Reply to: Does the contractor lifestyle cause depression/psychotic episodes?

[scotspine]

good grief!!! is it the lunar phase???

[Andy2]

I blame it on genes

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...iscovered.html

[Platypus]

Do you think that's been caused by your contractor lifestyle or would it have happened anyway?

Would have happened anyway - I married a (latent) alcoholic hypochondriac loony.

She gave the same crap to first hubby and now to her new partner

But the kids still have to put up with it and that's not funny

[HairyArsedBloke]

I have a bi-polar disorder, I spend half my life buying luxuries, eating in nice restaurants and going on expensive skiing holidays and the other half pleading poverty.

You too!

I have a delusional disorder, believing that I have traveled first class, drink Dom Perignon, and holiday in the Caribbean, etc.

However, Hector, in reality I earn nothing and live in poverty.

[BrilloPad]

It could be worse. I could be a teacher. Or a nurse.

[gingerjedi]

I have a bi-polar disorder, I spend half my life buying luxuries, eating in nice restaurants and going on expensive skiing holidays and the other half pleading poverty.

[Cyberman]

I find that joing a local gym helps when working away. It's a healthy disctraction from the pub.

Even having a game of 5 aside football and a few beers after breaks up the week.

I agree. I have also found that going to night school is a good idea to open up social opportunities while away , in particular by learning foreign languages. The secret to maintaining sanity is to have other interests rather than everything being devoted 100% around work.

[TykeMerc]

jeeez

this place is beginning to look like a self help center rather than a contractor's website

Nowt wrong with some mutual support, it's a very positive thing.

It's not like we have many reliable colleagues and quite a few contractors have partners that really don't understand, it's one of the reasons that I'm single and happily so.

[sasguru]

jeeez

this place is beginning to look like a self help center rather than a contractor's website

pecker up lads

come on

Milan.

FFS I agree with Milan.
Bloody fruits and nuts.

[milanbenes]

jeeez

this place is beginning to look like a self help center rather than a contractor's website

pecker up lads

come on

Milan.

[TykeMerc]

I think working away can lead to problems.
You can end up doing long days then staring at 4 walls at night. If you are not carful I expect this can lead to depression and more.
Some contractors over compensate and go from work to the bar to avoid the 4 walls syndrome.
It is a fine line we walk.

Very true, it can be the same for permies too that follow a similar lifestyle. IBM used to stand for "I've got a Broken Marriage" and "I'm Being Mended" with their staff as many got moved round a lot.

The contracting lifestyle has lots of stressful situations to deal with that many partners simply can't take which compounds the issues:-

• Unreliable income
• Huge peaks and troughs in work
• Permies that envy, distrust or despise contractors as a whole
• Parasitical agents
• Hostile tax regimes
• Uncertainty over contract duration
• Pressure from self and client to take no time off
• Delivery pressure
• Working away from home
• Business admin and responsibility
• The sheer lack of stability

To some of us these factors are easy to cope with or positives, but if added up or a partner who doesn't really understand the lifestyle is involved the stresses can break things in a metal fatigue manner.

[Cheshire Cat]

Nope. Diagnosed long before I started working for a living.
I doubt it makes any difference in my case, but if anything, feeling more in control of my income is probably good for me, regardless of the realities.

[Mich the Tester]

I find that joing a local gym helps when working away. It's a healthy disctraction from the pub.

Even having a game of 5 aside football and a few beers after breaks up the week.

Yep, plus finding a couple of decent friendly restaurants close to your accomodation. A good tough session in the gym and then a solid meal and one or two (but no more) glasses of wine or beer does wonders for one´s mood.

[Rookie]

I think working away can lead to problems.
You can end up doing long days then staring at 4 walls at night. If you are not carful I expect this can lead to depression and more.
Some contractors over compensate and go from work to the bar to avoid the 4 walls syndrome.
It is a fine line we walk.

I find that joing a local gym helps when working away. It's a healthy disctraction from the pub.

Even having a game of 5 aside football and a few beers after breaks up the week.

[The Lone Gunman]

I think working away can lead to problems.
You can end up doing long days then staring at 4 walls at night. If you are not carful I expect this can lead to depression and more.
Some contractors over compensate and go from work to the bar to avoid the 4 walls syndrome.
It is a fine line we walk.