Steps to take if you feel too depressed to work

There are more people dealing with depression and anxiety at work than you may think. If you’re suffering from depression, it can impact many aspects of your life, your career is one of them.

When you go past the point of just ‘having a bad day’ and you begin to experience frequent negative thoughts combined with a low self-esteem, you could be suffering from clinical depression.

Despite the stigma which still surrounds depression, it is an extremely debilitating condition which can leave you struggling to function in your everyday life.

The effects of clinical depression can leave you finding it very difficult to perform tasks which are necessary for your job. Of course, depression can also make it feel almost impossible to get up and go to work in the first place.

It’s important to remember that you’re not the only one who feels this way, although it can feel like you are sometimes.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) announced that in 2018, mental health conditions such as stress, depression, and anxiety were the fourth most common reason for people to be absent from work in the UK.

Thus, highlighting the prevalence of mental health issues and the demand for these conditions to be spoken about, showing others how to manage depression in the workplace.

 

What is depression?

The term depression seems to be used across a wide spectrum from small moments of sadness to severe and frequent misery.

When we speak about clinical depression, we’re referring to a serious, life-changing condition which requires immediate professional support.

Those who suffer from clinical depression will all experience varying symptoms of varying severity, but most people are likely to face low self-esteem, loss of interest in activities or socialisation, lack of interest in personal hygiene, poor sleeping patterns, and a poor diet.

If you feel as though you or a loved one could be suffering from clinical depression then it’s vital that you seek support from a professional rehabilitation centre. Initially, you can visit your GP to get an accurate diagnosis of your condition.

From there, you can discuss a range of treatment options and create an effective treatment programme to help alleviate your clinical depression.

Here at Rehab Clinics Group, we’ve seen just how life-altering our depression rehab programmes can be. We’ve helped countless people take back control of their lives and look towards their future free from depression.

 

How to deal with depression while working

Depression tends to give you a negative outlook on life, you may struggle to find pleasure in anything you do, have low energy levels, lose your ability to focus, and experience a lack of appetite, all of which can significantly effect your performance at work.

When you’re suffering with clinical depression, your hormone levels change, as does your brain structure and your sleep cycles making life very challenging.

A common reaction when trying to manage depression and anxiety at work is to isolate yourself from others, you may begin to obsess over feeling guilty about letting your team down or feel too embarrassed to share your feelings with anyone else.

There are some work-related triggers which can intensify your depression by increasing your stress levels.

These include a sudden change in your familiar environment, feeling under pressure with a high workload, being asked to perform tasks which are outside of your competency level, or experiencing conflict with colleagues.

However, there are some steps to take if you feel too depressed to work:

• Remember, this is not a weakness. It’s a medical condition which requires professional treatment.
• Confide your feelings in someone you trust. Opening up can truly take a weight off your shoulders.
• If you can, go outside for a walk in the fresh air to help clear you mind and take a break from your workload; meditation or mindfulness apps can also be very useful.
• Ensure you’re supporting your physical health with a nutritious lunch and plenty of water.

Talking to another person about how you’re feeling at work can be very effective in helping to ease the effects of depression.

It’s also a good way to try to identify what could be causing your depression.

If you feel as though your job is contributing to your condition, you should try to speak with your manager to alleviate some pressure or put some measures in place to aid mental health issues.

If your symptoms are very serious and you’re finding it impossible to just get through the day, it may be best for you to take a short break from work whilst undergoing treatment or work from home for a while if you can.

If you do discover that your job is the main reason for your clinical depression, you may need to begin looking for a new job.

Who you’re surrounded by all day, every day, has a huge impact on your mental health.

If you don’t feel as though you’re being fulfilled with a meaningful day’s work or your workplace environment is very negative, then this will only worsen your condition.

Being valued for what you contribute to the business if a crucial factor that we should all experience in our careers.

 

How is depression treated?

In many cases, clinical depression is treated with antidepressant medication. This method is fairly straightforward and often boosts your mood to a level where you feel as though you can function normally again.

Another popular way to treat clinical depression is through exercise therapy, this can be extremely effective.

As you exercise, your body produces natural endorphins which elevate your mood, exercise also boosts your self-esteem and gives you something to focus on.

Some people may require counselling for their depression. A popular method is cognitive behavioural therapy which helps to manage your condition by changing the way you think and behave.

Other techniques include group or family talking therapies to help you express how you’re feeling.

At Rehab Clinics Group, our expert team deliver a wide variety of therapies to treat mental health issues, thus helping you to manage depression at work.