthy" people in regards to my interview performance...becuase when they do that, I will lose out every time. I just can't hide the anxiety enough to appear confident and calm. And what gets me is that it has nothing whatsoever to do with my ability to do the job. Nothing! Yet it defeats me, every time.