How To Help Someone With Hidden Depression
If you believe that someone you love has hidden depression, you can help by offering emotional support and a safe place to talk about it. Share your observations in a nonjudgmental way and ask how you can be there for them.
Remember, depression can make small tasks feel impossible, so a little help can go a long way. For example, you may offer to take a morning walk with them, look online and help them find a therapist, or drive them to a nearby support group.
The SAMHSA National Helpline can be reached at 800-662-HELP. Its a free, confidential, 24/7/365 information service for treatment and referrals.
The Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255 can also help you or your loved one talk to a trained crisis worker, any time of the day or night.
TalkSpace and BetterHelp offer online therapy services, so you can work with someone from the comfort of your own home.
There are a number of great blogs and podcasts for depression support as well:
- Time to Change has a section for reading and sharing personal stories.
Address The Core Of The Problem By Improving Your Scheduling Process
If you still have a problem after setting up your no call, no show policy, making sure everyone understands it, and enforcing the policy consistently, its time to improve your employee scheduling process.
Even if your business hasnt encountered a no call, no show problem yet, you can prevent one from developing by examining the way you schedule employees.
Look closely at your scheduling process and ask yourself the following questions:
- Does your current method of scheduling make it easy for employees to request time off?
- Does your scheduling give employees some input into the times they work?
- Does your scheduling system make it easy for employees to indicate availability?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, your employees may see it as an unnecessary hassle and just decide that skipping work is easier.
Weve developed Sling to solve these problems. Sling puts all your scheduling activity in the cloud, which means that you and your team can access it anytime, anywhere. Employees can request time off, indicate availability, and even find their own substitute, all online with one, easy-to-use application.
This greatly simplifies the scheduling process for you and your employees. And when a process like requesting time off or changing availability is simple, employees will be more likely to adhere to it even if emergencies arise.
Teach New Employees The Rules
Itâs important to ensure new employees are informed right away about your work attendance and absences policy.
As an employer, you may wish to host an orientation or initial meeting with each new hire. For example, newcomers may spend an hour or two with the hiring manager reviewing documentation and work-related policiesâincluding no-shows.
During this initial session, you should:
- Provide employees with information about their options for calling in sick or for days off.
- Show them how important it is for each scheduled employee to be at work on time to serve customers or maintain productivity.
- Discuss the steps for replacing an employee who may be ill.
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How Can I Help Someone With Postpartum Depression
People with postpartum depression need lots of support. Here are some ways you can help:
- Know the signs of depression and anxiety and urge your friend or partner to seek medical care.
- Be a good listener. Let them know you’re there to listen and help.
- Offer to help them with daily tasks like cleaning and running errands.
- Offer to help watch their baby while they sleep or rest.
- Encourage them to seek help from a therapist or other mental health provider. Offer to set up an appointment or go with them as a support person.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Postpartum depression is a common mood disorder that affects 1 in 7 people after giving birth. It’s not your fault, and you did nothing to cause it. It doesn’t make you a bad parent or a bad person. The biological, physical and chemical factors that cause PPD are beyond your control. Signs of postpartum depression include feeling sad or worthless, losing interest in things you once enjoyed, excessive crying and mood swings. Talk to your healthcare provider if you think you have postpartum depression. They can figure out how to best manage your symptoms. Counseling, medication or joining a support group can help.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/12/2022.
References
What Causes Postpartum Depression
More research is needed to determine the link between the rapid drop in hormones after delivery and depression. The levels of estrogen and progesterone increase tenfold during pregnancy but drop sharply after delivery. By three days postpartum, levels of these hormones drop back to pre-pregnancy levels.
In addition to these chemical changes, the social and psychological changes associated with having a baby increase your risk of postpartum depression. Examples of these changes include physical changes to your body, lack of sleep, worries about parenting or changes to your relationships.
If you’ve had any of the following symptoms, please notify your healthcare provider right away.
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
- Depressed mood for most of the day, nearly every day for the last two weeks.
- Feeling anxious, guilty, hopeless, scared, panicked or worthless.
- Difï¬culty thinking, concentrating, making decisions or dealing with everyday situations.
- Loss of interest or pleasure in most activities nearly every day for the last two weeks.
Also Check: How To Deal With Depression After Losing A Pet
You Were So Sick That You Couldnt Call
This one could actually work. You could say you were really ill, you had a high fever, headache, and you basically passed out in the bed until it was too late to call. Therefore, it would be wise to get a doctors note, to avoid suspension or termination.
On the other hand, your boss might ask you why didnt you send an email to notify him about your absence. For that reason, think through about everything before you even resort to this excuse.
Set Up Attendance Rules
Establishing attendance rules is vital for controlling the incidences of no call, no show employees in your business.
At first, when your business is small, you may believe you dont need attendance rules. But as your business begins to grow and more employees join your team, a set attendance policy helps things run smoothly and keeps your business moving toward success.
If youre having trouble creating effective and equitable attendance rules, below are eight key points to keep in mind.
When you include attendance rules in your employee handbook, everyone will be clear on what it means to be absent and the consequences that will result.
Once youve got your attendance rules in place, youre ready to deal with the no call, no show absence policy directly.
Recommended Reading: Does Talking To Someone Help Depression
What Are The Types Of Postpartum Depression
There are three different types of postpartum mood disorders:
Postpartum blues or baby blues
The baby blues affect between 50% and 75% of people after delivery. If you’re experiencing the baby blues, you will have frequent, prolonged bouts of crying for no apparent reason, sadness and anxiety. The condition usually begins in the first week after delivery. Although the experience is unpleasant, the condition usually subsides within two weeks without treatment. The best thing you can do is find support and ask for help from friends, family or your partner.
Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is a far more serious condition than the baby blues, affecting about 1 in 7 new parents. If you’ve had postpartum depression before, your risk increases to 30% each pregnancy. You may experience alternating highs and lows, frequent crying, irritability and fatigue, as well as feelings of guilt, anxiety and inability to care for your baby or yourself. Symptoms range from mild to severe and may appear within a week of delivery or gradually, even up to a year later. Although symptoms can last several months, treatment with psychotherapy or antidepressants is very effective.
Postpartum psychosis
Create A No Call No Show Policy
Every business should have policies in place to deal with absences. Without such policies, employees can start to take advantage of the system. This can result in significant scheduling problems for your business.
One of the best ways to deal with no call, no show problems like this is to create a specific policy in your employee handbook. Your no call, no show policy should include the proper way for handling emergencies and time-off requests.
It should then define what constitutes a no call, no show offense so your employees know exactly what it is. Finally, this policy should list the possible consequences of not telling anyone that youre not coming in to work.
We also recommend that you get a lawyer who is well-versed in your states employment laws to review your policy. That way you can be sure that all your bases are covered legally in case you have to deal with this type of issue.
Recommended Reading: What To Do When Depression Is Really Bad
Your Appetite Drastically Changes
You may either be eating more than usual or, more commonly, have no appetite at all.
Its an easy to overlook because we live in a society that values diet culture and values restriction as a sign of control and discipline, Castro said. That says something good about your character if youre not gorging on food. I think that it can be easily missed and it can be praised as that person somehow has it together, and theyre doing well.
But dietary changes depend on the individual. It plays out differently because of our temperaments and preferred ways of coping, Castro added. If you have more depletion of serotonin levels, then you may be someone who is more inclined to seek comfort in food.
What Is A Mental Impairment
In terms of the ADA, a mental impairment includes mental or psychological disorders such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders , schizophrenia, and personality disorders.
Problems not covered by the ADA include adjustment disorders, relationship troubles, or illegal drug use. In addition, behavior “traits” such as irritability or stress are not included.
Even if these conditions aren’t continual, but cause flare-ups of impairment, they qualify under the ADA as long as the disorder is considered a long-term problem.
Usually a condition has to be present for several months before it qualifies as a long-term problem. Disorders that are included in the definition of disability are those that are permanent or have potentially long-term effects, not those that are temporary such as the break up of a relationship.
Read Also: What To Do When Your Depression Gets Bad
How To Handle No
One of our junior software developers is periodically in a no-call-no-show position where he does not show up without earlier notice. The team does not suffer during his absence, but still this absenteeism has a negative impact on teams’ agenda.
The manager has talked verbally about this issue with the mentioned developer. His answer was there is no one to call the employer when he is sick.
Therefore the employer / manager has to wait till he has the energy to call back.
What should we do?
- 42″The team does not suffer during his absence but still this absenteeism has a negative impact on teams’ agenda” – that’s a contradicationDec 20, 2015 at 23:26
- 38Dec 21, 2015 at 2:29
- 21You really need HR to speak with this employee and figure out if this is legitimate. I would imagine that at a minimum this person has a serious chronic issue which should be easily proven with a doctor’s note. Secondly, you need to establish a plan of action with this employee to ensure that they are not in danger. If they are too “weak” to call you then that means they are too weak to get out of their house if it catches fire. Is this person using Life Alert?Dec 21, 2015 at 3:09
- 13″The team does not suffer during his absence” – so, to be a bit brutal, he is not necessary for the team’s work. Why is he still employed?
Don’t threaten to do anything you’re not willing to follow through on. And don’t fail to follow through if he tests you.
Make An Effort To Really Know Your Employees
On many occasions, repeated no-call, no-shows are the result of some factors, like issues at home, disengagement at work, or bad relations with colleagues/managers.
Take your time and communicate with your team, see what are the issues, and try to support them. Some of them might not feel appreciated, or stressed out and this might lead to absenteeism. Maybe in some cases, the solution is to offer them the option to work part-time or more flexibility with remote work.
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They May Start Needing More From You
A depressed person legitimately cant function like a mentally health person. There will be things they will no longer be able to do as much of, as often, or at all. Pestering or shaming them about it will only hurt, not help. If theyve been keeping their depression private, it will be that much harder to deal with others getting irritated with them because they cant perform at the level thats expected of mentally healthy people.
This is why its always best to be understanding with those in your life, both work and personal. You dont know if someone isnt just slacking off, but is struggling with a real health problem.
Do I Have Postpartum Anxiety Or Postpartum Depression
Postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression share some symptoms, but they are different conditions. Excessive worrying, feeling panicky for no reason and having irrational fears or obsessions are all signs of postpartum anxiety. It’s important to discuss all your symptoms with your healthcare provider so they can get you the help you need.
Recommended Reading: Depression Groups For Young Adults
Focus On What You Can Control
Benjamin Franklin famously said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Setting your employees up to succeed gives them every opportunity not to disappoint you. Proactively write clear policies and guidelines, utilize scheduling software to minimize mistakes and reclaim time in your workday, then follow up appropriately and fairly in every instance. Doing these things will decrease your encounters with unscheduled absenteeism significantly.
What Medications Can I Take For Postpartum Depression
Your healthcare provider may prescribe antidepressants to manage symptoms of postpartum depression. Antidepressants help balance the chemicals in your brain that affect your mood.
If you’re breastfeeding, talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of taking an antidepressant. Medications can transfer to your baby through your milk. However, the transfer level is generally low, and many antidepressant medications are considered safe. Your provider can help you decide what medicine is right for you based on your symptoms and if you’re nursing.
Some common antidepressants for postpartum depression are:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as sertraline and fluoxetine .
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as duloxetine and desvenlafaxine .
- Bupropion .
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline or imipramine .
Keep in mind that it takes at least three or four weeks for antidepressants to work. Talk to your healthcare provider before stopping the medication. Stopping your medication too soon can cause symptoms to return. Most providers will recommend reducing your dose before stopping completely.
If your provider detects postpartum depression while youâre still in the hospital, they may recommend IV medication containing brexanolone.
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Communicate With Your Employees
A final consideration for employers and business owners is to look at why this is happening.
Talking to your employees about the reasons behind these absences will help you prevent them in the future.
Some common reasons for no-shows could be:
- Poor communication about availability
- Lack of understanding of the rules
- Inconsistent enforcement of the rules
- Problems with scheduling
- Company not using scheduling software
They Can Have Bad Days And Better Days
Depression can have its ups and downs. If someone has hidden or undiagnosed depression, they might seem like they get random mood swings, depending on if their depression is consistent or not. To you , the changes in mood seem without cause, but its simply how some peoples depression manifests.
If you know the person has depression, its possible to falsely believe theyre permanently better because of a few good days. While its always great if someone has a day thats better than the one before it, you should always let them tell you what theyre ready to handle and when.
Assuming theyve completely recovered and pushing them too quickly into things might overwhelm them and make them retreat into themselves again. Be supportive of your friends and family who have depression, but let them make the calls.
Recommended Reading: How To Turn On A Depressed Man
How Do Doctors Screen For Postpartum Depression
It can be hard to detect mild cases of postpartum depression. Healthcare providers rely heavily on your responses to their questions.
Many healthcare providers use the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to screen for postpartum depression. It consists of 10 questions related to symptoms of depression such as feeling unhappy, anxious or guilty. You’re asked to check the response that comes closest to how you’ve felt the last seven days. A higher score indicates possible postpartum depression.
If your provider feels you have signs of postpartum depression, they will recommend an appropriate treatment.