Sleep disorders and work performance

[leptic]

I suspect that, like me, a lot of members have had issues with work performance especially during the period prior to diagnosis and treatment. Before to my doc’s recent focus on sleep apnea, I’ve been evaluated for depression and have discussed the possibility that I might be experiencing ‘burnout’. As the symptoms got worse, and work repercussions continued to accumulate, I got to the point where I had to confront the fact that there was either a more significant physical problem or that my mental state/health was deteriorating more I’d been willing to admit.

As I mentioned in another thread, I have been prescribed Concerta to help with alertness. However, getting through a workday on this has become like trying to work after 48 hours without sleep by drinking ten cups of coffee. I haven’t really been coherent, and I’m having microsleeps and nods while talking with other staff. I have some flexibility to work at home, and have been leaving early to avoid driving during the worst afternoon dips in alertness (and the Concerta does seem to make this safer), but have not really been more productive at home. I was actually bicycling to work for over a year, but the physical fatigue got to the point where this just became unsustainable (and I really miss it).

I’ve also had to confront the fact that I’ve been missing deadlines for some time now, and am very concerned about letting colleagues down. My boss has made it clear that I am on his radar as a ‘problem’ employee, although I’ve had a fair bit of support from peers. My first priority at this point is to look after my health, as nothing is going to get better until this gets addressed. However, I’m also trying to figure out how (and whether) I should present this to Human Resources and my boss if/when I get some kind of diagnosis and treatment plan.

I’m in a fairly senior position, and have managed to have enough positive impact in my job (even recently) that I don’t think I’m likely to get fired. However, it is very draining to know that you are not meeting expectations and are considered at higher levels to be ‘a problem’. I am quite open to moving back down in the management chain in order to respect my limits and maintain some kind of life balance, and will likely do so once a few major commitments are met. My sleep issues have also really been having a negative impact on my marriage, and something is going to have to give.

I would be interested in hearing if others have had similar experiences and how they dealt with these. I would also like to thank members of the forum for creating such a supportive environment - it is very therapeutic to be able to share these experiences with people who are likely to understand.

[kteague]

Hello and welcome. In general, your story sounds much like mine, except resolving my multiple sleeps disorders came too late to save my career. Wishing you well in getting on the road to recovery and improving your job performance.

[leptic]

Hello and welcome. In general, your story sounds much like mine, except resolving my multiple sleeps disorders came too late to save my career. Wishing you well in getting on the road to recovery and improving your job performance.

Thanks - I hope your life has become better overall after focusing on your health. I realize that career is not everything, but it can be hard to lose.

[chillAtGVC]

Hi Leptic, a fellow Canadian here. I don't think I was quite as badly affected as you but I was starting to consider if early retirement was going to be necessary. I'd already gone way down in management levels, which I now realize was at least partly related to my sleep apnea. Mostly I just tried to hide. The good news is that this got dramatically better after my last night without CPAP (I'll say it like as I will never voluntarily sleep with out it again). There is still room for improvement, but I am much better than I was before.

[HoseCrusher]

Each persons body responds best to an individual diet. You can go a long time on a less than idea diet but eventually it catches up with you.

It takes a lot of effort, research, and work to find your individual diet. The benefits are worth the effort. This can impact every aspect of your life - including sleep.

As far as work goes, you may want to consider making the effort to re-frame your efforts. Sometimes changing to a more noble view can re-establish the enthusiasm you had earlier in your career.

[Holden4th]

Concerta is a branded form of Ritalin. Do you have ADHD?

Concerta is also an appetite suppressant. Given the 'alertness' issues you are being treated for I find prescribing Concerta as strange as it is used for levelling out people with ADHD.