Many people may sacrifice their mental health at work for productivity and to keep their bosses happy. When this happens, you may eventually deal with depression at work. Let’s look at this situation and how to handle it effectively before it worsens.
What Is Work Depression?
Work depression is when you experience persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness when you go to work. Sometimes, you don’t just experience this type of depression when you’re at the office or in front of your computer.
You may also experience this type of depression when you think about work. For example, it’s the weekend. If you have constant negative emotions attached to working, you’ll probably dread Mondays the entire weekend.
It can be exhausting dealing with work depression, and it may even feel like you’re stuck in a never-ending cycle. This can be isolating and unmotivating. You may not even have the energy to do simple tasks at work since depression can negatively impact your overall well-being.
According to The State of Mental Health America, depression ranks among the top mental illnesses in the country. Around 21 million American adults experience depressive symptoms each year, but only 35% of those struggling with severe depression seek treatment.
As such, depression, whether you experience it at work or in another setting, remains a significant health concern. It seriously affects your personal and professional life, so finding proper help will always be important.
Signs of Depression at Work
Work depression will have different symptoms, as many people may deal with the condition in varying ways. Here are some symptoms of depression at work to watch out for:
Constant Fatigue
One of the main signs of depression is always feeling tired, no matter how much rest you get. This may come from the constant dread of working every day and performing well.
When you feel this, you may not get enough sleep at night. If you get some sleep, the constant anxiety of returning to work can keep you up, and you won’t have quality sleep.
Constant fatigue can have serious effects on your physical health. It can be difficult to think straight and even affect your patience with others. You may experience frequent headaches, migraines, or stomach issues.
Over time, the lack of sleep can also affect your immune system. You may get sick more often if your body tells you something is wrong.
Increased Absenteeism
Another symptom of depression because of work is calling in sick more often or showing up late. Calling in sick may relate to the fact that you’re constantly tired and getting sick.
Or, it might just be the fact that work causes you so much stress and anxiety that you’re calling in sick just to avoid the place.
The struggle to show up at work may signify that you need more rest. It may also be your body’s way of saying it’s time to get help.
Lack of Initiative
A lack of initiative may also be a symptom of struggling with depression. When working for a company, you may be excited to take on new projects.
However, when you’re depressed because of work, you won’t feel like you have the energy to complete simple tasks, and it would even be difficult to do the bare minimum for work.
Unfortunately, some people may mistake this lack of initiative as simply being lazy. However, it’s something more than that. When you’re depressed, your brain may operate in survival mode. You may have to prioritize basic needs like sleeping and eating over work-related tasks.
Persistent Sadness
Another symptom to watch out for is persistent sadness. You may feel sad when you’re at work, or you may feel sad just thinking about work. It’s like you can’t shake off the sadness no matter what.
Persistent sadness can feel like there’s always a dark cloud over your head, and it worsens every time you have to do something work-related. Even if you find ways to distract yourself, this sadness follows you, and everything may feel heavy.
Increased Anxiety
Work depression may also manifest as constantly feeling on edge, especially when you wake up in the morning. You may have racing thoughts or find it difficult to relax when you think about going to work.
Increased anxiety may look like always overthinking every interaction to the point that an email or a work chat can feel too much. Work shouldn’t feel like this, and when it does, you may struggle with depression. It’s a sign that you need professional help.
Withdrawal from Colleagues
Experiencing work depression may also look like isolating yourself from social settings. You may start avoiding office conversations during the morning or at lunch break. Sometimes, you may pretend you’re super busy so you don’t have to talk to anyone at work.
When you’re depressed, it can be difficult to interact with others. It might be easier to withdraw completely than engage in quick chats. You may feel disconnected from your coworkers even if you don’t necessarily dislike them.
Turning to Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
When you experience feelings of depression because of work, you may start to turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms to cope with the negative emotions. You may start overeating or undereating, or you may start consuming harmful substances.
In some cases, even if your depression is related to work, you find ways to work excessive hours to avoid emotions. This way, you try to convince yourself that you don’t have to deal with your feelings.
Possible Causes of Work Depression
Depression in the workplace can happen because of different reasons. It doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. Here are some of the possible causes of why you feel so weighed down at work.
Toxic Work Environment
One of the most common reasons why people feel depressed at work is because of a toxic work environment. Constantly being surrounded by negativity can seriously affect your mental health.
Different factors can contribute to a toxic workplace, such as:
- Micromanagement: When you have a boss who is constantly on your back and wants to know what you’re doing, it can take a toll on your mental health.
- Excessive Workload: This is when you have too much on your plate, and it gets too much. You may feel you must deliver even if it’s not within your capabilities.
- Gossiping Co-workers: Coworkers who constantly talk behind your back can make you feel like you aren’t in a safe space. This can make you dread going to work and feel scared to show up at the office.
- Office Politics: The presence of office politics can make you feel like no matter what you do, you won’t be recognized for your work. Favoritism may be prominent, and it can be unmotivated to do your tasks.
Unsafe Working Conditions
Another reason why you may feel depressed at work is because of unsafe working conditions. This usually happens in environments where employees are exposed to hazardous materials, excessive noise, or extreme temperatures.
Unsafe working conditions can put your body in a constant state of stress. You may feel like you always have to be on guard because your safety is at risk, and this can make your mental health worse over time.
Job Insecurity
Job insecurity can make you feel extremely anxious. Constant layoffs and budget cuts can cause chronic stress because you’re constantly worrying about what’s next for your roles.
When you have to worry about your job stability, speaking up about your needs can be hard. Instead, you stay silent about certain issues because you don’t want to risk losing your job. This can make you feel powerless and wear you down.
Harassment
Harassment can look like bullying from coworkers or supervisors. It can also look like discrimination or may even be sexual harassment. No matter the kind of harassment, it creates an unsafe work environment that makes work unbearable.
Poor Leadership
Poor leadership can make you feel like you won’t progress in your workplace. You always feel like managers don’t hear your concerns, and you’re left to figure things out alone. This type of leadership can make you feel like there is no way for you to grow in your career.
Dealing with Depression in the Workplace
If you’re struggling with depression at work, there are different ways you can still deal with it. There are many ways to manage your mental health while fulfilling your responsibilities.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): If available, an EAP can provide confidential support to help you deal with mental health issues and promote workplace wellness. It may include free or discounted therapy sessions and other resources for managing work-related stress.
- Set Boundaries: Healthy boundaries can look like limiting work hours and separating work from your personal life.
- Identify Triggers: Asking yourself what parts of your day make you feel anxious or when you feel unsupported during work can help identify triggers and find ways to manage them.
- Professional Help: Once you think depression is significantly affecting your overall quality of life, it’s time to seek professional help. A therapist can help you work through these negative emotions and help you develop coping strategies to overcome them.
No Need to Face Depression Alone
Work is important, but your mental health will always matter even more. If you feel like work is constantly plaguing your life, it might be time to seek help. You don’t have to go through depression in the workplace in silence. Support is always available.
At Luxe Recovery, we’re here to help you feel better. Working with our team of professionals who provide evidence-based therapies will feel like reaching out to a trusted friend. We’ll make you feel welcome and understood so that work won’t feel debilitating anymore.
Reach out to us today; our team is here to help you take the first step to overcoming depression.
