People who suffer from chronic depression often have difficulty getting out of bed, so going to work might seem like an impossible task. However, you can't beat depression by staying at home, and you have to make a living somehow. While coping with depression at work might be difficult, you can manage if you focus on your job rather than on your emotions.
Instructions
1. Remember why you have a job. If you can't go to work, you can't pay your bills, and you'll probably wind up on the street. The human mind is endlessly resilient, and you will find it easier to cope with depression at work if you don't give yourself any other options.
2. Listen to music while you work. Classical tunes and other soothing music can help ease taut nerves and quell anxiety. Depression is just as much a product of your environment as your own mind, and you can stave off the symptoms by putting yourself in a relaxed, peaceful environment.
3. Surround yourself with familiar objects. Hanging your favorite print on the wall above your desk or bringing framed photographs from home can have the same effect as calming music. It is easier to cope with depression at work when you can look up and see something that reminds you of home and of the people you love.
4. Call friends and family members. The people in your life are a powerful support structure, and sometimes connecting with them can help stave off depression at work. When you start to feel as though you can't continue your daily tasks, pick up the telephone and call someone you trust. Talk to them until you feel as though you can handle the rest of the day.
5. Set mini goals. If you approach each day thinking that you have to last eight hours at work before you can finally go on, the day will seem endlessly long. Instead, wake up with the goal of getting to work. When you arrive, set a goal to make a to-do list for the day. As soon as that is accomplished, set another mini goal. Viewed this way, the day isn't quite as intimidating.
6. Make friends. Work doesn't have to be a place you dread every day, so make coping with depression easier by befriending your co-workers. You don't have to tell them that you suffer from depression, but simply saying "hello" to people you enjoy can make your professional life easier to manage.
7. Take frequent breaks. If you start to feel overwhelmed, walk out of your office and get some fresh air for five minutes or so. Use your lunch hour to take a walk in a nearby park or to catch a cat nap in your office. Staring at a computer for eight straight hours can make depression symptoms worse, so strive for a change of scenery every once in a while.
8. Tell your boss. Although it might be embarrassing, there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Millions of people suffer from depression, and your case, while debilitating, isn't unique. Talk to your boss about your struggles so that he knows when you have to leave a meeting or take a day off to recuperate. This can make your professional life much less stressful.
Tags: depression work, suffer from, with depression, coping with, coping with depression, easier cope, easier cope with