Faking depression

hanny83_2

Maybe he does have issues that counselling could help, if so far he has been holding on the job fairly well maybe he isn't actually depressed but does need help.

Mind you I hear all the time about people faking social phobia etc to get out of working and it makes me sick.

My uncle committed suicide and my mum has been sectioned before on suicide alert and my partner is bi-polar. I feel lucky that at the moment I have my mental health as I know it may not always be like this, pretending to be depressed is not the way to move forward in life in any aspect and it makes a mockery of poor people afflicted with these horrible problems.

skipsmum

Diagnosis does affect your future prospects: care work, police, fire brigade, army, teaching and a whole host of other jobs require an occupational health report which you can fail if it throws up episodes of depression.

tigerlily

sigrid wrote: »

they give you electric shock therepy before drugs these days...

:rolleyes: Its remarks like this that feed the stigma, thanks for that!!

Therapy not therepy btw.

KimYeovil

He's come to the right place, though. This board is riddled with people who think the mildest abreaction to life events is an open invitation to double their benefits and get on the the disability gravy train.

bestpud

sigrid wrote: »

they give you electric shock therepy before drugs these days...

Don't talk sh!te!! :mad:

Sorry to be blunt but they do not give ECT before drugs!

Honestly, the tripe some people talk!

Anyway, I am wondering if he is actually depressed, or at least thinks he is.

I know I have been very depressed and managed to hide it from those around me - first they knew was a call to say I was in ITU!

If he is faking, then I hope karma gets him but maybe it is worth asking him some more before making that assumption.

Perhaps he sees it as a weakness?

tigerlily

sigrid wrote: »

stigma? what stigma? that the person concernced is gonna lie and cheat to gain benefits? oh and btw yes they do electric shock therapy!

Mis-informed nonsense. They do not "do" ECT on patients before drugs at all.
The stigma of mental illness obviously, comments like your's do not move attitudes forward at all.

bathgatebuyer

Either the guy really needs help or he is the worst kind of leech imaginable. Seriously, I would question his mental health if he is seriously considering this at all.

I have had on and off bouts of depression for the past 10 years. Oddly enough, since I left home and had to face the responsibilities that life throws at us grown-ups. And guess what? Everytime I've changed job, I've had a medical in which I've had to declare depression. Every single time. I even missed out on a job once because of it. It really is not a nice way to live and I would in no way recommend the stigma that is still attached to being a sufferer of this horrible illness.

tigerlily

sigrid wrote: »

evidently you are all on drugs! I said it to persuade said scrounger not to say they were depressed!

Concisely sums up my point exactly!!:rolleyes:

Hectors_House

DCFC79 wrote: »

A friend i know has a big idea to fake depression so he can get put onto anti depressants so then he can quit his job due to depression. No way do i agree with this but his cousins ahve told him what a silly idea it is but he doesnt listen as hes stubborn when he gets an idea in his head. My question is would the doctor put him on anti depressants straight away or would he have to do some test, would fking depression affect his chances of getting a job in the future ? the person is only 18 and he is bright so i dont know why he wants to do this, he has a job which i think is the reason why he wants to fake depression, the job is working for dominoes pizzas so it cant be that bad. Im asking as i dont know how the system works,

As a long-term user of anti-depressants I have to say this is one of the stupidest things any healthy person could do to themselves.

The medication is strong. It has to be.

At the dose my doctor prescribed I could barely function and was falling asleep at my work desk.

I asked if we could try halving the dose. Now I don't feel tired all the time but it certainly stops me from being as energetic mentally as I was.

The medication slows you down, it chills you out big-time (but in a way that makes outsiders think you're just a person who doesn't give a monkeys toenail about anything), you can forget creativity and your libido is non-existant.

Not great for an 18 year old.

Plus I think you should tell him to have a little more self-respect.

And, yes it would probably affect his chances of getting a job in the future.

Francesanne

Hectors_House wrote: »

As a long-term user of anti-depressants I have to say this is one of the stupidest things any healthy person could do to themselves.

The medication is strong. It has to be.

At the dose my doctor prescribed I could barely function and was falling asleep at my work desk.

I asked if we could try halving the dose. Now I don't feel tired all the time but it certainly stops me from being as energetic mentally as I was.

The medication slows you down, it chills you out big-time (but in a way that makes outsiders think you're just a person who doesn't give a monkeys toenail about anything), you can forget creativity and your libido is non-existant.

Not great for an 18 year old.

Plus I think you should tell him to have a little more self-respect.

And, yes it would probably affect his chances of getting a job in the future.

The medication my Mum is taking is mega strong and she hasn't the motivation or energy to do very much at all. She gets in one hell of a state over everything and constantly worries over nothing. She can't cope with making a decision. True depression is a dreadful illness and wouldn't wish it on anyone. It also takes a great toll on the lives of their nearest and dearest and those who take care of them. I can vouch for that.