我有抑郁症

THE PROBLEM 问题

　　I have been suffering from depression for years， but recently it has got so bad that I'm on sick leave. My boss has been fairly supportive， though clearly knows nothing about mental illness. I work at a bank， where the culture is macho. My persona at work is aggressive and upbeat， so I fear that if anybody finds out they'll conclude I can't hack the job. I‘ve told them I've got a virus， but I don't know if they believe me， and I think they may be talking behind my back. Should I tell the truth？

　　我得抑郁症已经有些个年头了，但最近病情很重，我只好休了病假。我的老板很支持我，尽管他显然对精神疾病一无所知。我在一家银行工作，那里的文化是"强悍".在工作中，我积极进取，乐观向上，因此我担心，如果有谁发现了实情，他们会断定我无法胜任工作。我告诉他们我染上了病毒，不过我不知道他们信不信。我认为，他们也许会在背后议论我。我该讲出实情吗？

　　LUCY'S ANSWER

　　No， you should not tell your colleagues the truth and you should not feel bad about it either. It is not their business. Some will already suspect that "virus" means depression and some may have discussed it behind your back， but I doubt if they've done so with much gusto： ambitious City people tend mainly to be interested in themselves.

　　不，你不该告诉同事实情，也不该为此烦心。这不关他们的事。应该已经有人怀疑，"病毒"说的就是抑郁症，也许有人已经背着你议论过了。不过我怀疑他们这么做的时候会兴致盎然：因为野心勃勃的金融城人士往往只对自己感兴趣。

　　What you need to do is to stop minding what others think and concentrate on getting better. It sounds as if you are getting treatment， and I hope that some mixture of drugs and cognitive behaviour therapy will help in time.

　　你要做的，就是不再介意别人的想法，把精力集中在康复上。听起来你好像正在接受治疗，我希望，药物和认知行为疗法（CBT）的结合，最终能帮到你。

　　For now， I suggest you look at readers' responses to your problem and take heart at the number of others who are also depressed - and have found ways of coping.

　　目前，我建议你看看网站上读者对你问题的反应，看看有多少人也在遭受抑郁之苦——并且已经找到了解决方法，从此振作起来。

　　Ignore the armchair therapists who declare that your problem is to do with the fact that your aggressive work persona is at odds with your real one. There is nothing wrong with acting aggressive in a macho environment： in fact， it is a sign of mental health to be able to be different people as the occasion demands.

　　可能会有心理医生想当然地宣称，你的问题是因为你工作中积极进取的个性与现实中的你格格不入。别理会他们。在"强悍"的环境里表现得积极进取没有错：实际上，能根据环境要求，做出不同的表现，正是精神健康的标志。

　　Also ignore those who say your problem is working in the City. Your job may be a cause， or it may not be. Only you can know. There are lots of depressed people in the City - therapists say business is up by a third in a year. This might be because the work is more stressful， or it might be because City people are becoming less reluctant to get help.

　　也不要理会那些说你的问题是因为在金融城工作的人。你的工作也许是一个原因，但也可能不是。只有你自己才能知道。金融城有许多抑郁的人——心理医生说他们的生意一年增加了三分之一。这也许是因为金融城的工作压力更大，也许是因为金融城人士越来越不愿意寻求别人的帮助。

　　Either way， it is not your responsibility to break taboos. Stephen Fry and the businessman Lord Stevenson have been congratulated on their bravery in clambering onto the couch in front of the nation. But both waited to discuss their illnesses until they had it under control and had notched up great success in spite， or perhaps because， of it.

　　不管是哪种原因，打破禁忌都不是你的责任。人们恭喜史蒂芬？弗莱（Stephen Fry）和身为商界人士的史蒂文森勋爵（Lord Stevenson）有勇气当着全国人民的面爬上心理治疗椅。但他们两位都是等到病情得到控制，而且是在患病的情况下（或许正是因为患病），还取得了极大成就之后，才开始谈论自己的病。