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Nov 3, 2021 · Why We Cry at Work. Crying is a basic human response, but the reasons why individuals like sensitive strivers cry are more complex and can be an emotional reaction to: Frustration. Stress....
- Ever Cried at Work? You're Not Alone - Psychology Today
So, you cried at work. What do you do now? Here are six tips...
- Ever Cried at Work? You're Not Alone - Psychology Today
Jan 4, 2022 · If you have ever cried at work, then you know it can feel embarrassing. You may worry about what your colleagues think of you or become concerned about how your outburst may jeopardize your ...
- Reframe the Experience. Shedding a few tears at work is not going to end your career. In fact, 44% of C-suite executives in a survey said that it’s okay to cry at work from time to time — and 30% indicated that in terms of how you’re regarded at work, crying has no negative impact at all.
- Take the Space You Need. If you feel like your feelings have hijacked you, you won’t deliver your best performance. Ask to take a break if you start to cry.
- When Addressing Tears, Be Brave. You may feel an impulse to apologize for expressing emotion but resist the urge to disempower yourself. You may also be tempted to ignore your feelings or try to push them away.
- Follow Up With Excellence. People seem to have the strongest memories of whatever behavior they’ve seen from us most recently. This phenomenon is known as the recency effect.
- Overview
- What is work depression?
- What are the signs of work depression?
- Why you might be depressed at work
- Does working remotely make you more likely to be depressed?
- What can you do if you feel depressed while working?
- What are common risk factors for depression at work?
- How is depression related to work treated?
- The bottom line
If you feel depressed when working, you’re not alone. Sadness, anxiety, loss of motivation, difficulty concentrating, unexplained bouts of crying, and boredom are just a small sampling of the things you may be feeling if you’re experiencing depressive symptoms at work.
Depression impacts over 17 million American adults each year.
And data from the State of Mental Health in America 2021 survey shows that the number of people seeking help for depression increased significantly from 2019 to 2020.
There was a 62 percent increase in people who took the survey’s depression screen — and of those people, 8 in 10 tested positive for symptoms of moderate to severe depression.
When you consider that full-time employees spend an average of 8.5 hours per day working on weekdays and 5.5 hours working on weekends and holidays, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it comes as no surprise that many of them will experience symptoms of depression while on the job.
Read on to find out why work might be triggering depressive symptoms, how to identify the signs, where to get help, and what you can do to start feeling better.
While a job may not cause depression, the environment may worsen symptoms for people who already live with depression.
“Any workplace or job can be a potential cause or a contributing factor for depression depending on the level of stress and available support at the workplace,” said Rashmi Parmar, MD, a psychiatrist at Community Psychiatry.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a negative working environment can lead to:
•mental and physical health concerns
•absenteeism
•lost productivity
The signs of depression at work are similar to general depressive symptoms. That said, some may look more specific to a workplace setting.
This depression will affect your level of functioning in your job as well as at home, Parmar said.
Some of the more common signs of work depression include:
•increased anxiety levels, especially when managing stressful situations or thinking about work when you’re away from your job
•overall feelings of boredom and complacency about your job
•low energy and lack of motivation to do things, which can sometimes manifest as boredom in tasks
There are various reasons why you may be dealing with an increase in depressive symptoms at work. And while no two people — or experiences — are the same, some common themes seem to emerge when pinpointing the causes or triggers of signs of depression at work.
While not an exhaustive list, the following situations may contribute to work depression:
•feeling like you have no control over work issues
•feeling like your job is in jeopardy
•working in a toxic work environment
•being overworked or underpaid
Working remotely, while convenient, comes with its pitfalls. According to Parmar, the boundary between personal and professional life can easily disappear, causing major upheavals in your daily routine.
And creating and sticking to a structured routine at home is easier said than done.
“Without a routine, boredom can slowly creep in, giving way to depressive feelings and thoughts,” she said.
Without the social environment at work, Parmar said many people working from home experience feelings of loneliness and isolation.
No matter where you work, managing symptoms at work can be challenging. The good news is there are things you can do when you’re feeling depressed:
•Take a 10-minute break away from your desk or office.
•Take a lunch break and get outdoors.
•Go for a quick walk during a break — even if it’s indoors, exercise does wonders for mental health.
•Take a mental health day.
•Practice a few minutes of mindfulness meditation.
Some of the risk factors for depression at work, according to Magavi, include:
•dismissive managers
•effort-reward imbalance
•workplace politics
•workplace gossip
•workplace bullying
If you’re noticing a link between depressive symptoms and your workplace, don’t wait to seek help. Talking with your immediate supervisor or boss is a good first step — as long as you feel supported by them.
Sometimes a change in assignment or location within an office or organization can help reduce symptoms.
You can also ask the human resources department if your company has an employee assistance program. This is a work-based program that offers mental health–related services for personal and work concerns.
Outside of work, a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle interventions are often recommended for treating depression. You can get help from professionals in person and online.
Experiencing symptoms of depression while at work can feel overwhelming. Identifying signs like anxiety, crying, boredom, and lack of interest is the first step to getting help.
If you’re concerned about work depression, consider reaching out to your supervisor or human resources department. They can help you find a counselor through an employee assistance program.
You can also seek treatment through a therapist or psychologist.
Remember, you’re not alone. If you’re not ready to reach out at work, make an appointment with a doctor or mental health professional.
- Tess Lopez
- Walk away. If you feel tears coming on due to something that just happened at work, try to remove yourself from the situation. Leaving the office to walk outside for a couple of minutes allows you to cool down without being provoked or reminded of what just occurred.
- Distract yourself. Distractions may be helpful when the cause of crying is a memory or circumstance you can’t physically separate yourself from. For example, if you’re ruminating over your impending divorce while at your desk, you can guide your mind toward something else.
- Exercise. Exercise releases endorphins — the feel-good hormone. According to a 2019 study, exercise has also been associated with better blood circulation to our brain, directly impacting our physiological reaction to stress.
- Do some breath work. Deep breathing exercises are helpful for reducing stress. Your heart rate increases when you inhale, so try to practice taking longer, slower exhales, up to eight counts.
If you’re in a meeting or have important tasks to complete, crying can put a wrench in your workflow. Learning how to stop crying when you’re mad or sad — or how to step away and give yourself time to feel — can help you push through difficult situations at work.
Dec 20, 2023 · Crying at work can make us feel unprofessional or out of control. But it shouldn't. Coach Melody Wilding shares tips on how to cope when tears take over.
