Struggling in your chosen field? How making the wrong career choice is related to depression
Do you dread going into work each day? Do you feel like your job makes you miserable and affects other aspects of your life? Maybe you even resent the work you do and find no joy or satisfaction in it.
Sound familiar?
It’s not uncommon for people to feel some dissatisfaction with their work. But, there’s a difference between on-the-job stress and genuinely struggling in your chosen field. On top of that, if you start to wonder if you’ve chosen the wrong career, it can create even more stress. You might think there’s nothing else available to you or that you’ve made a huge mistake that’s going to impact you for the rest of your life.
This kind of stress and the negative thoughts that come with it can absolutely lead to depression. Let’s take a closer look at why and what you can do about it.
Signs of Career Depression
Career depression is a very real thing. It might start out where you to resent your job, but it can quickly grow into feelings of failure and resentment and spiral out of control. No matter your industry, career depression can make it difficult to find any redeeming qualities about the job you do.
Of course, there’s a difference between not liking your job and feeling as though you’ve made the wrong choice. Some of the most common signs of career depression include:
Feeling anxious at work
Withdrawing from co-workers
Difficulty concentrating
Lack of motivation
The depression you feel at work can even spill into your personal life. You might start to feel an overwhelming sense of sadness and hopelessness. Your lack of motivation about your job can make it feel difficult to get out of bed in the morning or even practice self-care. The social withdrawal you experience at work can even carry over into friends and family, until you end up spending most of your time alone.
Unfortunately, those are all things that can end up making your depression worse.
Evaluating Your Current Career
Feeling like you’ve made the wrong career choice doesn’t have to leave you depressed forever. There are a few options that can help you get back on track and boost your mental well-being.
First, determine if there are things about your current career you actually enjoy. Are there things that could potentially change that would make your life easier or better? Maybe you’re unhappy with your career, at large, but you enjoy the company you work for. Talk to them about how you’re feeling and see if you can work together to come up with a solution. That might include cutting back on your workload, allowing for more flexibility, or even allowing you to train for a different position that has your interest.
If you know you’re not going to be satisfied at your current workplace, consider evaluating your strengths and skills. Where would you excel? What are you passionate about? What do you truly want to do?
The reality is, it’s never too late to change career paths or explore your options. If your job is making you depressed, it’s not too late to take charge of your mental health and make a positive change.
Getting the Help You Need
Of course, changing careers — especially while struggling with depression — can also feel overwhelming.
Don’t tackle it alone.
If you’re dealing with career depression, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. Therapy is a great way to get to the root cause of your depression. You’ll also learn valuable strategies to manage your symptoms and even overcome your negative thoughts. So, if you do decide to switch careers, you’ll be in a positive, healthy mindset as you start on a new professional journey. Reach out today to learn how life transitions therapy can help you.
