[PoleKing]

Is window cleaning depressing?

Seriously, working on your own, crap weather, non paying customers, dirty dog poope gardens etc.

I wonder if this job makes you depressed or does it attract depressed people?

I have ups and downs, varying levels of energy and normally dip about once a month for no particular reason. My wife however just seems to enjoy life no matter what is thrown at her.

I find with this job some customers make you laugh and the banter can be brilliant but on a bad day they all seem a bunch of moaning old gits.

Look at it 'glass half full' Dave.

Working outside is infinitely better than being inside, even on a rainy day.
Think of the hourly rate compared to skill level.
And as for the moaning old gits, i always think to myself 'they'll still be miserable when i'm gone but i'll be happy as soon as they're out of my sight'  

[JSMC]

suffered with it since i was a kid after a real messed up episode when i was a kid. went through most of my adult life a very deep person. Had a few bad episodes in my 20's real bad in fact. Ended up on meds for a few years and then my old work paid for me to attend the priory as things were really getting out of hand. moods, drugged up, booze, head an absolute mess, missing work, excuses for everything etc etc.

past few years been great since therapy but hitting big lull's now. Trying my best to pick myself up some days. ther days the darkness descends again.

living with the black dog is hard.

[Dave Willis]

Jesus, how many seriously depressed window cleaners are there? I didn't know it was that common.

[James Bulton]

I thing window cleaning is not depressing but it can be lonely. The thing that could be depressing is the way some folk treat you with indifference.

[matty72]

sounds like to me there's alot of great guys on here doing a bloody good job with life and problems it throws at them, some strong characters in the window cleaning industry, here's to a great year ahead.

[windowswashed]

Window cleaning has a bad stigma attached to it sometimes. Working alone on a self employed basis is one of the downsides to this job. Being single, not in a relationship and having no family is a lot for some people to cope with as they are negative and thinking differently to the lucky ones who are married with children and kept busy so not left alone with their own thoughts, time on their hands and no one to keep them in a reality check. Just having someone close by to talk makes a huge difference.
I am a positive person with two disabilities who lives alone two days a week, the remainder of my time I support my girlfriend who has seriously bad outbursts of depression as she has had more than her fair share of tragedies in life. I see both sides of this depression topic

[Marc Stock]

Re the self employed thing. It doesn't help when you have this condition.

My depression tends to come with a bit of ocd too. If I have a lot of customers owing me money, and im on a down day I tend to keep checking my business acc, and it starts on a loop.

One time I had 30 customers all due to pay, and was only halfway through the week. On paper I had done in 2 days what a lot people would love to make in a week. Yet all I had was £90 to show for it that evening..

I got myself into a right panic, I checked the account I think 10 times in 40 mins, NOTHING in, this made my depression worse and started feeling closed in and worthless. My wife made me go to bed at 9pm I got into such a state.

Next day half those payments were in, and all that stress was over nothing. I felt really foolish and resliased I hadn't taken my pills the morning before.

so yes its a roller coaster.. its a reall chemical inbalance in the brain. Serotonin is the chemical that is to blame.

 

[gary999]

For me window cleaning has been a sanity saver,i suffer with
obstructive sleep apnea which is tied into my stomach disorder
and has been pretty debillitating over the years,especially when
trying to hold down a 8-5 job at times left me a complete emotional
train wreck which was down to exhaustion.

Window cleaning has given me a way out,hours to suit the situation
and a decent income and things have naturally righted themselves.

Fairplay to you guys with clinical depression cant be easy,onwards
and upwards eh!

Anyways less of the sympathy lets suck it up ladies






 

[NBwcs]

"Those who suffer think they are the only ones who have it , the response to this thread clearly demonstrates that this is not the case..."

Brilliant thread, one in four suffer from depression at some time or other ( im one of them) according to official stats, but it feels very isolating, its great to see fellow windies sharing their burden. Dont be afraid to get help and always remember its not for ever , you WILL come through it.

[Tom White]

Jesus, how many seriously depressed window cleaners are there? I didn't know it was that common.

It's not just window cleaners, Dave, I think anti depressants are something like the world's 2nd most prescribed medicine, after statins.

I mix in some strange circles so meet a lot of folk who have issues with depression.  Alcoholism and depression often go hand-in-hand too.

Anyway, have a look at this BBC News item; it says that people who undergo this course of therapy have a 50% chance of never suffering with depression again (at least that's how I heard it):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMsUGB_KV7s

Listen to the end.

[Twc services]

Re the self employed thing. It doesn't help when you have this condition.

My depression tends to come with a bit of ocd too. If I have a lot of customers owing me money, and im on a down day I tend to keep checking my business acc, and it starts on a loop.

One time I had 30 customers all due to pay, and was only halfway through the week. On paper I had done in 2 days what a lot people would love to make in a week. Yet all I had was £90 to show for it that evening..




I got myself into a right panic, I checked the account I think 10 times in 40 mins, NOTHING in, this made my depression worse and started feeling closed in and worthless. My wife made me go to bed at 9pm I got into such a state.

Next day half those payments were in, and all that stress was over nothing. I felt really foolish and resliased I hadn't taken my pills the morning before.

so yes its a roller coaster.. its a reall chemical inbalance in the brain. Serotonin is the chemical that is to blame.

 

I get exactly the same thing Marc it drives me round the bend some nights. The positive is that the next day it gives me a bit of drive to chase debts and work hard.

[JSMC]

very interesting thread this is on the forum.

[G Griffin]

very interesting thread this is on the forum.

It is.
I missed it because I wasn't on here for a while. I'll have a proper read when I get time.
I feel really sorry for those that suffer with it.

[Stephen.C]

very interesting thread this is on the forum.

It is.
I missed it because I wasn't on here for a while. I'll have a proper read when I get time.
I feel really sorry for those that suffer with it.

And me mate, I say well done to all those shiners who battle this shocking condition.
I worked along side a printer who had terrible depression. He hid so well no one knew still think about him a lot, and I take my hat off to you all.

[CLEANCARE WC]

while were all sharing...

I too have depression not had the easiest life so periodically the black dog appears from nowhere may hang around for a week or two or maybe several months.

I would honestly have a MASSIVE round if it was not for depression. Fortunately I seem to be quite a likeable chap because my customers seem to accept it when i drop off the radar for a bit, I have been honest with them they know its depression but as I said I have turned over some work in my 13 years of window cleaning.
mainly due to being awol so long (in my head) i was too embarrassed to show my face again.
so i lost a pocket of work here or there gain new work the cycle continues...

I have drove 30 miles to work gone round the roundabout and come straight home more times than i would like to admit, but as I say as the black dog came from absoluely nowhere after what i call a "ten year event" a particuarly bad period of depression I had'nt suffered for about a decade  it went all of a sudden too!

You dont know how encouraging this is to know im not the only one. Anyway chin up lads summers on the way. all the best to everyone! 

[CLEANCARE WC]

By the way SAMSON have you had a haircut lately? this may be why you have lost your strength 

[wpclean]

By the way SAMSON have you had a haircut lately? this may be why you have lost your strength 

I don't have much hair now, but I can relate to your experiences.     I have been feeling really good lately, so I try and make the most of it before a down time. 

[CLEANCARE WC]

By the way SAMSON have you had a haircut lately? this may be why you have lost your strength 

I don't have much hair now, but I can relate to your experiences.     I have been feeling really good lately, so I try and make the most of it before a down time. 

yes me too, have to eat all the salmon we can before hibernation.

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

 To all people who do suffer with depression it takes balls to come out and say it. So with customers its easy to explain to them about it so they know how you feel.

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

I always go for a jog to free the mind up a bit so always putting custies on 3 strike oand there out situations got rid of 2 today.