Depression and Anxiety in the Workplace: You VS. Your Job

The change in routine has caused people to make adjustments to their habitual ways of living. One particular thing is adapting to the “new normal” setup at the workplace. This change forced people not to get fixated on dealing with the old but to put up with what’s new. And change isn’t always easy. It can sometimes be uncomfortable, exhausting, and ruins your mental stability.

HOW DOES WORK AFFECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? 

Whether you are new to a job or have been working long enough, you have ways of coping and preserving your mental state. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated the number of people living with depression to be 264 million. Many of these people also suffer from symptoms of anxiety. 

The pressure of workload affects your relationship with yourself and your environment, leading to several Mental Health conditions. These Mental Health conditions are common in the workplace. It happens slowly. You might think it is you who have changed and not your job. But in reality, you are dealing with a mental illness.

“Is it DEPRESSION and ANXIETY, or AM I JUST STRESSED?”

People sometimes overlook the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Doctors define anxiety as excessive worry and fear. They characterize depression as having a low mood, a feeling of despair, and in some cases, self-harm ideation. Depression and anxiety are two different conditions but know that they can happen at the same time.

Most of the time, people use the two terms interchangeably with stress. It is necessary to know the difference between these terms for your self-awareness. According to Julianne Schroeder, a Licensed Professional Counselor, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress look similar, but “stress” is often external, while “depression” and “anxiety” are internal responses. 

Simply put,  stress is your reaction to the threat, while depression and anxiety are your reactions to the stress.

In the workplace, there are common symptoms of both depression and anxiety. People may feel on edge, worry excessively, find it difficult to concentrate and do tasks, be irritable, and experience fatigue.

YOU AND YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT

There are a couple of reasons why people are struggling with making mental health a priority. On top of the list is that people love to glamorize overworking. They think grinding and hustling too much is a trophy of excellence they can keep. They must remember that doing their best is not a prerequisite to mental exhaustion. 

Sometimes, people unconsciously set high expectations for themselves and their job. These expectations allow them to ruin the realistic condition that happens in the workplace. Life, in its very nature, is filled with so much stress. You have to understand that some things can get out of hand. If you are in a work environment that is toxic and intolerable for your liking, being unapologetic in establishing your boundaries is imperative. Know that you may not be able to control the things around you, but you can control yourself. Be in alignment with your thoughts, words, and behavior.

PEOPLE-PLEASING AND PERFECTIONISM AS FACTORS

Many are in denial that they have people-pleasing tendencies. These are rooted in excessive worrying about how other people look at you, or maybe you feel underappreciated for what you do. Repeatedly, you find it hard to say no to everybody. You also feel burdened by the responsibilities. At the same time, you tend to avoid an argument and pretend to agree with everyone. If you have unresolved emotion within you that you think leads you to become a people-pleaser, muster all the courage to confront it. It shadows the real you. Remember, some things are not for you, and you are not for them. Don’t waste your time trying to prove to people your value. Make sure that every time you say “yes” to somebody, you are not saying “no” to yourself.

Perfectionism also hurts. While not characterized as a mental disorder, Psychologists define this as excessive self-evaluation and is highly associated with depression and anxiety. If you are critical of yourself, you are also becoming critical of your workmates. Unrelenting high standards are destructive behavior. Stop the habit of working endless shifts to meet these standards. Cliche as this may sound, you must not be harsh to yourself. Being a perfectionist impedes productivity.

WAYS TO REDUCE WORK-RELATED DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY

The workplace is a value system. Your job is not the only thing that society tells you to have. Don’t be so hardworking that you forget to work on yourself and your social interactions. 

Start with being aware and developing healthy coping mechanisms. As simple as listening to songs that make you happy, calling a friend, or treating yourself to the small wins and progress. 

Create habits for self-care. Making a healthy routine as soon  as you wake up and before you go to sleep helps in maintaining a peaceful mind. The tiny steps you do now will manifest in your mental and physical stability in the future.

Have a good sleep and eat a healthy diet. Mental Health conditions manifest with physical

symptoms. It leaves your body in a fight and flight mode. Make sure you get the right energy to get through the day

Never hesitate to seek help. Talk to someone who can fully listen and understand your condition. Reach out to a family member, a friend, or a Mental Health professional.

Like the “new normal” setup, depression and anxiety want you to not fret about the past because it has come about and to not agonize about what’s to come because it’s unpredictable. 

You have to be here, at this moment, doing the best you can, letting go of the things that make you feel overwhelmed, and assuring that everything you do now requires you to be kind to your mind.