While many employees may complain about not being able to get out of bed on workday mornings, there are some people for whom depression is so debilitating getting out of bed is sometimes not even an option.
Suffering from depression often causes people to feel fatigued, sad, alone, and unable to be self-motivated. Depression can result in a person's shying away from society to the point they become unable to function through a normal day's routine. This can be highly disruptive to a regular workday, especially when others are relying on you to do your job. In many cases, depressed persons tend to take off or miss too much time from work which can leave employment in jeopardy.
Managing depression severe enough to make working difficult may require the intervention of a medical specialist and a regimen of therapy. Medication is often prescribed to alleviate the symptoms of depression and allow sufferers to resume normal activities. Depression triggers may also be alleviated during the work day by employees taking regular breaks, lunch time walks, and staying on top of their duties to avoid unnecessary stress.
Because depression is a mental illness, it can be difficult to divulge personal information that explains your condition to employers and coworkers. The decision to share information is entirely your own. It can help to have a support system on the job when depressive symptoms are present. However, you need to take into consideration how others will react to the information. Your job will be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act as employers are not allowed to discriminate against you for medical conditions.