Is Your Job Causing Your Depression?

Is your job causing your depression? I get it. Work is supposed to be stressful. It's called work and not play for a reason, after all. But there's a difference between experiencing stress on occasion and experiencing stress every single day. In fact, it's possible that what you think is stress is actually depression, and that your job is what is causing your depression. 

Causes of Depression at Work

There are various factors that may be responsible for workplace depression. Some of them are:

• Your work is not meaningful to you -- A person who is stuck in a job that is not the right fit for them is extremely prone to depression. For instance, if a writer takes on the job of a bank manager, nine times out of 10 they will be extremely dissatisfied, demotivated and over time, depressed.
• You have to deal with an overwhelming amount of bureaucracy -- Most workplaces have some rules that do not make sense to their employees. And for the most part, we accept it at face value and carry on with our work. But when things get so bad that you feel say, completely powerless to take any decision on your own because you are being heavily micromanaged, this is bound to cause depression sooner or later. 
• You have to undergo poor work-life balance -- As the term indicates, work-life balance is the ability of an individual to have a balance between their personal and professional life. A person with poor work-life balance is someone who often takes their work home, due to which they cannot give ample time to their hobbies or their family. Having less or no downtime causes burnout and chronic stress, which in turn lead to mental disorders like depression and anxiety.
• Your co-workers are toxic -- The world is full of idiots, so it's only natural that said idiots will be people you work with on a daily basis. There are many kinds of toxic co-workers, like the unprofessional, the slacker, the complainer, the plagiarist, the liar, the sycophant, and the bully. Even if you do your best to limit contact with them, you have to interact with them sometime, and their toxicity will get to you. Eventually, their unsupportive and hostile behavior will impact your mental health, leading to conditions like depression and anxiety. 

How You Can Deal with Depression at Work

The first thing you need to do is assess your situation objectively. Ask yourself introspective questions like, "What can I do to fix this problem? Is there anyone I can speak with to improve this situation?"

If your issues get resolved or at least become less intense, you are sorted. However, in the event that there is no solution in sight, prioritize your mental health and look for another job so you can get out of your hostile work environment and subsequently, your depression as fast as possible. At the end of the day, no job is more important than your mental and physical health.