If you're too depressed or anxious to work, the fear about your mental health can quickly get tangled up with fear about money. You may be missing shifts or falling behind. Maybe you've already lost a job because of your symptoms. You have no idea what you're supposed to do next, but you know what you're currently doing isn't sustainable.
Depression and anxiety can make it genuinely difficult to work. But you may have options, including taking time off, requesting workplace accommodations, or applying for disability benefits if your symptoms are severe and long-term. Most importantly, getting the right treatment can help you get to a place where work feels possible again. You deserve to feel happy and accomplished, just like anyone else.
Thrive Therapy's mental health IOP is now open in Glendale, AZ! Get intensive mental health support without having to go into residential treatment. We focus on treating anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, and more. Get in touch with us today!
How mental health conditions can affect your ability to work
If your mental health is making it hard to work or keep a job, that's a valid experience. You're not being "dramatic." You're definitely not "lazy." Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety are real. They come with physical and psychological symptoms that can legitimately be debilitating.
Treatment can make a big difference and help you manage your symptoms. It's absolutely possible to live with a mental health condition and have a successful, fulfilling career. And at the same time, you may go through periods where your symptoms make it challenging to keep working --- just like any other chronic health condition.
Depression and anxiety can affect your work life in so many ways.
- Both can cause severe fatigue, which can make it feel nearly impossible to [finish]. Some days, it may feel impossible to even get out of bed.
- Difficulty with focus and concentration can make it harder to finish tasks or keep track of important details. You might make more mistakes, which could lead to criticism or performance warnings and further affect your confidence in yourself.
- You might experience emotional dysregulation, which means it's hard to manage your emotions. Especially if you're in a job that expects you to be even-keeled and calm all the time, this can start to become a barrier.
- Studies show that people who live with depression have much higher rates of absenteeism, which means you're more likely to call out sick. You deserve time off on hard days. Unfortunately, too many days off can affect your ability to keep a job.
- Anxiety can cause perfectionism and an intense fear of making mistakes. This might lead you to spend much longer than necessary checking your work or avoiding tasks because you're afraid you won't do them perfectly.
- Most mental health conditions affect your sleep in some way. If you're not sleeping enough --- or sleeping too much --- you might struggle to get to work on time or stay alert throughout the day.
- If your symptoms repeatedly cause you to quit or lose jobs, you may end up with short periods of employment or gaps on your resume. That can create another barrier when you're ready to look for a new job.
- If you need intensive treatment (like attending residential treatment or a partial hospitalization program), it can become logistically difficult to maintain work at the same time.
Again: with the right treatment (and the right job), it's entirely possible to have a successful career as someone living with depression or anxiety. But these are valid reasons why someone might feel they're too depressed to work.
At what point do anxiety or depression become a disability?
Mental health issues like depression and anxiety are, by definition, a form of disability. According to the DSM, you must face "clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning" to be diagnosed with depression or an anxiety disorder.
In other words, these disorders are not just about feeling sad or nervous. They make it harder to function in essential areas of life.
That's why depression, anxiety, and every other mental health disorder are legally recognized as disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
But having a recognized disability and being eligible for social security disability insurance are different things. You have certain protected rights under the ADA, but to receive financial disability benefits, you need to meet strict criteria.
What to do if you can't work due to anxiety and depression
It's courageous to recognize that you can't work due to mental health issues. But it can also feel overwhelming. You're likely wondering: what now? How am I supposed to earn a living and financially support myself (and my family)?
There are options available to you that you can use to make sure both your financial and mental health are protected.
Take time off
Sometimes, the best immediate option is to give yourself some space to focus on your health. If you have PTO or sick leave available, consider using it now instead of continuing to push yourself until you're at your breaking point.
You may also qualify for protected leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Eligible employees can take up to 12 workweeks of job-protected leave for a serious health condition, which can include anxiety or depression. FMLA leave can also sometimes be taken intermittently rather than all at once.
Not everyone qualifies for FMLA. There are requirements around how long you've worked for your employer and how many employees your workplace has. If you don't qualify, you can still ask your employer about unpaid medical leave or other leave policies.
Talk to your manager
If you feel safe doing so, consider talking to your manager or HR department about your mental health and what's going on. You don't need to tell your coworkers, and you don't need to share more personal information than is necessary.
We also recognize that not every workplace feels psychologically safe. You might worry about stigma or about being treated differently once people know you have a mental health condition. These fears might be valid in some workplaces, regardless of what the law says. You have legal rights that protect you from being punished for having a condition. But you also know your workplace and situation best.
Ask for workplace accommodations
Under the ADA, if you work for a private employer with over 15 employees, you are legally entitled to reasonable accommodations that help you perform your job. Your employer doesn't have to provide an accommodation that would cause them significant difficulty or expense, but they are required to consider reasonable requests.
Accommodations can depend on your symptoms and your job. They can include things like changes to your schedule (like being able to work from home), a quieter workspace, clear written instructions, or time away for treatment appointments.
Keep in mind that to get accommodations, you do need to let your employer know that you need it because of a medical condition. Your employer may also ask for documentation from a healthcare provider. But you don't necessarily need to disclose your exact diagnosis to your manager; in some cases, more general information about your condition and limitations is enough.
See if you qualify for disability benefits
If your symptoms of depression or anxiety have become so severe that you're unable to work for an extended period of time, look into Social Security disability and check if you qualify for benefits.
There are two main programs that give you financial support when you can't work because of a disability. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is based largely on your work history and whether you've paid enough into Social Security. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is designed for people with very limited income and resources.
For either program, simply having the diagnosis isn't enough. Social Security generally requires your health condition to prevent you from working for at least 12 months, on top of other criteria. But you have the right to apply. You can learn more in Social Security's guide to disability benefits.
Consider changing jobs or careers
Being in a job you hate doesn't directly cause depression or anxiety. But your work environment can absolutely contribute to your symptoms, especially if your job is extremely stressful or the workplace has become toxic.
It's possible that you might feel better in a job that's a better fit for you. Think about what would make working, in general, feel more manageable right now. Maybe you'd benefit from a less stressful environment or work that feels more meaningful to you. You may feel better in a job with demands that better match what you're able to handle right now.
This doesn't need to be a permanent career decision. Taking a lower-stress job for now can give you more energy to focus on treatment and recovery. You can always reevaluate what you want from your career when you start feeling better.
Focus on getting treatment
Most people with depression and anxiety are able to work, and go on to build successful and fulfilling careers. Needing benefits or to take time away doesn't necessarily mean you won't be able to return.
If your symptoms have become severe enough that you can't work, it's important to treat them seriously. You shouldn't have to spend months simply crossing your fingers that you'll eventually feel better. The right treatment can help you manage your symptoms and gradually become able to function again. Research has shown that mental health treatments are effective.
What treatment looks like depends on how severe your symptoms are and what you've already tried. For some people, weekly therapy or medication may be enough. Others may temporarily need a higher level of mental health care.
Be kind to yourself
Some people feel embarrassed when they can't work because of their mental health. You may compare yourself to coworkers who seem to be handling more than you can, or feel guilty about needing financial help. Some people describe feeling intense shame that they can't work.
Try to be kind to yourself as you're going through this. Remember, a mental health condition can affect your ability to work just as a physical health condition can. Needing time to recover doesn't say anything about your work ethic or your value as a person.
You can focus on getting better now and later, figure out what work looks like for you as your symptoms become more manageable.
Our mental health IOP in Glendale, AZ addresses severe symptoms
If depression or anxiety has become so severe that you're struggling to work or manage everyday life, weekly therapy may not feel like enough support right now.
Thrive Therapy Phoenix offers a mental health intensive outpatient program (IOP) in Glendale, AZ for people who need a higher level of care while continuing to live at home. IOP can give you more time and support to address severe symptoms without requiring 24-hour hospitalization.
Taking time away from work to get treatment doesn't mean you're giving up on your career. For many people, getting the right treatment is what makes it possible to makes return to work and stay happy there.
Get in touch with us to learn more about our mental health IOP in Glendale, AZ and find out if it could be the right next step for you. Also available in Phoenix!
Colter is a licensed psychotherapist and the owner and Executive Director of Thrive Therapy. He specializes in the treatment of anxiety, OCD, identity issues, and more.
