Depression

 Mariette, Kobus’s wife, contacted an online counsellor because she was greatly concerned for her husband. She was worried that Kobus was depressed as he was refusing to go to work.

Kobus had worked as an accountant in small businesses for the last ten years. About 12 years ago he was working with another business that required him to close it down. He described that experience as extremely distressful. He felt that the process had involved a loss of loyalty from organisations associated with the business and that he saw this as a “personal attack” against him. He also felt he had been exposed to people who would do everything they could to get as much as possible from a “crumbling company”.

Kobus reported the following symptoms:

• decreased motivation particularly in relation to his work
• unusual outbursts of anger
• anxiety whenever he thinks about his work or attends his workplace
• and difficulty sleeping.

He stated that these symptoms commenced when he realised that the business he was working for might begin to fold and have increased to the point that he is finding it difficult to complete his usual tasks and “doesn’t want to do anything”.

The business is failing and Kobus will probably have to begin the process of “winding it up” in the near future. His commitment to the business and his friends, the business owners, has intensified the level of stress he is feeling as a result of the business collapse.

He has taken a week off work on sick leave and feels too “stressed” to return to work. Mariette stated that he had agreed to attend online counselling if she organised an appointment.