Part Time Work And Stress

Question:

Is it true that people who suffer from depression and anxiety should not hold a full time (40-hour) a week job because of it adding stress to them?

Ad

This Disclaimer applies to the Answer Below

Dr. Dombeck responds to questions about psychotherapy and mental health problems, from the perspective of his training in clinical psychology.
Dr. Dombeck intends his responses to provide general educational information to the readership of this website; answers should not be understood to be specific advice intended for any particular individual(s).
Questions submitted to this column are not guaranteed to receive responses.
No correspondence takes place.
No ongoing relationship of any sort (including but not limited to any form of professional relationship) is implied or offered by Dr. Dombeck to people submitting questions.
Dr. Dombeck, Mental Help Net and CenterSite, LLC make no warranties, express or implied, about the information presented in this column. Dr. Dombeck and Mental Help Net disclaim any and all merchantability or warranty of fitness for a particular purpose or liability in connection with the use or misuse of this service.
Always consult with your psychotherapist, physician, or psychiatrist first before changing any aspect of your treatment regimen. Do not stop your medication or change the dose of your medication without first consulting with your physician.

Answer:

Not necessarily. Whether someone should work or not work or work less to decrease their stress is going to have to be an individualized decision made by the depressed and/or anxious patient and perhaps their doctor. Some people find the routine of work to be calming, while others find it freaks them out. These sorts of individualized factors have to be taken into account by any doctor making such a recommendation. Anyway, most don’t have any choice in the matter but to work, because without full time work, there is less income and no health insurance. That right there is a sure-fire way to make most people anxious or depressed.

- Mark Dombeck, Ph.D.

More "Ask Dr. Dombeck" View Columnists