How do I handle my mental illness at work?

Question

I was Dx'd w/ GAD in 2002. I work in mental health as a case manager for people with severe and persistent mental illness, it is a job I do well at.
I have weekly supervisory meetings with my supervisor. After my meeting this week, my supervisor mentioned that everytime she talks to me I appear anxious and nervous. She said that this concerns her because she does not want me to get burned out. She wanted to make sure that I was taking care of myself because she says that if I don't take care of myself, I can't take care of clients. I told her that I was not burned out at all and I never expressed any anxiety when dealing with clients. I only experienced anxiety around supervisors because I want to do a good job and sometimes get nervous and think that I am going to look bad. She seemed to be okay with that, but I have been super paranoid about it. I know that if I disclose my illness there is a chance I can lose my job even though it is illegal. Discrimination is very hard to prove.

Answer 1

I would not disclose my illness, I would take my meds if you take it and go to therapy. there are lot s of mentally ill people who are very productive in society, but you yourself have to make sure that you are productive as well. I suggest you get comfortable with your illness and work with it. If u acknowledge it and do what you have to do to control it, i believe it will be much easier to handle.

Answer 2

Your supervisor just picked up on your anxiety, and you gave her a reasonable explanation for it, and it sounds like she was okay with your explanation. I don't think you're obligated to explain further or disclose your diagnosis to her. If you did, she would probably start watching you more closely and might likely find fault with your work--this would just make you more anxious. As long as you are receiving proper medical treatment for your GAD there is no reason why you can't function in your current role. In fact, it probably makes you much more intuitive and empathetic with your clients.

Talk to your therapist about this, and learn how you can relax more around those in authority. Burnout is a common problem in healthcare that most supervisors are trained to observe for. Leave it at that--you don't owe her any further explanation. Good luck to you.

Answer 3

If you are taking medication and proper therapy for your anxiety, it might be a good idea to tell your boss about it, provided she seems like a decent person. If she is the type you can speak to about such things, just simply explain that you have anxiety and are currently taking medication and attending therapy. Also not that you are grateful she is the type of person you can talk to about this, but that you don't want your dx to define you as a person. Tell her that you are very dedicated to your job, and would appreciate any feedback she has so you can get even better at what you do. There is a great book called "the anxiety and phobia workbook", which you may find helpful.

Answer 4

I have a tendency to get nervous around my superiors as well, but have been with the same company for seven years. If this is new to you, hope that it wears off over time and you become more comfortable after constant exposure. Prescriptions may also help, but seek professional help as well. Wellbutrin and Zoloft are a few that can help with anxiety, but try to relax and focus on the meeting. I'd say most of it is in your head and you will see that time spent with your superiors is a great way to show how much you know and what you have learned in your current field.

Answer 5

I'm a supervisor of casemanagers working with people with severe and persistent mental illness. Here's what I think. 1. There's a stigma about mental illness that we as mental health professionals need to consider. Disclosing your illness could have repercussions for you, but working in the field it should not (there is a large movement of inclusion and acceptance within the treatment community.) Disclosing your illness would help your supervisor assist in managing symptoms as they relate to your ability to do your job. Disclosing also may help your anxiety around supervisors, as it appears you may be fearful that they will find out about the illness. 2. It appears you have a desire to do your job as well as you possibly can. If this is the case, then your fear of disclosing your illness may get in the way of being as effective as possible with clients.
At my community mental health center we have a supervisor who is diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and is open about it. I think it helps fight the stigma and helps people understand that mental illness does not mean people cannot be successful. There is also potential that your disclosure may help other professionals around you with their view of people with mental illnesses. I can understand if you still decide not to disclose, but do you really want to work somewhere that would fire you for being ill and not provide reasonable accommodations for that illness?
It's a complex decision and I salute you for critically considering it.

Answer 6

If you are doing your overall job well, and you only have problems when with your supervisor, I would not worry too much about it. And I would recommend at this point that you do not mention your own illness to others at work. People in the helping professions are notorious for insinuating that people with their own medical or emotional issues should not be caseworkers. (And often the ones who are so intense about this issue have hidden issues themselves.) If your illness does not affect your job performance, keep everything about your health private. Don't give people ammunition to blow something completely out of proportion.

I recommend that you talk this issue over with a trusted, personal counselor -- not at all connected to your agency or office.

Good luck to you.

Answer 7

A generalized anxiety disorder can be difficult to deal with.

In North America, the various Disabilities Acts should protect you.

The fear of being fired is a strong fear for anyone. However, I would suggest that you speak to your doctor. Under disabilities legislation, you can generally request "accommodations" around a medical condition.

If you can think of a way that will make these conversations with your supervisor easier, maybe have that conversation with the supervisor.

Answer 8

Unfortunately, mental illness still carries a big stigma in our society.

I would not say anything about your diagnosis.

I think just so you are doing your job, it is not their business.

Everybody can feel nervous around particular people sometimes.

You handled the situation well. You diagnosis is your business so long as you go to work and do your job.

Answer 9

Don't share your illness with them. There is no reason for them to know this. Like the other people said, check into medication, I used to get nervous at work about some things and got a beta blocker to get me thru it until I could handle it on my own.
Hang in there, you can make it thru this, and don't give them any ammunition to use against you, not worth it!

Answer 10

Can your Dr. give you some type of pill to calm you down before you go to your Supervisor meetings? Like a Valium or something along those lines.