Keep in mind if you are usually a sociable person and you turn down invitations to group hang outs or group events, you may arouse suspicion from your friends. Often, it is more useful to talk about your depression with others rather than avoid social situations to keep it hidden, as it can be difficult to hide your true feelings from your friends. If your attendance at a large gathering is unavoidable, possibly for a work function, try to limit your time at the venue or allow for frequent breaks to the bathroom to take a break. Don’t try to get through the whole night without taking some time for yourself, away from the crowd. Continue to manage your feelings rather than suppress them completely.
You can also try your best to act positive and motivated at these social events or put on a happy face. However, doing this can be exhausting and you may end up being honest about your feelings of depression with close friends. This can be a good and useful thing, as it is often better to share your depressed feelings with others rather than try to keep them hidden. [1] X Research source
Often, changing the subject can be seen as a clear sign of avoidance, especially if your friends are already concerned about you. Assuring friends you are doing fine or feeling great may also only show them you are struggling with feelings of sadness and anxiety as it may be difficult for you to put on a convincing happy face. You can also be direct in your conversations with others by telling them you appreciate their concern, but that you are unable to or do not want to talk about anxiety or depression right now. For example, “Sara, I know you really care about me and that’s why you are asking about depression, but I’m not able to talk about it right now. I will definitely let you know when I’m ready to talk and what you can do to help. ”
Though it may be hard to share your feelings of depression with others, keeping them hidden can make your depression worse and threaten your safety and well-being. Confiding your negative feelings to someone else who is struggling with the same feelings can help you to feel better and put you on the road to recovery from depression. [2] X Research source If you have a friend who is currently struggling with depression, it is ok to spend time together, but you both also need to seek support from others who are not depressed or who have recovered from depression. It is hard enough to deal with your own depression and adding the low thoughts and feelings of someone else can bring you both further down. Love each other, but save room for others too.
For instance, you might plan to go out to lunch rather than staying in the office, make it a point to talk to a coworker who cheers you up, and rearrange your calendar to work on something you enjoy. [3] X Expert Source Donna Novak, Psy. DLicensed Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 9 December 2020.
While setting goals and keeping to-do lists can keep you on track and distracted from your depression, you may start to notice that your depression is making it harder and harder to concentrate. Over time, if you do not get help for your depression, it may become very difficult to focus on your career and you may not be able to balance your career with your troubled mental state. Spend extra time on self-care during the day by taking frequent breaks, talking with coworkers, going for a walk, or getting a healthy snack. Be extra gentle with yourself as you try to continue to be productive at work in spite of the depression.
Be aware that sharing your feelings of depression can often make you feel better and less alone. Though avoiding conversations around depression and anxiety can help you to keep your depression hidden and secret, it will likely not make you feel less depressed.
Your HR person should offer you support options like a leave of absence from work, a depression support group contact, or a therapist through the company’s medical insurance. Many workplaces have resources available for employees who are struggling with depression and do not want it to negatively affect their careers.
You can also talk to individuals who are professionally trained to deal with depression through a depression hotline in your state or country. You can do an online search for depression hotlines you can access toll free, 24 hours a day, in your area or call the national depression hotline at: 1-800-442-HOPE (4673). [7] X Research source
Depending on the severity of your depression and your medical history, your doctor may prescribe antidepressant medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, or Lexapro; or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as Cymbalta, Effexor XR, or Fetzima. Your doctor may prescribe tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil or Pamelor, which can be effective but can also cause more severe side effects. Tricyclics are not usually prescribed unless you have already tried SSRIs and show no signs of improvement. Always discuss the potential side effects of antidepressant medications with your doctor before taking them and speak to your doctor if you experience any adverse effects while on these medications.
