Work Depression and How to Deal with It
What is Work Depression?
On the whole, work is a place that can drive positive mental health. It gives us purpose, motivation and satisfaction when we achieve something we’ve worked for.
On the flip side, work can also be a place of heightened stress and anxiety and can therefore have a negative effect on your mental health. A negative or toxic work environment can make your depression symptoms worse.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression at Work
There are symptoms of depression that can affect your ability to work. These can include:
- Missing work
- Trouble concentrating
- Missed deadlines and goals
- Feelings of depression only when you’re at work
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Depression can also cause people to isolate themselves, worry excessively about getting work done and feel guilty about letting other people down
How does depression affect productivity?
Why is it hard to keep up workplace performance when you’re depressed? The symptoms of depression can be debilitating. Depression can affect productivity in these ways:
- Lack of concentration
- Procrastination
- Absence
- Lack of initiative or motivation
- Low energy, fatigue
- Decline in problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Poor communication with others
- And more
Depression at work is a challenge for many. Self-care and daily changes in your routine may help, but it’s important you talk to your doctor, a therapist, or behavioural provider for long-term management of depression. Without treatment, depression can worsen.
Self-Care Tips if You’re Feeling Depressed at Work
When you start to develop symptoms of depression such as feeling low and anxious, struggling to complete your workload, or not being able to manage normal stresses particularly well, it can be good to talk things through with someone you trust. This may be your spouse, another relative or a trusted colleague at work.
On a day-to-day basis, there are small but significant measures you can put in place to help keep a positive mind set every time you return to your desk:
- Get out of the office (or the house if you’re working from home) at lunchtime for some fresh air
- Have a healthy, nutritious lunch and try to avoid heavy or stodgy meals
- Take regular breaks to get away from your desk and stretch your legs
- If you’re working from home, don’t work from your bedroom
- Practice some mindfulness activities each day
- When you can, learn to say “no” to one thing that will make your day less stressful.
- Seek assistance: Depression will likely not just go away by itself. It’s important that you find a professional you can connect with and feel safe talking to.
Self-care alone cannot cure depression. Working with a behavioural professional is most important for long-term management of depression.
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