Depression is a severe mental health disorder that affects all aspects of your life. When you live with depression, you deal with more than feelings of sadness. Depression can cause fatigue, difficulty with concentration, and even physical aches and pains that interfere with daily responsibilities and routines. Because of this, there are several ways depression can affect your work performance. Read on to learn more about depression and its symptoms so that you can get the help you need to improve both your professional and personal life.
Symptoms of Depression at Work
Depression manifests in many different ways. Several symptoms affect concentration, motivation, and energy levels, which, in turn, affect your work performance. The ability to recognize depression and its symptoms helps you identify the problem faster so that you can get the help you need before it damages your career. Common symptoms of depression include:
- Fatigue
- Insomnia and other disrupted sleeping patterns
- Body aches, headaches, and migraines
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering
- Irritability and lower tolerance for stress and frustration
These and other symptoms make it difficult to put your best self forward while on the job. Work ethic, organizational skills, and communication efforts can all fall short when you suffer from depression.
Presenteeism and Absenteeism
Presenteeism and absenteeism are two ways that depression affects work performance. With presenteeism, employees show up to work but aren’t as productive as they would normally be. Presenteeism in the workplace might look like slower output, poor communication, or an inability to meet routine deadlines.
Absenteeism occurs when an employee with depression can’t show up to work at all. While sick days are normal, missing too many days hinders an employee’s ability to keep up with their workload, collaborate effectively with coworkers, and more.
Treatment Helps
If you’re struggling with depression at work and beyond, you’re not alone. More importantly, you don’t have to wait for things to get better. Getting help for your depression is an intimidating but important step toward healing. Finding professional help, seeking support from loved ones, and other steps will help you regain the motivation, confidence, and work ethic that allows you to find fulfillment in your job and throughout the rest of your life.
