Admit it, work can get stressful from time to time. Whether it’s because of the season, a major project nearing completion or added tasks to your already busy workload, stress can get overwhelming in the workplace. In fact, it can get to such a point that anxiety and even depression sets in. Work-related depression can be a serious situation. Even when treated, this can significantly impact a person’s ability to lead a normal life.
Workplace depression can be debilitating, causing some workers to require time away from work to address this illness. There are some common signs and symptoms of this illness. This includes persistent sad, anxious or empty mood. It can also impact a person’s sleep pattern, casing them to sleep too little, sleep too much or have early morning awakenings. A person’s appetite can also be impacted, resulting in weight loss or weight gain depending on whether a person is eating more or less because of this mental health illness.
Other symptoms include loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, restlessness, irritability, persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions, fatigue, feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless and even having thoughts of suicide or death.
If untreated, this form of depression can last a lifetime. It not only impacts a worker’s productivity or even the ability to work, but it could also impact a person’s home life. Thus, if workplace depression gets severe enough, time away from work to obtain proper medical care might be required. In these cases, workers’ compensation might be a necessary benefit to seek.
When applying for workers’ comp, it is important to understand the process and what is necessary to prove eligibility. Obtaining guidance about your rights and the process could help ensure your rights are protected and you timely obtain these benefits.