Breaking the Stigma: Addressing Mood Disorders in the Young Professionals Community

In the fast-paced world of young professionals, the pressure to succeed, achieve, and constantly climb the career ladder can be overwhelming. In the pursuit of success, mental health can be relegated to the back seat of our attention. Mood disorders can be an intimidating phrase, coming with stigmas and misunderstandings. In this blog, we’ll help demystify mood disorders and work through the stigma surrounding these issues in order to create a supportive environment for struggling young professionals.

Recognizing the Struggle

Mood disorders encompass conditions like depression and bipolar disorder and are more prevalent among young professionals than commonly acknowledged. Nearly 18% of US adults— more than one in six—said they are currently depressed or getting treatment for depression, according to a 2023 Gallup Poll. Mood disorders, as defined by the Mayo Clinic, are when your “general emotional state or mood is distorted or inconsistent with your circumstances and interferes with your ability to function.” Anxiety disorders, while not categorized as mood disorders, can also affect your mood and are often seen alongside depression.

The competitive nature of many industries, coupled with long working hours and the ever-present fear of whether you’re in the right career or not, can contribute to feelings of overwhelm. The pressure to maintain a perfect image on social media only further exacerbates the emotional toll, creating an environment where mental health challenges can easily go unnoticed or unaddressed. Gallup’s data shows that clinical depression was slowly rising in the country before the pandemic, but it has grown even faster in its aftermath due to social isolation, loneliness, fear of COVID-19 infection, psychological exhaustion, substance abuse, and disruption in mental health care. Rates among women, young adults, and Black and Hispanic adults are rising the fastest.

Vulnerability Is Not a Weakness

It can be hard to admit that you’re struggling, which can sometimes be viewed internally and externally as a sign of weakness, especially if you are someone who has been a high achiever for most of your life. Breaking this myth is crucial in fostering an open dialogue about mental health. It’s essential to recognize that experiencing mood disorders doesn’t diminish one’s capabilities or potential for success. In fact, acknowledging and addressing mental health concerns can be a proactive step toward a more fulfilling and sustainable professional journey. Noticing the signs in yourself is an important first step. If you are noticing many or some of the following signs of depression over a period of at least two weeks, it may be worth reaching out to a mental health care professional:

• Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Changes in appetite—weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Loss of energy or increased fatigue
• Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (note: these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others)
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Seeking Professional Help: A Sign of Strength

Addressing mood disorders in the young professionals community involves normalizing the act of seeking professional help. Therapy and counseling can provide valuable tools for managing stress, navigating career challenges, and developing coping mechanisms. Emphasizing that seeking help is a sign of strength rather than weakness is crucial in dismantling the stigma associated with mental health care. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy are two evidence-based treatment approaches that can help you navigate mood disorders and provide you with concrete coping skills as you navigate challenging times. 

Conclusion

Breaking the stigma surrounding mood disorders in the young professionals community requires a collective effort. By acknowledging just how common these experiences are, recognizing the symptoms, and seeking help, we can create an environment where young professionals thrive both personally and professionally. It’s time to prioritize mental health and recognize that a healthy mind is the foundation for a successful and fulfilling career journey.

References

Mood disorders. (2021, October 29). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mood-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20365057

What is depression? (n.d.). American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression Witters, D. (2023, May 17). U.S. depression rates reach new highs. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/505745/depression-rates-reach-new-highs.aspx