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How do depressed people cope with having a job?

MintyXContributor09 July 2016, 6:17 am AEST

How do depressed people cope with having a job?

So I'll be starting college soon and I decided to take up a part-time job. Went for the job interview and I have been offered a job.

But instead of feeling happy, I feel this strange feeling in me. I feel down, I feel depressed.

Just the thought of travelling to my workplace sent me go spiralling into depression. It takes me so much effort to even leave the house, and it would take me triple the effort to travel to my workplace, it would take me 1 and a half hr of transport + walking some distance under the hot sun to reach my workplace. And the job is also a boring admin job too, a job that I hardly care about but I applied for it anyway because I wanted to save up enough money so that I can move out of my toxic home environment. But i might have to end up postponing this plan though.

I'm thinking of rejecting this job offer. When I'm in a better mental state, then maybe I'll try this job thing again. But this entire job thing is just too exhausting for me to think about at the moment.

How do depressed people cope with having a job? I know I can't, especially when I'm going through very bad episodes of depression, and each time I try to push myself to take the job, I always end up getting fired due to poor work performance. It's just so difficult for me to focus on work when I'm feeling so low all the time 😕

13 replies

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In response to: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

SaharaSenior Contributor09 July 2016, 9:22 am AEST

Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

Hi @MintyX,

well done for getting the job! Even though you don't really want it, it's still a great achievement and shows how capable you are.

Maybe just try out the job for 2 weeks and see how it goes? You might meet some really nice people and you might find the boredom of doing admin work to be like some 'time out' where you don't have to think too much.

It sounds like a really long commute to get to your work - perhaps too long, considering it is only a part-time job. You don't want to have to travel 3 hours a day just to work 4 hours a day! That would be inefficient. Although, the time spent in transit can be used to study and read. I've noticed that's what a lot of people do.

What are you studying at uni? A lot of universities have part-time work available for their students, which might suit you better.

In response to: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

Unknown userMember09 July 2016, 10:33 am AEST

Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

@MintyX, sounds hard, try to push through that initial adjustment time, usually 3wks, try to notice & savour the the good stuff among it all. Imagine difficult people wearing a bikini, and smile 😄

In response to: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

believeinmeSenior Contributor09 July 2016, 2:47 pm AEST

Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

I'm so sorry with how you are feeling. I can relate some to what you are saying as far as saving enough to move out of a toxic home, depression and studies. I got through by doing personal care work where I slept at the person's house I was caring for. The job essentially paid me to sleep except for getting up with my lovely client to take her to the toilet and shower her and such. This was not in Australia and may not at all resonate with you, but it was a cool option at the time that flexed more around my depression. I did a "regular" job, too, and studied full time.

If I could go back and tell my old self some wisdom, I would say to take out more school loans instead of working myself into the ground. I was burnt out by the time I was 22 by working so many jobs and studying. My depression has only worsened.

Nowadays, I'm in your boat asking the same questions about how to hold down a job with severe depression. I do a lot of faking at work then I crash and burn as soon as I get home. It leaves no space for family, self care, etc. Admin work is exhausting because it doesn't suit, but those are the roles where I'm type cast.

I hope you are able to find the solution that works for you. I wish I could be more help, but I house you at least feel that you're not alone.

In response to: Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

MintyXContributor12 July 2016, 12:03 am AEST

Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

An update on my situation:

Thanks for all the replies, I think you guys might be right, I should have tried out that job for a few weeks.

I have just rejected that job offer though because I couldn't find the energy to drag myself out of the house, I kept feeling so lethargic all the time.

Now I'm feeling so mad at myself for rejecting this job opportunity, the working hours of the job is really great, two days a week and I only need to reach there at nine plus, I had the chance to work in a great company with a great culture and a bunch of great people with an advancement opportunity and also a full-time work opportunity in future, but I blew up my chances all because I'm feeling too lethargic to drag myself out of the house. There is a bright future ahead of me, but I have ruined everything.

I hate myself so much. I just can't seem to get out of this self-destruction cycle.

In response to: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

utopiaSenior Contributor12 July 2016, 1:52 am AEST

Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

@MintyX. Well done applying and getting the job. Only you truly know how much you can handle. Maybe college is enough for you now.There is no shame in not ttaking the job.
Your health goes first.
As fir managing work with deoression. I haven't been successful there. Workplace MI -but I tried to do the back to work at least 7 times. Too much anxiety. It was too hard working for the same company- wherevi got injured due to neglect from management.
My psychiatrist and I are working on a plan to see me back in employment this year. A small comoany. No managers upon managers. Just want a boss and staff where I won't get lost again.

In response to: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

MintyXContributor25 July 2016, 2:20 am AEST

Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

Thanks for the reply. So after rejecting that job offer, I continued looking for a job, and I finally managed to get a job but I got let go from the job after working there for 4 days because according to them I'm not a good fit for the job.

. This is just too depressing, I'm unable to hold down a job, this type of situation just keep happening to me over and over again. 😕

Working for a small company sounds like a good idea. The company that I worked for is a large company, and I often find myself getting lost all the time as the work over there is too fast-paced, so maybe this is why I end up getting let go from that job.

In response to: Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

AppleblossomSenior Contributor25 July 2016, 2:25 am AEST

Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

Maybe it is just in the now. @MintyX Take time out for lots of self care ... keep studying.

It has taken me a long time to learn to take on less. All we need to do is make a life that is viable and that suits our values and personality. These days people change careers and have many different work arrnagements ... casual, part-time etc ... Try not let it get you down.

Thanks for the updates.

In response to: Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

MintyXContributor25 July 2016, 2:36 am AEST

Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

Great advice, thank you. I do need to learn how to take on less, though my main reason for wanting a part time job is because my dad has abusive tendencies and I want to save up money to move out of this house, he hadn't been violent to me yet but i'm afraid one day he might end up being violent toward me because he has already verbally told me that he isn't afraid to "whack" me and also he isn't a very nice person and he had been abusive to my mom and also his own mom before.

In response to: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

utopiaSenior Contributor25 July 2016, 4:05 am AEST

Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

Good to hear from you again @MintyX. Yes I think maybe a smaller company might be the best way to go -work wise. I know I got lost and left behind in a large company. What are you studying at the moment? Is it part time?
What sort of work are you looking for? Sales, admin, customer service, ?
It doesn't sound like the best living environment where you are. It can't be helping your depression. I wonder if talking to a community support service, housing service or similar might help. They may have some options for you.
Have you spoken to a centrelink social worker. They may be able to place you with a job support network, like I have, that gives extra assistance due to my MI.
Keep looking. The right job will show up.

In response to: Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

AppleblossomSenior Contributor25 July 2016, 4:13 am AEST

Re: How do depressed people cope with having a job?

From 16 - 26 I paid my own rent and lived away from family issues. Those years had their issues but it gave me great clarity about life and managing the basics and being pragmatic.

Take care @MintyX

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