Depression doesn’t always look like sadness at your job.
Don’t ignore these subtle warning signs.
See if these work behaviors resonate:
1.
You are working harder than ever to avoid going home.
Depression can look different from person to person.
She gave the example of an employee going through a divorce or taking care of a sick family member.
You were once a social butterfly but now you avoid co-workers.
Withdrawing from colleagues and isolating yourself are two common signs of depression, Velez said.
Perhaps the employee no longer takes part in off-sites or after work happy hours.
He or she might find ways to evade interactions with colleagues or managers.
You are continuously missing deadlines and meetings.
When he became depressed, he started sleeping through his alarm and showed up late to work.
You are having angry outbursts at work.
Depression isnt just feeling down in the dumps it can make you super irritable too, Garcia said.
At work, you may find yourself easily annoyed by everyone and everything.
Your fuse is short with your co-workers, customers, and even your inbox, Garcia said.
You lose motivation or interest in the work you used to enjoy.
Theres a difference between a one-time boring assignment and a worrisome pattern of apathy.
Notice changes about how you feel regarding work that you used to take satisfaction in doing, Garcia said.
That loss of interest that depression can cause may have you thinking I just dont care about your work.
What it’s possible for you to do next if you suspect you have depression.
If your depression shows up as you hyper-functioning at work, it helps to check in with your body.
Whats your relationship with alcohol or marijuana?
Are you getting too little or too much sleep?
How is your relationship with exercise and movement?
Are there points of nagging tension anywhere in your body?
Talk to loved ones and trusted peers about how youre feeling.
The best way to start managing depression is to talk with someone about it, Howes said.
Seek professional help.
Know that depression is very common and often responds well to treatment, Howes said.
If it seems like this is depression, talking with a physician or a mental health professional is crucial.
Examples of these accommodations can include permission to work from home or an altered schedule.
Assess whether your job is making your depression worse.
Having visual evidence can be a great way to confirm or deny our feelings, Velez said.
Understand that tiny wins do make a difference.
Depression often pushes you to isolate, do nothing, and be unkind to yourself.
Doing the opposite, even in tiny ways, can really help, Garcia said.
Ultimately, it helps to understand that you are more than your depression.
See depression as something separate from who you are and practice resisting its urges, Garcia recommended.
