“It started with my arms and hands, but then it went to my face, and you could see the muscles being strained. Everything in my body needed to be symmetric, so when I clenched my right fist, I would have to do the same with my left hand. There was also this uncontrollable feeling that I had to do it.”

That’s when Tomasz sought a specialist and started being treated for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). After six months in therapy, he was diagnosed with depression.

 “I couldn’t feel any emotions. No joy, no sadness, nothing. I became a father of twin girls at about the time when I was diagnosed with depression. My biggest fear was passing my problems daughters. How will this affect my family?” he says.

Tomasz’s depression treatment started a couple of months before he joined Lundbeck 4.5 years ago. It took him a few weeks before he told his manager Marcin Mlynarczyk, Managing Director GBS Krakow.

For Marcin, it is important to create a 'safe space' for colleagues where they feel comfortable discussing things and having an open conversation without fearing negative feedback.

"I'm doing my best to become more aware of the non-evident signs of personal difficulties. Knowing about such struggles is undoubtedly beneficial for both parties. I can provide the support I otherwise wouldn’t proactively propose. This, for instance, means more flexible work arrangements, adjusting my feedback, or becoming more available to discuss work and personal matters,” he says.

Even though Tomasz’s therapy ended a year ago, and he is feeling better, the symptoms came back, and he recently had to start the treatment again. However, working in an organization like Lundbeck, where talking openly about treatment and brain disorders has made it easier for Tomasz to be open about his condition, and he encourages others to do the same.

“Lundbeck tries to bring awareness to this topic, and as an employee who is affected too, I can show people that you can have a successful life – being in a managing position in a corporate business,” he concludes.