Any tips? (depression related question)

M777

I suffer from depression and anxiety. It was triggered by my company ... lets say - not being nice to me.
I have a case hearing in a few days time. I really, really afraid to cry, or lose my face some other way in front of those people in court. By now I'm so scared of this, I almost ready to withdraw my case against them.
Any advice on how handle the situation in court, so that my worst nightmares will not come true? I'm on antidepressants for a good while, I'm also on tranquilizers at the moment, so I don't believe any extra medication might help. I just probably need some technique to calm myself in front of enemy.
Thanks a lot, everyone!
Sorry, if I posted in the wrong place, it's really hard for me to make up my mind about this one as well.

Biggins

Personal Issues might be a better place to post (here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=127) but in the meanwhile I'm sure some good posters here will offer a few good suggestions.

All the best and welcome to Boards.ie
All the best for the new year.

(Note: NO medical related advice can be given out on boards.ie for legal reasons)

sunflower27

All you can do is ride this out. You have come this far. To withdraw your case would show them you are afraid more than a few tears would.

I have never been in your shoes, but you owe it to yourself to face these bullies.

Sometimes the tears just flow and no amount of holding them in will stop them flowing, so don't worry about that.

Stay strong, you have come this far. Good luck to you.

TheZohanS

Don't worry about the court case, if you break down they'll give you some time to gather yourself.


Best of luck.

Chuck Stone

There's no shame in breaking down crying if it happens. Just proves a point more than anything imho.

Dudess

Are you attending a counsellor? Do if you can - a professional can teach you such techniques.
Stay strong - you can get through this. You're doing fine - a lot better than you think you are.

Irish Steve

Not sure if this will help, but been there, done that, and while it wasn't a court case, it was close, and ended up costing me a job I was good at.

Make VERY sure that whoever is speaking or acting on your behalf is truly doing so, the fact that your representative may be a union moderator or similar is not a guarantee that they will be speaking on your behalf, or acting for you. In my situation, the union rep was not really on my side, he had too much to lose in terms of "bigger fish", so never asked the questions that would have exposed the weakness of the other side.

The people in the court, or tribunal, will be interested in the facts, and will go out of their way to make sure that you get a fair hearing, Make sure that if there are any papers or documents that support your case, you have them available, and in an order that allows you to find things easily.

Review your information in a quiet place before the hearing, and make sure that you have the facts that are relevant clear in your mind.

If the opposition ask questions that you have to answer, keep your answers as short and precise as possible, volunteer nothing that will help them in any way, if Yes or No will answer the question, only give them that.

If there are people in the company that disagreed with the management position, try to make sure that they are mentioned, or even called to provide support for your case, especially if their view would weaken the management position.

When asked a question, if you need a few moments to clarify your thoughts, take them.

The other side are not superhuman, or "above" you, they are human, and of no greater or lesser value than them, and you are not some minion of lesser value than them, so remember that.


If you have time, check with your doctor if a short term increase of the anti depressants would be any help. It might not, some of these things take time to act, and take time to build up, but it's worth checking,

Avoid coffee or Alcohol the day before and the day of the hearing.

Schedule things like travel and the like so that you are well early for all times, that way, if something goes wrong on the way, you're not stressed even more.

Hope that helps

KeithM89_old

Personal Issues