Depression « I Hate Starbucks

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Depression

(20 posts) (18 voices)

Started 1 year ago by Starbot
Latest reply from Señor Cardgage

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Starbot

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Out of curiosity, how do you handle depression while working at Starbucks?

I now that we are suppose to put on a chipper face at all times to please our customers. I can appreciate that good customer service is standard. But being that we're all human, some of us have bad days. At our location, we are encouraged to shove it in our back pockets and just focus on the customers.

Today I had an especially hard day. I cried right before starting my shift. Then I was thrown on bar, it was hot, the customers were super-demanding, and the Beatles were on! I wanted to scream, but had to keep on a chipper face.

Has anyone had to work a shift while, say, in mourning or just going through something so awful? How do you cope?

Posted 1 year ago #
DecafAtWill

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I actually have. I worked a 5-hour shift the same day my grandmother passed away. We found out that morning. I called into work and told them what happened, but that I would still be there to work. Sure I was distraught, but I put up that barrier in order to work. I didn't want to work, but I also knew that it would have been hard to get that shift covered with such short notice. By the time I got to work, my entire schedule for the following week was listed as covered by other partners at the store. That made working that day a lot easier, knowing that when one of us was in a situation, the rest of us banded together to try and help that person out.

I'm a guy and I'll admit that I almost cried when I got to work and found out about my shifts and how much everyone stepped up to support me.

Posted 1 year ago #
nyc12321

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^That's so cute!

Along with anxiety and A.D.D. I also have depression that's crippling some days. I put on a brave face most of the time but some days I just don't feel like it. I miss my boyfriend/ I work with the most immature people alive/ my manager is crazy and I'm MISERABLE on almost a daily basis.

I try getting through it by talking my favorite partner's ear off about how hard things are right now..he's a great outlet too because we're both of the same various mood disorder/socially anxious variety. It's nice to have at least one person who gets me but he only works weekends..it's so sad. haha.

Posted 1 year ago #
teobandit

Member
Internets:353

I pretty much can't deal with it, so if you guys know how, I'd love to know. I get terribly depressed and it really does effect my work performance. I hate it but there's not much I can do about it, honestly.

Posted 1 year ago #
Sugarwater

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Internets:162

I keep it hidden until my 8th day of working in a row. I then walk into the back as a customer is talking to me and have rolling panic/anxiety attacks, cry and talk myself out of quitting. Everyone sees it, there's just nothing I can do some days.

Posted 1 year ago #
GaveYouDecaf

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Internets:1,995

I just work through the day and cry when I get home. Although a couple of times when I have gotten there to a really horrible close, before I open the doors to let customers in, I have went to the back and just screamed real loudly and punched a wall.

Posted 1 year ago #
Franklin_Bluth

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Internets:87

Ummmm what's wrong with the Beatles?

Posted 1 year ago #
Brild

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While I was on break I found out somebody I knew died. I just sat there in the lobby for a minute and then I had to get up and go outside. Just as I got to the door I started crying and I had to find a quiet place outside to let it out... At least it was my half so I had a while to pull it together, but even then I remember tearing up every once in a while while changing the coffee. I guess just staying busy kept my mind off it until I went home and had a meltdown. And the next day driving to work a song came on that made me cry again, but I guess I just forgot about it once it got busy.

I'm a guy so I didn't want to say anything to my coworkers and they didnt seem to notice, but I know they would have been supportive. And I guess I managed to cope by calling some friends on my break the day after I found out, and just letting it out instead of holding back the tears.. :/

Posted 1 year ago #
shotshotshotshotsofespresso

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Maybe a 12 step program is what you need. I went through one (celebrate recovery) and it really helped me see the light through the darkness. I am not an incredibly religious person, and this one was christian based, so i had to kinda re think through it, but in the end it really helped me when I would have a particularly bad day at the bux (which is most of them). IMO I think everyone should go through some sort of program, just to help deal with the stress.

Or, even a store change might help, you may not be compatible with your coworkers, and think its the whole starbucks idea business.

Keep your chin up, there are people out there who really care about you!!!!

I always try to pick up shifts for people who have family/friend deaths and anything of the sort, because I know my team will be there for me too, if I ever need it!

I did one time punch a partner on the floor in front of customers the day after we had to put my dog down. In hindsight it was pretty funny, and we use it as a joke now, me and the guy are still on good terms :)

Posted 1 year ago #
GaveYouDecaf

Member
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I wish I could punch the people who constantly give me crappy shifts and then we'd just be cool. For now though, I'll stick to punching the wall.

Posted 1 year ago #
eyeadapt

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The thing is we all know people out there care about us. But my problem is that I am realizing I am actually just clinically depressed, I have great things going on in my life, I'm in a great relationship, going to school, supporting myself, have a great apartment in a great city, yet my life literally has close to no value to me. What sucks is I can't get insurance yet apparently, and if I could, I can't afford it. So I just have to maneuver my way around this **** depression that I blame my fathers side for, and not look like I want to murder everyone around me when I go to work. It's just really hard to be optimistic and think of what great changes can be in the future, when I don't even really want to think of the present, or the past.

Posted 1 year ago #
shotshotshotshotsofespresso

Member
Internets:38

I mentioned 12 step programs, a lot of them are free or have minor costs for materials. I have seen so many people benefit from them, even me, and they dont require insurance! Its a great place to start!

Posted 1 year ago #
OrangeBlossom

Member
Internets:1,059

I find pot helps :-p

Ok, in all seriousness:

I'm not proud to admit this, but there have been days at work that were SO HORRIBLE that I was in all honesty contemplating self harm. I've also had days where all hell had broken loose in my personal life, but I was still expected to come to work and play it like it was the best day ever.

In my darkest moments I find it best to take a minute to just breathe. Even if it's just me crawling into my head and going on auto-pilot. I like to chant to myself over and over again: "It's just coffee. You wont be here forever. Tomorrow is another day." Those simple words have gotten me through the nastiest customers, most grueling rushes, and evilest of bosses.

Posted 1 year ago #
SCSHC

Member
Internets:665

Ive had to work through going through some awful family stuff, it sucks, and every customer being rude hits so much harder. I'm not good at dealing with it, theres usually someone there who knows I'm having a hard tiem and will give me a break which is nice.

Posted 1 year ago #
Quackers

Member
Internets:460

I can't really. I'm told to smile at customers, 'cause I don't [I can't] and when I try to smile it just isn't real. Obviously everyone around me is fake smiling too but I can't even do that. I can't smile if I don't feel like it. I try, and I do sometimes but really I'm just there to work, earn money and go home. Not try to be friends with any of the customers.

Right now they're driving us mad with "Upselling, upselling, upselling." They want us to sell certain amounts of the Anniversary blend, certain amounts of Oatmeal, etc. and they want us to 'connect' with customers and have conversations with them and for a person like me, it really sucks 'cause I feel like a total moron. I know outside stores have to do this too but it's annoying. It's not like I'm on commission. :/

Posted 1 year ago #
Nolatteforyou

Member
Internets:16

" I don't care if you're tired, having a bad day, have things on your mind, etc., I expect WORLD CLASS service 100% of the time." ---my manager.

Remember , your friendliness is what go you hired. Smile like s good monkey and let the multi million dollar corporation reap the benefits of your "wow these baristas are soo nice, they even remember my name and drink! I love Starbucks."

You can kill yourself, just don't look sad on company time.

Argh, I hate management so much!

The best thing to do is to just be yourself. Screw the smile all the time rule. Just concentrate on what you need to do emotionally to feel better. You're being paid minimum wage and your well being should be the priority.

Posted 1 year ago #
MobilizedPartner

Member
Internets:1,111

I find music to be very therapeutic. It makes me 100x more depressed sometimes and cry - but its nice to know a song can be related to, and it makes emotions come to the surface, which pushes them out that much faster.

Dunno if you listen to Hip-Hop, but Marvin's Room by Drake is very this. Ugh. "I'm just sayin, you could do better."

Posted 1 year ago #
decafgrande

Member
Internets:204

Welp, my first post in almost a week, and directly related to this thread.

Sads, I feel ya. You have no idea. I've spent the last week or so with debilitating panic attacks, so much that I had to say, "Look, I can't come in and I need you to find coverage for me." And they did. So here I sit, the night before I go back in, with new meds and feeling like I can handle it...for the most part.

I don't know specifically what will help in your situation, but what I'm going to be doing is just...well, my job. I've tried doing MORE and that's what stresses me the heck out. I worry: about the customers, QASA, supplies, pastries, etc etc etc.....I'm not going to worry about it. I'll do my job. I'll get the coffee and clean the drains, and smile and be friendly, but look, decafgrande, this isn't your career. (Talking to myself, lol). This is what you do between 6:30-215 to make money so you can keep the cable on to allow you to search for a new job.

I know tomorrow my mind is gonna be spinning on autopilot wondering what changes to make to the new rebuild of my portfolio site.

I guess the best thing is - and yes, you have to learn this yourself - to not get personally invested. We're out of caramel syrup? Ah, well. I'm sorry miss customer, but we just don't have it. (she screams) I am sorry (knowing that it's not YOU who's sorry, but the company you're speaking for). Would you like some delicious vanilla instead? No? Oh well.

*shrugs*

I doubt that helped. But it is coming from someone who has chronic depression and panic disorder.

Posted 1 year ago #
DopieOpie

Moderator
Internets:665

I myself had some depression issues while working, and kept it pretty well under control and just sort of went into a sort of robot mode while at work, though after a few months I was just ready to kill the next person who wanted to complain about petty mundane nothingness. I went to a doctor, got on some decent meds for a couple of years, turns out I just had a bit of a chemical imbalance, and now I am good as new. Dont know if that is an option for you or not, but it might not hurt.

Posted 1 year ago #
Señor Cardgage

Moderator
Internets:1,001

I muscle through low morale, exhaustion, injuries, major depressive disorder and general illness. I cannot explain how- all I know is that, if I keep going forward, there's got to be something better somewhere down the line.

It is taxing, and I have aged far, far beyond my meager quarter century.

Posted 1 year ago #

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