What Anxiety and Depression May Be Trying to Tell You About Your Job

“Are you struggling with stress, anxiety and depression in the context of demanding employment or career?”

There are times when depression or anxiety contain an uncomfortable but useful message. These feelings can present an underlying need or want that demands to be addressed. For many of the clients I assist in psychotherapy, these painful emotional states arise in the context of their employment. Work can be a source of satisfaction, purpose and meaning. When dialed in, one’s occupation provides a strong sense of accomplishment and direction. However, the difficult mood state may be trying to get your attention to help you address incongruence between your well-being and work.

As you progress in your career you may find that success breeds increasing responsibilities. Promotions may on the surface look good but may lead to an increase in obligation and stress. If the job itself has not changed, depression may be a sign of one’s evolving preferences and interests. Other times the clients I work with find events such as new relationship or starting a family can lead to an attitude change towards work. Regardless of its source, a persistent emotional energy may be trying to get your attention for a good reason.

Initially, anxiety and depression may seem like mysterious uncomfortable feelings that arise and persist in one’s lives. They may initially seem incongruent with your lifestyle. On the surface, areas such as financial stability and job security may seem fine. There could be no obvious explanation but the feelings persist in bringing you down. Often clients engage counseling when these feelings start to affect performance, functioning or enjoyment with their lives. It takes courage to reach out and ask for assistance.

Tactically, when using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy techniques, I attempt to identify and address the thoughts or beliefs that can drive depression and anxiety. With regards to work, high performers might think: People at work are relying on me so I should want to do better; if my work requires me to put in extra time or effort than I have to do it regardless of how I feel; I need to get that promotion; I have to give it my all; I can’t say no to more business. There is nothing wrong with wanting to perform well at work. However, when these thoughts create a cycle of invalidation that cause needs to be ignored, they do not often go away without (without is one word) being addressed.

It takes strength to listen to this voice and perceive if a change is needed. In managing depression and anxiety in the context of work, there are many approaches a therapist can present but most of them will initially induce a sense of nervousness. Honoring your voice will not always be easy. Making changes or setting boundaries will likely be met with internal or external resistance. Such changes could include dedicating more time to self-care or relationships, readdressing ones work prioritization such as taking on fewer projects or tackling an intense but short-term approach to finishing a work project that has been dogging you for too long. The process of psychotherapy can help you identify the work issues that activate difficult emotions and foster strategies to resolve these effectively. Balancing work responsibilities with personal well-being might be challenging but therapy can be a highly effective format for one who wishes to seek clarity and direction.

Send me a message if you would like to learn more about how I can help manage stress and anxiety in the context of your career or if you have any questions.