Help, colleague with serious depression

Please help me understand how a serious depression affects a person's brain, and how I as a colleague can help him. What to do and what not to do? He's on lithium.

Also, he's been absent for almost a week - I can't get a hold of him and he missed out some meetings. I'm worried.

Any help will be deeply appreciated.

/LeGoat

Also, I'm sorry about the previous topic. I fucked up the first time I tried to create one :S Very sorry about that.

I don't believe depression is something that just manifests for no reason. Something has triggered it. To truly fix depression, find out what caused it in the first place.

And take it from there. If it's something you can help him with, by all means.

Sweetie, you aren't equipped to help. This is not for you to fix.

Posted by rockyroadicecream
Sweetie, you aren't equipped to help. This is not for you to fix.

I'm not trying to fix him. I'm trying to create a work enviroment where he fits in as he is on his own terms.

I'm trying to prepare myself better for when he returns. I don't understand how the mind work in depression, a real depression.

Posted by aCuriousGoat

Posted by rockyroadicecream
Sweetie, you aren't equipped to help. This is not for you to fix.

I'm not trying to fix him. I'm trying to create a work enviroment where he fits in as he is on his own terms.

I'm trying to prepare myself better for when he returns. I don't understand how the mind work in depression, a real depression.

click to expand

The problem is that the depressed person doesn't understand how his mind works either - he can be triggered by so many different things and those things may/may not even be tangible things that you could possibly change - you will just drive yourself crazy trying to appease this person when in fact this person can not be appeased. If there is something that is bothering him at work, perhaps he could tell you but unless you are in a position to do your job and his, he is not going to be reliable on the job. It is a huge problem in the real world.

Posted by tcta

Posted by aCuriousGoat

Posted by rockyroadicecream
Sweetie, you aren't equipped to help. This is not for you to fix.

I'm not trying to fix him. I'm trying to create a work enviroment where he fits in as he is on his own terms.

I'm trying to prepare myself better for when he returns. I don't understand how the mind work in depression, a real depression.

The problem is that the depressed person doesn't understand how his mind works either - he can be triggered by so many different things and those things may/may not even be tangible things that you could possibly change - you will just drive yourself crazy trying to appease this person when in fact this person can not be appeased. If there is something that is bothering him at work, perhaps he could tell you but unless you are in a position to do your job and his, he is not going to be reliable on the job. It is a huge problem in the real world.

click to expand

Thank you.

He is in treatment so he's getting help. It just breaks my heart to witness someone with his talent - and his sweet nature- being set back like this. He should be going places 😢

Posted by aCuriousGoat

Posted by tcta

Posted by aCuriousGoat

Posted by rockyroadicecream
Sweetie, you aren't equipped to help. This is not for you to fix.

I'm not trying to fix him. I'm trying to create a work enviroment where he fits in as he is on his own terms.

I'm trying to prepare myself better for when he returns. I don't understand how the mind work in depression, a real depression.

The problem is that the depressed person doesn't understand how his mind works either - he can be triggered by so many different things and those things may/may not even be tangible things that you could possibly change - you will just drive yourself crazy trying to appease this person when in fact this person can not be appeased. If there is something that is bothering him at work, perhaps he could tell you but unless you are in a position to do your job and his, he is not going to be reliable on the job. It is a huge problem in the real world.

Thank you.

He is in treatment so he's getting help. It just breaks my heart to witness someone with his talent - and his sweet nature- being set back like this. He should be going places 😢

click to expand

I hear you - it is sad ...