#1 - Weigh Up Your Situation
The first step in working out whether or not you are unhappy in your job or if your job is making you depressed is to weigh up your whole situation. Can your low mood be attributed solely to your job, or are there other life factors at play? If you leave the office only to be confronted by yet more problems, your job is probably only part of the problem. If you have life circumstances which are getting you down, only you can manage them. It's important to remember that depression can be treated - it is a mental illness which affects many of us in our lives and there is help out there.
#2 - Are You Holding Down Your Job?
Depression is a medical condition which often requires medication, or at least some form of counseling. But if you are managing to hold down your job and turn up, day in, and day out, your level of depression is probably less severe. If you can't work at all, chances are you are more severely depressed. Mild or moderate depression is almost always about suppressed anger. If you are managing to get to work every day and fulfill your job requirements, you're probably just unhappy in your job - so it's time to find a new one.
#3 - Does Your Job Fit Your Personality?
Believe it or not, many people don't actually enjoy their jobs. Not because they don't get satisfaction from them, but because they don't fit their personality type. Think about it - if you are a people person who gains satisfaction from helping others, then sitting behind a desk all day writing reports and answering the phone won't fit your personality type. This could be making you unhappy - but the fact you're doing it says you're not depressed. On the other hand, if you are in a job where you are constantly stressed out and you physically can't deal with this stress, then chances are you are depressed.
#4 - Understand Your Mind
One thing you need to understand that is more important than anything else is that all depression is in your mind. Unhappiness at work can be caused by a horrible boss, horrible colleagues or undue stress of deadlines. Depression however is not caused by anything external - it is all in the mind. You might like to think that depression is caused by a horrible boss but it is actually caused by your inability to deal with that horrible boss. Happiness is in the mind. And we control our mind. Make sure that you start working with your mind. Understand that work is not permanent, and that it will pass, and you'll be on your way towards recovery.
#5 - Find a Coping Strategy that Works
If you are depressed at work, you need to find a coping strategy which works for you. Perhaps it's by changing your diet, drinking more water, getting a bit of fresh air, taking regular breaks, ditching the coffee or just learning to smile more. If you're managing to even hold down your job, you may be depressed but not to the extent where you can't even bring yourself to get out of bed in the morning. Try and do something you enjoy and get your mind off the daily 9-5 and your symptoms will start to improve in time.
So there you have it, five simple ways of working out whether or not you are unhappy at work, or if your job is causing your depression. If you are unhappy, it could be a case of just finding a new job in order to feel better. If you are depressed, then getting a new job won't cure it. Seek some medical advice and let your employer know - chances are if you are open and honest they'll be more sympathetic to your situation. It could take time, but depression can be beaten. Good luck.
-Liam Tarry
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