How To Cope With Depression At Work

With reference to WHO’s latest estimates, between the years 2005-2015, there has been a steady increase of 18% in people dealing with depression, that is nearly 300 million people.

Several people around us, who seemingly come across as withdrawn, anti-social, or aloof might not be awkward socially, unlike what we think. Possibilities are they might be battling with issues that they cannot share because of the lack of support, taboo,  as well as stigma linked with depression.

There are possibilities that someone in your office might be going through depression. It could be a co-worker or it could be even you. We aren’t just talking about the case of blues or deadline burnout, but clinical chronic depression, that necessitates ongoing treatment. Here are a few tips that you can follow to deal with depression at work.

1. Get Help

If you’ve understood that you’re depressed, then expectedly, you’ve by now begun medication for depression—coordinating with a support group or a  therapist is the good way that can help you in dealing with these symptoms, which in turn will assist you in managing your professional life better.

Depression at work is quite common and most of the employers offer some sort of mental health coverage. A lot of companies with the help of its employee assistance programs offer additional mental health services at a very little or no cost. So, if you’re not certain about the coverage you have then reach out to your HR and analyze about the specifics of your plan. Also, understand your company’s procedures and policies regarding sick days and medical leaves in case you require it for your medical appointments.

2. Find Support

It’s essential to find a trusted friend, ideally a co-worker, who can assist you through this stressful time. There will be unfortunate days—some of them might seem nearly impossible—on your way to recovery, and you must realize how important it is to possess someone to lean on moreover talk to. Group therapy is yet another excellent way to deal with depression at work as you see that you’re not the only one struggling. Participate in an anxiety and depression therapy groups, where you can learn several coping strategies for fighting stress at work from other participants.

3. Set Clear Goals

One of the most difficult things concerning depression is that it nearly makes impossible for an individual to keep and maintain the focus on work. Hence, it is very important that you make clear and realistic goals about what you need to accomplish and keep a check on it.

Create a list for the entire day and highlight your top priorities, which would ensure that you are meeting the expectations of your most important audience—your boss. Double-check any important memos, take extra time for preparing assignments and let a colleague give a second look at your work if it was a rough week.

4. Be Easy On Yourself

If you think you’re suffering from depression, and you fear that talking about it might adversely affect your job, you need to take a break and realize that you’re not alone. And once you take the courage to open and talk about this condition, you’ll notice that are more people who understand your situation and are sympathetic to you as compared to those who are critical. During your treatment it is very important to be proactive about it, always take it one day at a time and be gentle with yourself.

Do whatever encourages you, and don’t be excessively hard on yourself when you’re already having a difficult time. Remember, the road to recovery is not a sprint but a marathon.