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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by stickywicket on March 15, 2006, at 7:42:16
I bet one of my problems is one that many others wouldn't mind having....nothing to do at my job. I have a desk job and my work is largely dependent on what is given to me to do. It's a 40 hr/week job. Most days I probably work less than 2 out of 8 hours. The rest of the time I try to find things to occupy me to look busy (surfing the Net mostly). I really can't quit because the pay and benefits are just too good, and because of my mental illness, the stress of a new job would be overwhelming.
I'm Bipolar II (mostly depression), OCD, social anxiety, panic disorder. You might think that having all this spare time would cause less stress considering my dx, but actually not being busy so much is making things worse. My OCD has me researching and researching on the Net about my symptoms and diagnoses. I've created freakin manuals on what I've researched. It's gotten out of hand. I get anxious trying so hard to look busy. I know they like me here because I'm very efficient and conscientious; I've always gotten good reviews and increases.
What would you do in my shoes?
Posted by stickywicket on March 15, 2006, at 13:53:36
In reply to Job boredom, posted by stickywicket on March 15, 2006, at 7:42:16
OMG, I just reread my previous post. I'd like to blame hypomania because I sound so full of myself. Honestly, that's not like me. Please ignore my stupid post.
Posted by sleepygirl on March 15, 2006, at 15:30:15
In reply to Job boredom, posted by stickywicket on March 15, 2006, at 7:42:16
you really didn't sound conceited to me...
I get what you're saying about the stability and all and not wanting to change all that - 'cause yeah it does suck for the symptoms to be too busy and stressed, but having nothing to do makes work for the mental illness gremlins
My immediate thought was that you need some other type of task to keep you occupied...the question however is what? something to keep you looking busy? hhhmmm.....any type of project you could take on? I'll let you know if I think of something...
Posted by Dinah on March 15, 2006, at 17:42:31
In reply to Sorry for sounding conceited, posted by stickywicket on March 15, 2006, at 13:53:36
You don't sound at all conceited. You're good at your work, and they obviously recognize that.
Is there any way to stretch your current job? It sounds as if there are a lot of good things about it.
But can you ask for additional responsibilities or challenges?
I don't know of many employers who mind that.
Posted by Racer on March 15, 2006, at 19:30:03
In reply to Re: Sorry for sounding conceited » stickywicket, posted by Dinah on March 15, 2006, at 17:42:31
When I've had spare time, in previous jobs, I've written notes on how to do my job. Basically, created manuals of each job, and every step in the job.
It might be useful for you. Or create manuals for how to do other jobs. Even things as simple seeming as refilling postage meters, or getting voicemail.
That's all that came to my mind, but if something else does, I'll let you know. (And you don't sound conceited.)
Posted by agent858 on March 15, 2006, at 20:36:50
In reply to Re: Sorry for sounding conceited, posted by Racer on March 15, 2006, at 19:30:03
ROFL!!!
What I would do...
Is enroll in some course or something like that... Something you can do online. And then... You can study at work. Maybe... A psychology course? You could learn about your signs and symptoms etc etc... You could even get some more quals to upgrade to something more stimulating... Or whatever.
:-)
Posted by stickywicket on March 16, 2006, at 6:50:25
In reply to Re: Job boredom » stickywicket, posted by sleepygirl on March 15, 2006, at 15:30:15
I've also thought of that many times. I would gladly help others with their workload (I've offered many times) or take on new projects but there's just nothing. This is a small office with very few people.
Posted by stickywicket on March 16, 2006, at 7:03:35
In reply to Re: Sorry for sounding conceited » stickywicket, posted by Dinah on March 15, 2006, at 17:42:31
> Is there any way to stretch your current job?
My DH tells me I'm too quick to get things done and should slow down. Unfortunately, that goes too much against my grain -- I'm a people pleaser; I have to get things done as fast as possible and get them done right. I know I try too hard to impress my boss and coworkers.
> But can you ask for additional responsibilities or challenges?
I have. I think my superiors are leery of assigning me too much because they know of my mental health issues. My moods have been fairly transparent at work for the past few years (crying, withdrawn, angry, anxious -- you name it). What's the expression -- they handle me with kid/kit gloves? Is it kid or kit? And where did that expression come from anyway?
Posted by stickywicket on March 16, 2006, at 7:12:28
In reply to Re: Sorry for sounding conceited, posted by Racer on March 15, 2006, at 19:30:03
> When I've had spare time, in previous jobs, I've written notes on how to do my job. Basically, created manuals of each job, and every step in the job.
>
> It might be useful for you. Or create manuals for how to do other jobs. Even things as simple seeming as refilling postage meters, or getting voicemail.Done it already. It does give me something else to do when I update them if a task changes, which it often does. Interesting that you'd mention postage meters because next to ours I have a step-by-step instruction sheet I did on how to operate it. There's instruction sheets on almost every piece of office equipment around here.
Here's a funny example of my OCD: once I created a Word template/form to exactly duplicate a "While you were out" phone message slip. Whenever I took a call for someone, I'd type it out in the template and print it on pink paper. No one ever had trouble reading my handwriting. I quit doing that when I got needled about it too much.
Posted by stickywicket on March 16, 2006, at 7:17:34
In reply to Re: Sorry for sounding conceited, posted by agent858 on March 15, 2006, at 20:36:50
> Is enroll in some course or something like that... Something you can do online. And then... You can study at work. Maybe... A psychology course? You could learn about your signs and symptoms etc etc... You could even get some more quals to upgrade to something more stimulating... Or whatever.
Also a great idea. I'd better steer away from the psych stuff though -- I'm already too preoccupied with all of it.
I'm going to look into that today. Thanks.
Posted by stickywicket on March 16, 2006, at 7:18:28
In reply to Job boredom, posted by stickywicket on March 15, 2006, at 7:42:16
Posted by Racer on March 16, 2006, at 11:20:03
In reply to Re: Sorry for sounding conceited, posted by stickywicket on March 16, 2006, at 7:03:35
> > What's the expression -- they handle me with kid/kit gloves? Is it kid or kit? And where did that expression come from anyway?
>
>
>It's kid gloves, and it comes from the semi-obvious. Kidskin gloves are the softest, most delicate gloves, and the idea is that something is being handled delicately.
Hope that helps.
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