I rallied against a recent report that most people feel uncomfortable around people suffering depression. I also wrote about how to offer help to a troubled colleague. This week, in a workplace, I witnessed a situation that confirmed the first and showed why the second is good in theory but not how it may play out in reality.
In the workplace there is a busy hedgehog who is in a fog, hedgehog knows he is suffering anxiety and being in the fog he is not sure how to alleviate it. He has mentioned his stress and his struggle to contain it, to a number of people in the firm.
Some of his colleagues have panicked – and I mean PANICKED. Hedgehog is being pathologised (pathologise: transitive verb view as psychologically abnormal). There has been a slightly hysterical response to his admission of depression. He has been ordered home, banished from work, so much for his wishes should he wish to maintain any sense of normalcy. Hedgehog is being treated like an ailing child and pushed to do what others deem best for him. He’s now an invalid not an equal, no hand of support has been extended.
In this somewhat dysfunctional workplace hedgehog has become the identified patient. He is proof of how well others are coping, hedgehog is unwell and others are just ducky – thanks very much.
Take care, take care, use caution depressed and anxious employees as the people in your workplace may not be as ready for you as I would wish them to be.