5 Work Habits That Are Secretly Depression In Disguise

We all go through ups and downs at work, but if hard days are becoming your new normal, you might be experiencing what 280 million people go through worldwide: depression.

Depression is a mental health condition that can show up as visible sadness and exhaustion, but a lot of times, it can also show up in ways you would not expect.

“Depression symptoms at work can sneak up on you, and it’s common to be tough on yourself about them rather than recognizing them for what they are,” said Shannon Garcia, a psychotherapist at States of Wellness Counseling based in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Sustained feelings of hopelessness, diminished pleasure in activities, weight loss or gain, sleep disturbances, fatigue, feeling worthless, or difficulty with concentrating are depressive symptoms that can affect you on-and-off the clock, said Ryan Howes, psychologist based in Pasadena, California, and the author of “Mental Health Journal for Men.”

To help professionals learn the difference between a bad day and a depressive symptom, HuffPost asked different therapists about the work habits that are commonly signs of depression in disguise. See if these work behaviors resonate:

1. You are working harder than ever to avoid going home.

Depression can look different from person to person. Some co-workers may never guess that you are coping with depression because you are still functioning as a hardworking, reliable employee.

“For successful working professionals who have made a career out of achievement and getting validation from work, depression might look more active,” said Alicia Velez, a licensed clinical social worker based in Brooklyn, New York.

She gave the example of an employee going through a divorce or taking care of a sick family