i dont find it that surprising really, that people would rate work as a cause of serious depression. we spend so much of our lives at work. there is so much pressure to achieve. and there is more uncertainty than ever.. not to mention workplace bullying. work sux man!

I have never been depressed, but I think that if your job seemed to have no meaning behind it, then it may make someone depressed. Not that any job is meaningless, but there are less meaningful jobs than others.

I also think it’s more closely tied to a lack of meaning instead of work itself. How easy would it be to become depressed if you didn’t have to work, but also didn’t have anything to work towards?

The photo is of a shoe shiner in India I think. I saw a lot of guys there in India - the so called lower class - doing horrible jobs which I think would be pretty depressing. They get treated like animals and have no possibility of moving up in their career. Then again, maybe the pursuit of moving up in the world and not achieving it causes stress? I have often thought about that.

TDM

Sara I wrote my comment before I saw yours! Very similar.

Sometimes I think “dead end” jobs are just as depressing as “career move” jobs that don’t work the way you want or, like my buddy tells me, you achieve and realize it wasn’t what you thought it was.

TDM

I recently watched The Pursuit of Happyness. I think that work only causes depression if you’re not motivated enough - and if you take your job for granted. But, that’s just my opinion.

I think that moving up the chain of command does have its pressures, which could possibly cause some depression - but I would also believe that the fulfillment and achievements the job bring with it make you stronger - and at the end of the day, much more pleased with what you’ve done with your life.

That is an important point Herbert, having no regrets.

There is a famous buddhist yogi called Milarepa who said “My religion is not buddhism, my religion is to die without regrets.”

Its a good point. At the end will you look back on a angry, unsatisfied, compassionless life or something that was truly helpful?

TDM

My opinion is this if you love what you are doing then you would enjoy and find the excitement of growth and happiness. But then what is happiness? Quite a subjective matter to each of us. Overall, I think depression is not the absolute reason associated with work. I think being depressed lies within our minds– you choose to be or not to be depressed. If you add the idea of seeing work not as monetary benefit but rather than ‘helping others’ and seeing work as holistic approach in serving each of us as functional beings, then the cases of depression may reduce because you have the concept benevelance. But then this is the other question– creating awareness for people to realize and understand their emotions, feelings and attitudes towards this view…:-)

The amount of homework has made me seriously stressed out but never to the point of an emotional breakdown or such.
School can help nudge me into a depression but the actual root causes of my depression tend to take place either in my home or at another building. For example, if I’m already upset about a home illness the pressure of good grades and social interaction can gravely add to it.