Oh, how times have changed! Back in 2018, less than 10% of Canadian employers offered remote work to employees. Once the pandemic hit, though, over 40% of us found ourselves working from home. For some, the idea of remote work got welcomed with open arms. For others, it was a nightmare attempting to find any semblance of a balanced work and home life. An interesting link was also discovered. Working from home and depression can walk hand in hand. Are you concerned that the pandemic has affected your mental state? Are you feeling like the isolation of remote work is starting to impact your daily life? Read on to learn more about the connection between working from home and depression. We'll provide insights and actionable advice that you can follow to feel better.
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Working From Home and Depression: What's the Link?
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Working from home isolates you from co-workers. It takes away your ability to distance yourself from problems at home. It can blur the lines between overworking and working too little. Depending on your personality, these circumstances can worsen depression. It can also cause temporary bouts of sadness, too.
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Identifying Depression
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Did you know that 1 out of 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness event in any given year? Since 2020 and 2021 have been anything but average, we can expect that number to increase. That's why it's more important than ever to understand the symptoms of depression. If you or a loved one are working from home, then look for the following signs:
Consistent brain fog
Decision paralysis
Pessimism
Feeling hopeless
Feeling guilty, worthless, or other negative feelings constantly
Mood swings and irritability
Chronic pain (headaches, cramps, digestive problems, aches)
Loss of interest
Anxiety or feelings of emptiness
Suicidal thoughts or attempts
Have you identified a few of the symptoms above? If you're struggling, then there are things you can do to curb your depression. Learn more about how to cope below.
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How to Cope With Remote Work If You're Depressed
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Depression is treatable. Symptoms can get better, and you can take steps to feel better and better with each passing day. Step one is identifying the problem. If you've read through this, then you've already accomplished this step! Step two is getting help. Consider discussing your situation with a licensed therapist. Together, you'll come up with a treatment plan that can help you thrive.
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Know Your Options and Build Your Future
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Working from home and depression can feel intertwined depending on your situation. Due to the pandemic, everyone's under a lot of extra stress. If you felt healthy before Covid, then there's a good chance your mental toughness got put to the test. You got told to isolate yourself, stay at home, and stop being social. Is it any surprise that your mental health took a hit? If you'd like to discuss your symptoms with a professional, then we want to help. Our counselling therapy can help you identify and treat depression. Contact us to talk about what you're feeling. You may even want to keep working from home once you feel comfortable!