How to Deal With Anxiety and Depression at Work
Depression can interfere with your professional life as much as your personal life; making it difficult to be the hard worker you have the potential to be. Job stress can lead to depression and anxiety, in both men and women. Dealing with depression is important, both for your physical and emotional health.
So how can you deal with depression at work?
Seek Professional Help
Talking to a therapist is one of the best ways to deal with your depression. You'll find that a psychologist can help you determine the underlying causes of your depression, whether it has something to do with job stress, your home life, your interactions with others, or something else. There could be more than one factor contributing to your depression, and a psychologist or therapist can help you discover what's really going on.
You should also consider joining a support group. You can learn how to deal with the symptoms of depression, as well as prevent them from interfering with your work. Finding others who can help you will make it easier to deal with the problem.
How You Can Deal With Depression
- Face the problem -- If work is the source of your depression, examine what aspect of work is the cause. Is it the job itself, the tasks you are doing, or the people you are working with? Find out what is causing the anxiety and depression, and evaluate whether or not it can change. If not, it may be time to find a new job, or even a new career.
- Turn things off -- Technology can increase your anxiety and depression, so it's time to shut your tech off. Sign out of your email, turn your phone OFF, and disconnect from anything that isn't vital for your work. It will help you to avoid distractions and stressors.
- Calm yourself -- There are many meditative techniques that can help you to deal with depression and stress. Calming and centering your mind will allow you to find peace, so it's worth looking into both Eastern and Western meditation techniques for depression.
- Find a Routine -- Want to manage your anxiety and depression? First you have to handle the stress. Set a routine that you can follow easily, and stick with it. It will give you some stability in your life, and will help you to handle the work that you have to face.
- Liven Up Your Workplace -- Office cubicles tend to be dull and dreary, making your depression even worse. Add some life and colour to your space by adding plants, flowers, or colourful decoration. If you can open a window, do so. The more light and fresh air there is, the better you will feel.
- Break Things Down -- Work can often overwhelm you, but instead of looking at your tasks as a huge chunk of work to get done, why not break it down? Spend time every morning organising yourself, prioritising the tasks by order of importance. Do them one at a time, and don't move on until you've completed the current task. It will help to prevent the stress that leads to depression and anxiety.
- Socialise -- One of the best ways to fight depression is to put yourself in social situations, both at work and home. Go out of your way to make new friends at the office, and start forming a life outside of your four office walls.
- Take a Break -- Feeling the blues during an intense work day? Take a few minutes off work to meditate, take a nap, or go for a short walk. If you're really down, why not ask your boss for a day off, or take that vacation time you've racked up. Sometimes stepping back and taking a break is enough to deal with your depression.
The truth is that work isn't always fun, and the fact that you do the same thing over and over again can make you feel depressed. However, you can deal with your depression, becoming the happy, productive individual you truly are.
10 Careers With The Highest Suicide Rates
The truth is that every job has its own share of stress. Some of the things that make a job stressful are high client demand, long working hours and the emotional trauma involved. Most people have found ways of dealing with and overcoming stress. However, many are unable to handle the demands and stress of their job. In extreme cases, such people might end up committing suicide.
Here are some of the careers with the highest suicide rates:
1. Scientists
The work of a scientist can be very demanding. Scientists are usually under intense pressure to innovate and discover, as well as regularly publish new findings. The fierce, and at times cut-throat, competition in the industry can end up being very stressful for scientists. In addition, scientists are prone to stress especially when they discover something harmful in their research. Others spend long days at work, and still have to spend time on research. Such factors can lead to depression and suicidal tendencies.
2. Police officers
The work of a police officer is very attractive to many people, especially to young children. However, the work of a police officer can be very dangerous and stressful. Cops are often required to work long hours with little rest. In addition, they often find themselves dealing with stressful situations such as accidents, fires and murders. As a result, many police officers are likely to suffer from depression, which could lead to suicide.
3. Stock brokers
Working in the financial sector comes with a lot of risk. Since stock brokers are responsible for managing other people’s money, they are always under a lot of pressure to deliver. However, the stock market by nature is very volatile. Due to uncontrollable economic factors, prices of stock can drop dramatically within a matter of days, thus resulting in great losses for investors. This rollercoaster nature of the stock market can be very stressful for stockbrokers. While some weather the storms, others are likely to sink into depression and eventually commit suicide.
4. Real estate agents
Just like stock broking, the real estate industry is also a high reward, high risk career. When the property market is strong, real estate agents can make millions of dollars. However, when there is an oversupply of housing, the prices of property can plummet dramatically leaving real estate agents broke. In addition, there is always intense competition between realtors, which leads to more stress. This is why many real estate agents end up committing suicide.
5. General Doctors
Besides working long hours, doctors have to deal almost daily with patients who are suffering all kinds of ailments. Some of the patients might even end up dying in their care. This is likely to leave doctors stressed and depressed. In addition, doctors might find it difficult to seek professional help when they suffer a mental disorder such as depression. This is due to the fear of ruining their reputation. As a result, they are likely to sink deeper into depression and ultimately commit suicide.
6. Farmers
Farming can be a very profitable and fulfilling career. However, farmers at times incur great losses due to poor weather, natural calamities, diseases and even sabotage. In addition, there is also the risk of losing money due to unfavorable market prices. As a result, farmers are likely to experience depression on a regular basis.
7. Lawyers
Most lawyers experience a significant level of stress during their work. Corporate lawyers have to work long hours to prepare policies and represent their companies. Legal counsels are usually under intense pressure to offer definitive answers. Criminal lawyers are under pressure to defend their clients, whether innocent or not. All this pressure can easily lead to suicide.
8. Construction managers
Construction site managers are responsible for ensuring that everything in the building plan goes as planned. With limited budgets, short timelines and large teams to manage, this is usually a very high pressure job. The stress involved can easily lead into depression and suicide.
9. Surgeons
To begin with, going through medical school and residence can be very stressful. The pressure goes up a notch when you become a practicing surgeon. Apart from the long hours at work, there is always the possibility of losing the person you are operating on. This can lead to depression, and at times suicide.
10. Chiropractors
Chiropractic is a very sensitive practice where anything can go wrong during the treatment of a patient. In some countries, the practice of chiropractics is not covered by insurance. As a result, chiropractors are likely to find themselves facing lawsuits from their clients. The paperwork and bills involved in lawsuits can lead to depression and even suicide.
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