Jobs For People With Depression And Ways To Improve Their Mental Health

What is the best job for someone with anxiety?

Finding the right work environment can influence job satisfaction and overall well-being. For instance, a person with anxiety may experience difficulty functioning in high-stress work environments. What counts as a high-stress environment can vary from person to person, as anxiety symptoms vary and can be triggered by different factors. 

Some individuals with anxiety may prefer working with a large group of people, while others may prefer working alone. For those who prefer work environments that require little to no social interaction, here is a brief list of low-stress job options:

• A job that lets you work from home: Many employers let their employees work remotely. Being able to work from the comfort of your own home can help reduce stress and improve well-being. With no commute and no coworkers, you may be less likely to experience anxiety before, during, and after work hours.

• A job that allows you to work alone: Jobs that let you work independently may include an accountant, computer programmer, or writer. These can be great low-stress job options for people experiencing mental health conditions.

• A job with a flexible schedule: Individuals with anxiety may benefit from setting their own hours and working at their own pace. Being able to set your own schedule can also help reduce stress.

• Artistic positions: Artistic opportunities may relieve your anxiety by giving you an outlet to express yourself. Being creative is a mindful process that may keep your mind off feeling anxious while at your place of employment.

• Librarian jobs: For someone who would rather work with books, taking a job as a librarian may be perfect. Librarians typically have peaceful work environments, which can help reduce stress levels.

It may help to talk to a therapist about your anxiety to explore the best career paths for you.

What mental health conditions or illnesses can keep you from working?

With the right treatment and support, people living with mental health conditions can achieve job satisfaction and thrive in their chosen careers. However, some individuals with mental health conditions may have psychological and physical symptoms that can affect job performance and make it more challenging to work. Below are a few examples:

• Depression: Depression is a serious mental health condition that can make it difficult to get out of bed and function in day-to-day life. Individuals with depression may also experience difficulty concentrating and maintaining focus, along with other depressive symptoms, significantly influencing their ability to work.

• ADHD, OCD, and other mental health conditions that affect cognitive function: Some mental health conditions may make it challenging to focus on work tasks for long periods. Certain conditions may also cause impulsivity, which can lead to poor problem-solving and reckless business decisions.

• Severe mood swings: Being prone to sudden anger may make it challenging to thrive in certain work environments, such as those that require a lot of social interaction.

Individuals with mental health challenges that affect their ability to function in the workplace can utilize certain accommodations to make things more manageable. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act provides support to people with mental health conditions by protecting them against discrimination in the workplace and requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees.

Examples of accommodations for people experiencing mental health challenges may include the following:

• Scheduling: Scheduling accommodations an employer may offer include flexible work hours, part-time work hours each week, and time off for mental health days.

• Flexible work environment: An employer may let employees with mental health challenges work remotely to avoid the stress of commuting or trying to focus in a busy work environment.

• Flexible breaks: An employer may offer breaks based on individual needs instead of following a fixed schedule.

What job search challenges do people with mental health challenges encounter?

People experiencing mental health challenges can sometimes have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, let alone finding the energy to deal with the job application process. However, finding a job can be an important part of recovery, as job insecurity and financial trauma can significantly worsen mental health. Having job security and working in a pleasant environment can help improve a person’s social functioning, sense of self-worth, and overall well-being.

Challenges commonly faced by individuals with mental health conditions can include the following:

• Decreased motivation

• Negative self-perception

• Negative employer perceptions

• Discrimination and stigma

• Increased stress

As you look forward to getting your first job, you might seek professional support to help manage stress and other mental health challenges. Seeing a therapist may be particularly beneficial for those with serious mental health conditions. For instance, people with depression may find themselves struggling to find a job due to their depressive symptoms. Mental health professionals can offer support through counseling, psychotherapy, and medication management, as well as help patients develop coping techniques for managing depression.

Lifestyle changes, such as getting enough sleep, engaging in physical activity, and maintaining a healthy diet, can also help manage stress and enhance motivation. People experiencing mental health challenges may also benefit from finding jobs in low-stress work environments and avoiding high-stress working conditions, such as shift work. For example, people managing depression may enjoy the structure and daily routine of being a library assistant or research analyst. People with anxiety may thrive in creative fields and other industries that allow them to set their own schedule.

What can I do about my job anxiety?

Job anxiety can involve anything related to a job that makes you anxious. This includes:

• Anxiety over applying for a job: You may be worried that you won’t provide the best application or that you won’t be hired.

• Anxiety over being late for your job: This may lead to insomnia or getting up extra early when you don’t need to.

• Fear in the workplace: You may be afraid to go to the workplace for several reasons, such as a bad coworker or a tough boss.

• Anxiety related to speaking to colleagues or customers: Jobs that require a lot of verbal and social interaction may not be ideal for people who have anxiety. However, this may not be the case for everyone experiencing anxiety.

There are many reasons why you may have job anxiety. Here are some things you can do about them.

• Learn mindfulness. Every time a self-defeating thought gets into your mind, you might try to simply observe it. You can practice meditative breathing and learn how to focus on the present.

• Remove the cause. If a coworker or someone else at your company is giving you trouble, you can report them or ask to be moved.

• Change your bedtime so that you have plenty of time to sleep and get up to go to your job.

• Try a job that doesn’t involve leaving your house. Plenty of jobs are doable from the comfort of your home.

• Seek professional support. Mental health professionals can help you develop coping strategies to manage job-related anxiety and improve your mental health.

How can I get experience without a job?

Teens and young adults tend to run into a paradox, where they need a job and job experience, but they don’t have job experience to get a job. Below are some ways to get some experience:

• Translate your experience. If you’re applying for a job, you might try to think of some experiences that could translate into something relevant for a new job. If you’re applying to be an assistant, for example, you might talk about your experience organizing files, even if it was for personal or academic use.

• List your soft skills. Soft skills are skills that may not be listed in a job description but could be relevant. For example, if you’re good at communication, you might talk about any of your hobbies or activities that require interaction and could relate to potential jobs.

• Try some freelancing jobs. If you have a skill, like art, writing, or another marketable talent, freelancing websites might help you get short-term jobs. Even if you don’t have an extensive portfolio, you might gain valuable experience that takes you to the next level on these websites.

• Participate in volunteer work. While not the ideal job for many, doing volunteer work can show employers that you care for your community. It can also give you valuable job experience.

• Search for internships. Internships can be especially valuable for someone who is in college. An internship can provide relevant experience that you can add to your resume. 

• Speak to a job counselor about finding a job or finding experience when you don’t have either. You can search for pro bono counselors, online counselors, college counselors, or mental health professionals who offer counseling on a sliding scale fee structure. 

If you're interested in learning more about jobs and careers, check out these related articles:

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8 Job Ideas For People With Anxiety

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