Work depression can hit anyone at any given moment. Recently, one of my friends was diagnosed with depression derived from work-related stress. Fortunately for him, his employers were alerted to his displayed signs of depression and managed to convince him to seek help immediately.

Whether you are a regular employee or the CEO, there will come a time that you feel stressed out and eventually, it will cause you to perform poorly at work and change the way you think.

Work depression can be very dangerous, especially if it is not treated immediately. It can cost you and your company a lot of revenue and it may even cost you your job because of your poor performance.

Here are some of the signs that you should look for to determine if your work can cause you to be seriously depressed or if it is making you stressed.

• Work is controlling everything
  When you work for a company, a good work environment would let you make decisions on projects or get your opinion about things that should be changed in work. You would also be happy to speak with your manager or employer if you do need some help. However, if your work environment doesn’t let you feel welcomed, it can cause problems.
• You feel insecure about your job
  You feel like you will be kicked out of your job at any time or you will be demoted or criticized for your work.
• Irregular work hours and lack of rest
  Work hours become longer even if you have a strict work schedule and you could not get enough rest.
• Work dominates even outside work hours
  Even if you are on vacation or at home, work will continue to call you. You also start to lose time for your family and work even at home.
• Discrimination or harassment persists at work
  Whenever you go to work, you feel like everyone is at an edge and you find it dangerous to speak to your coworkers or superiors.
• Your heart and mind aren’t in it
  You hate where you work, your boss and co-workers. You also do not like your work because it isn’t something you are truly interested in.

If you see the signs, what should you do to combat work depression?

• Know your mental state
  Try to take some time to determine what you are feeling about your work. If you feel like you are becoming withdrawn from your coworkers and feel like you can’t handle your work and perform well in it, you need to slow down and seek help.
• Be alert for the signs
  If you are the employer, you should monitor your employee’s progress and try to help them get better. If you spot the problem early on, you can save your company health care and productivity fees.
• Revise your work schedule
  Don’t force yourself to follow a certain schedule if you find yourself feeling controlled or restrained. Ask if you can switch your work schedule or revise your priorities list. You can even ask your boss if you can get the deadline extended if it is possible so you can get your rhythm back. If all ends fail, go look for a job that would get you that sense of control back to your work life.
• Don’t be afraid to take a break
  Taking a rest from work should not be feared. It may help you concentrate better on your work. Use your day off or public holidays to relax and not think about work.
• Ask for treatment
  Depression is like an illness and as such, you do need a cure to get better. Seek out your company’s counselors for some advice or take medications as noted by your doctor.
• Look at your workplace protection
  When you are depressed and your company is aware of it, they should be able to protect you from scrutiny and discrimination. Check if your workplace has protections or employee assistance programs which can protect your mental health records or even help you with treatments.
• Talk to your boss if you can
  Your current industry and your relationship with your boss can influence how you want your depression to be known. Before you discuss your status with your company, see if you are on good terms with your boss and determine how much information you will give. When you decide to speak to your boss, they can assist you by reducing your workload or changing your schedule.
• Seek support from your loved ones
  You should also seek the support of your loved ones if you are undergoing depression. They will be able to help you cope and give you some assistance to get by every day. You may even be surprised to know some of your friends and family have also felt work depression and may have tips for you to get by.
• Take it easy
  If you feel like you do have depression and you are afraid to speak out about it, don’t immediately blame yourself for your situation. You are not alone in fighting your depression. Relax, take your time in doing your work and be gentle with yourself.

Even you are enjoying your job and not suffering from work depression, don’t forget that there are people around who might be a silent sufferer. Be observant and you can help them help themselves.

Have you met someone with work depression before? Share with us your experiences in the comments below.

Hating your job is a serious detriment to your well being if you want to know more on how to get out of this situation, here are some articles that may help:
A Word of Advice: I am forever stuck in my job
Whisper: I Secretly Hate My Job