Workplace Depression: Why Does It Arise And How Can We Manage It?
Depression due to work is increasingly a reality that affects more and more people. But what are the symptoms that may indicate that you are suffering from them? And what can you do to deal with it?
Depression is a disorder that ends up affecting our productivity as well as the motivation to tackle certain jobs. These symptoms of depression can end up harming our work, creating difficulties in our work environment. Even so, when our employment can be one of the causes that can lead to this disorder, it is talks about work depression. But what does it entail and how can we deal with it?
The work depression describes different depressive symptoms that affect people in their workplace. In some cases, depression can be triggered by the person’s work environment, such as excess stress, a burnout situation, or being burned out. Mainly, when a person experiences depression due to work, it can end up manifesting itself with tiredness or fatigue for most of the day, irritability, sadness, as well as constantly having feelings of worthlessness. This type of depression can occur due to work overload, having a toxic workplace, as well as experiencing poor employee relationships.
Symptoms of work depression
In most cases, work depression tends to manifest itself both in the work environment and ends up wreaking havoc on the personal lives of those who suffer from it. In fact, people who suffer from depression tend to act in a manner completely out of character r. Taking this into account, some of the signs that may indicate that you are suffering from this type of depression are the following:
Procrastination: When depression affects our professional life, it is very common to leave pending work undone, experiencing difficulty in meeting delivery deadlines for your main tasks that are delayed for no reason.
Take longer to perform certain tasks: In many cases, depression can affect the way we perform different tasks. In fact, people who suffer from this disorder may experience difficulties concentrating and therefore not be able to carry out certain tasks effectively.
Irritability with co-workers: A depressive disorder, especially if it is caused, in part, by our work environment, can end up causing us moments of tension and conflicts in the environment.
Avoid new projects: Creativity can also be harmed when we talk about working while suffering from depression. In these cases, this can translate into ending up avoiding new projects.
Lack or loss of motivation: Work depression can end up affecting our motivation in all aspects of work.
Make frequent mistakes: Another symptom of work depression is ending up making more mistakes than usual. This is due to the lack of concentration, energy and motivation that depression can cause.
Lack of disconnection at work: This translates into experiencing an inability to ‘turn off’ your head outside of work. Therefore, work ends up affecting personal life.
Somatize: Workplace depression can end up causing people to somatize this discomfort into different symptoms such as an upset stomach, headache or a constant feeling of tiredness.
These are some of the main symptoms you could experience in your workplace if you suffer from depression.
Why might you experience depression at work?
There are many different reasons why you might feeling depressed due to your work environment. This may include the following:
Having coworkers with very different personalities or values
Feeling like your opinion doesn’t matter when it comes to work problems or risks
Constant fear of being fired
Having to work in a toxic environment
Charging too little and demanding too much at work
Lack of balance between work and our personal life
Being discriminated against by a manager or coworker
Being harassed or suffering from mobbing
Feeling undervalued or having functions below your capabilities
On the other hand, some people may end up developing labor depression l because they feel that their work or professional tasks do not contribute to improving society or do not bring them closer to their professional goals.
Is it stress, burnout or work depression?
These three problems at work can be closely linked. In fact, in many cases they can occur together. Still, there are fundamental differences between these three situations.
Work stress : Work stress does not necessarily decrease a worker’s performance or productivity. Normally, living in a stressful situation can cause people to be more irritable or feel overwhelmed by the tasks they must take on.
Depression: In the case of depression, people have a very persistent feeling of sadness beyond a week or two. In fact, you may have feelings of anxiety, and often cry because of your work. Additionally, you may find it very difficult to concentrate at your workplace or start to feel very dissatisfied.
Burnout: It involves becoming physically and mentally exhausted due to the pressure of a job. Additionally, people may end up suffering from stress or depression because of it.
Manage the symptoms of work depression It can end up being quite a challenge. Even so, with the attention of a mental health professional as well as following different strategies, you can end up facing its symptoms:
Take the necessary breaks: If during your work you feel that you are becoming overwhelmed or stressed too much, try to take a mental break. This will allow you to relax physically and psychologically, which will help you feel better.
Use breathing exercises: Breathing is a very effective tool for dealing with negative emotions or overwhelming feelings. By using our breathing and making it deeper, this will allow us to relax.
Focus on the present : Being more connected to the present moment will allow you to feel more comfortable with what you do and, above all, not to rush into certain events that can cause stress or anxiety.
Go to therapy : It is important that if you feel that you are dealing with depression at work, you go to a psychologist. Doing therapy will help you find the cause of your work depression as well as find the tools to deal with it correctly.
Before any suspected depression , whether caused by work or other triggers, it is crucial to see a psychologist as soon as possible. Depression is a disorder that ends up affecting our professional and personal lives, so we must treat it with the importance it is due.
