I had to treat a patient whose profile was as follows:
A 56-year-old man working in a large international company. He accepted everything, never asked for anything and, in the context of the crisis resulting in downsizing, pressure from salespeople to sign contracts under conditions that sometimes did not comply with the standards laid down, he entered into a vicious circle type scheme.
He begins by returning home later and later, goes back to his computer to finish his work, devotes less and less time to his family.
Then, he decides to take an apartment close to his office to limit travel time.
He is afraid to confront his hierarchy to ask that his working conditions be reviewed.
He isolates himself more and more and one day, he cracks.
Those around him kept telling him that he couldn't go on like this, which he fully understood, but he was unable to put these rational advices into practice.
When I saw him, I advised him to take a leave of absence for 6 months. He told me 15 days but continued to work at the same pace which made the situation worse.
I worked with him in a paradoxical mode by making him face his fears, asking him in particular what would happen if he stopped for 6 months and, on the contrary, if he did not stop.
He became aware of the risks and took the measure.
After 4 sessions which took place over 2 months, he went to see his hierarchy and a dialogue was established without difficulty. He was then offered a solution that suited him perfectly.
And today he is fine.