How to get anything done at work

[wishingonstars]

I am so depressed and suicidal that I don't feel anything matters anymore plus my brain is just foggy all of the time. Anyone with similar experiences have tactics to maintain a job and get through the work day. I have a great job but it requires a lot of thinking and caring and I don't want to lose it but feel like I will if I don't figure something out.

 

[metfan647]

I think once you truly mentally check out it'll be a slippery slope. I've been doing that for the past 6 months under the radar making all sorts of mistakes. Only just got caught and I'm on a performance improvement plan. I've stepped things up as I know losing this job or my eventual quitting will be one step closer to the inevitable.

Fight through to keep the job as long as you can. Even if it means some sick leave to recharge your batteries or some annual leave. Try to get enough sleep and maintain a regular sleep routine even on days off to help with cognition. Maybe some medication? Maybe some supplements? Not to teach you to suck eggs, but maybe research a bit on a healthy balanced diet if you're not already doing that.

 

[thebox_123]

I'm not sure. I'm on my way out and quit my job just a month ago. But then again I have accepted my intentions and I don't plan to stick around much longer. If you're still fighting, maybe look into grounding and distraction techniques. Maybe take a Personal Leave if you can.

 

[Forveleth]

I have this when my depression gets bad. I start dissociating and have bad brain fog some days. I also have had periods of not giving a fuck about anything but still need to stay employed.

Break big tasks down into smaller ones if you can. Do not focus on accomplishing an entire task, just the next part of it. Use notes and checklists liberally. The more you write down, the less you have to keep in your head. Also, take breaks if you can. I find I can make myself focus on work for 20-30 minutes if I take a 5 minute break before/after.

I am a tactile person so I have a few fidget toys to play with because feeling textures keeps me grounded and helps with the fog. You might want to try something like that, too.

 

[wishingonstars]

I think once you truly mentally check out it'll be a slippery slope. I've been doing that for the past 6 months under the radar making all sorts of mistakes. Only just got caught and I'm on a performance improvement plan. I've stepped things up as I know losing this job or my eventual quitting will be one step closer to the inevitable.

Fight through to keep the job as long as you can. Even if it means some sick leave to recharge your batteries or some annual leave. Try to get enough sleep and maintain a regular sleep routine even on days off to help with cognition. Maybe some medication? Maybe some supplements? Not to teach you to suck eggs, but maybe research a bit on a healthy balanced diet if you're not already doing that.

Yeah that's my problem, I have fully checked out mentally. Things have been getting progressively worse for months and I have finally reached the point that I just don't give a f*ck anymore. I just want to ctb but don't have any methods I'm not afraid will fail.

I'm on medication and supplements, seeing a new psychiatrist Wednesday but I don't think any meds are effective for me anymore. I also don't eat terribly, probably not as much as I should but I've been keeping away from alcohol and weed and trying to limit sugar and simple carbs, trying to increase protein and fat, etc. A lot recently it's just getting anything in me though. I'm in therapy, have been since I was 4, and have a fantastic therapist but none of it is enough. My last hope was a couple promising residential programs but found out that my insurance doesn't cover anything out of state and there is nothing in state (USA) There is nothing I can do short of inpatient hospitalization/psych ward and I know that will only make things worse because I have been before.

I'm not sure. I'm on my way out and quit my job just a month ago. But then again I have accepted my intentions and I don't plan to stick around much longer. If you're still fighting, maybe look into grounding and distraction techniques. Maybe take a Personal Leave if you can.

I'm not really interested in fighting anymore, the only thread that's holding me back is leaving close family and friends because I know they will be traumatized. Even my resolve for that is quickly fading though, it's not enough to overcome the pain anymore.

Unfortunately all of my best/close friends are coworkers so there's no way for me to quit, if I ctb I will need to work until I do otherwise someone will know because they all know I am struggling with mental health. I have been taking personal leave, my supervisor suggested FMLA (USA not sure if this is a thing in other countries or it's called something else) and that would be a good idea but I don't have the mental capacity for the forms and there aren't any mental health programs available that my insurance will cover so it would really just be to avoid working until I ctb but again if I took FMLA and wasn't doing some residential program it would cause suspicion.

Grounding and distracting are not working anymore either unfortunately.

I have this when my depression gets bad. I start dissociating and have bad brain fog some days. I also have had periods of not giving a fuck about anything but still need to stay employed.

Break big tasks down into smaller ones if you can. Do not focus on accomplishing an entire task, just the next part of it. Use notes and checklists liberally. The more you write down, the less you have to keep in your head. Also, take breaks if you can. I find I can make myself focus on work for 20-30 minutes if I take a 5 minute break before/after.

I am a tactile person so I have a few fidget toys to play with because feeling textures keeps me grounded and helps with the fog. You might want to try something like that, too.

Those have all been really helpful for me in the past too but are not longer working unfortunately. Everything is just clouded in apathy and I just think of ctb constantly.

I have this when my depression gets bad. I start dissociating and have bad brain fog some days. I also have had periods of not giving a fuck about anything but still need to stay employed.

Break big tasks down into smaller ones if you can. Do not focus on accomplishing an entire task, just the next part of it. Use notes and checklists liberally. The more you write down, the less you have to keep in your head. Also, take breaks if you can. I find I can make myself focus on work for 20-30 minutes if I take a 5 minute break before/after.

I am a tactile person so I have a few fidget toys to play with because feeling textures keeps me grounded and helps with the fog. You might want to try something like that, too.

Those have all been really helpful for me in the past too but are not longer working unfortunately. Everything is just clouded in apathy and I just think of ctb constantly.

 

[Forever Sleep]

Fear of failure and being reprimanded for doing a bad job still frighten me into action. Is it because it's overwhelming or, very boring?

 

[wishingonstars]

Fear of failure and being reprimanded for doing a bad job still frighten me into action. Is it because it's overwhelming or, very boring?

Overwhelming I guess? A few months ago a loved my job and did not feel too overwhelmed though. The apathy has just taken over so I don't care enough but I also don't want to lose my job or disappoint my supervisor (they are so sweet and understanding). Also I have horrible brain fog and just can't think enough to get anything done. All I think about is how much I want to be dead and it has become such a challenge to not hurt myself or have a panic attack in my office.