Can your job make you depressed? The answer is a resounding “yes,” and workplace depression is more common than you might think. Depression at work doesn’t usually go away on its own. Depression treatment for professionals can provide support with handling work-related depression so that your job doesn’t leave you feeling drained.
BoardPrep Recovery Center® specializes in treatment options for working professionals. Give us a call today at 866.796.4720 to learn more about getting help with work-related depression at BoardPrep Recovery Center®.
How Work Can Cause Depression
The majority of our waking hours are spent at work. That means your experience in the workplace makes up a significant portion of your overall life. When a job is fulfilling or enjoyable, that’s not a problem. However, not everyone finds satisfaction at work.
The workplace environment can lead to depression for a variety of reasons. Some of these include:
- Heavy workload
- Performance stress
- Competition
- Financial concerns
- Critical supervisors
- Conflict with coworkers
- Harassment or discrimination
Workplace depression can be caused by more personal factors as well. Chronic illness, dissatisfaction with your career choice, issues in your personal relationships—there is no shortage of ways in which heading into the office can add to the weight of other burdens you’re carrying.
When depression starts at work, it doesn’t stay there. It continues to impact all other areas of life.
The Relationship Between Burnout and Depression at Work
Burnout and depression are two different issues, but they can be related to one another. These two conditions can negatively impact all areas of life, and they can have many similar symptoms.
The biggest difference between the two is that burnout usually gets better when you take away the causal factor, like a job. Burnout is usually temporary and directly triggered by too many stressors at work. Resting and learning to balance work stressors can help you eliminate burnout relatively quickly.
Overcoming depression involves more than just taking a vacation or lightening your workload. Depression is a serious mental health condition that requires professional support to overcome.
When either burnout or depression is caused by a job, it’s common for the other to develop as well.
Signs of Burnout and Depression at Work
Professional treatment can provide life-changing support for overcoming work-induced depression and burnout, but only if you recognize that there’s a problem.
Common signs of burnout and depression at work include:
- Feeling numb or hopeless
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Anger, irritability, or sadness
- Struggling to meet job expectations
- Difficulty concentrating at work
- Losing interest in activities and hobbies outside of work
- Feeling like there’s no way out of your situation
- Withdrawing from friends and loved ones
- Feeling drained or like you have no energy
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Substance misuse
- Suicidal thoughts
Your job shouldn’t make you miserable. When it does, it’s a sign that you’d benefit from professional help to figure out how to make changes that support your quality of life and mental health.
Depression at Work? Get Help at BoardPrep Recovery Center®
You should never ignore the signs that your job is causing depression or burnout. Suicidal thoughts and attempts and the development of a substance use disorder are common outcomes when depression isn’t addressed.
BoardPrep Recovery Center® specializes in mental and behavioral health concerns related to the workplace. Our programs are designed to help you identify why a job has led to depression, anxiety, or addiction and how you can make the career changes that will support long-term wellness.
If you’re a working professional struggling with mental health concerns related to your job, we have treatment programs that can help you achieve lasting change. Give us a call today at 866.796.4720 to get help at BoardPrep Recovery Center®.