what to do when you’re perceived as weak at work

It sucks when your mental illness colors how people see you. Believe me when I say You’re not your mental illness.

Recently at work — since disclosing mental health problems, I might add— I feel as if I’ve been treated differently than before. It’s hard to know if this is intentional or not.

I find that my supervisor and coworkers keep work from me by not involving me in things that naturally do, including conversations and actual work.

I think they’re scared I can’t handle it because one time I was not able to handle it.

People can forgive but they can’t forget.

If you’re feeling this way too, here are three questions for you:

1. So you’re perceived as weak: Who cares? Do you? If you do, take action by conversing with those involved. If not, let it go and be glad you have less work.
2. Could you be reading into behaviors? Is it possible (and the answer is always yes) that there’s a different explanation for others’ behavior? Maybe they want to get better at X skills so they do whatever it is by themselves. Maybe they want you to work on higher priority tasks.
3. If you’re reading this, aren’t you already on the right track? Meaning, based on the sentiment of the title, you may think you’re perceived as weak but you know you’re not weak.

This post goes out to anyone struggling to go to work, do stuff at work and recover from work when it’s over. You are not weak because others don’t include you or ask to draw upon your expertise. That’s on them. 💛

P.S. in case we haven’t met…

you seem normal is a mental health medium run by 24-year-old communication professional (hello!) who… well, seems normal.  Turns out, my roommate is mental illness. Actually more like my unborn, and non-conceived baby. Because it’s like, inside of me. This is getting weird already. Topics of focus: self-awareness (we love it), mood, anger management, perfectionism, relationships & boundaries.

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