Reconciling illness and work?

Opening up to friends or family is one thing. Bringing that same openness about depression, burn-out or similar into a professional setting is another. Even though work-life balance and mental health awareness are more prominent now, the reality of our performance-driven society still looms: if you don’t work, you risk being replaced. Terms like "human resources" or "human capital" still resonate deeply. Add to this the anxiety many feel as technology, automation, and AI transform workplaces, creating additional worries about job security.

As Darwin’s idea of “Survival of the Fittest” suggests, adapting to change is essential. And while the concept of “lifelong learning” is helpful, it doesn’t completely ease the fears people carry – especially when mental health challenges come into play. For those whose work stress contributes to depression, these worries only grow.

In my case, I’m fortunate that my job isn’t a direct cause of my depression. Of course, there are good and bad days – times when work feels more stressful than it should – but on the whole, I enjoy my job and feel able to handle it. This is no small thing, as losing the ability to work is extremely tough for anyone who relies on their job for stability. When illness threatens that, it can feel like a trap that’s hard to escape. For me, work sometimes becomes an escape – a way to shut out my thoughts. Whether this is a healthy strategy or not is a question I’ll likely explore in a future post.

My decision to go to the hospital wasn’t an easy one – maybe, in part, for this reason. I knew my company didn’t depend on me alone, but my sense of duty, along with the thought of my teammates having to cover for me, weighed heavily on me. I was also nervous about how my managers, P&O (People & Organization), and coworkers might react to my admitting I couldn’t keep up my responsibilities. But at that point, my level of suffering was high enough that I had to let go of those fears. I needed help, urgently.

To my surprise, everyone’s responses were sympathetic, which helped me more than I could have expected. People expressed relief that I had recognized my illness, respect for being open about it, and admiration that I was seeking help. Sure, I could have stayed silent and taken sick leave, but that’s not me. I wanted to wrap up a couple of projects to have peace of mind before stepping away. I’m grateful that my therapist and the clinic supported this plan, and a special thanks goes to my teammates who covered for me during my absence: Yasmin Gensmantel ?? , Mina Haas , Axel Regnet , and Ramona Reuter .

Facing my fears was difficult, but I learned that being open and honest about depression can be very freeing. This illness, which once felt so overwhelming, began to lose some of its power over me.