Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Depression and Underemployment

Being unemployed not only results in a reduced standard of living, but it can also cause depression. Speaking from personal experience, depression can hit the underemployed individual hard as well. However, while I have read a substantial number of articles about depression and unemployment, I have not seen much content on depression and underemployment. And that baffles me because many of us are grossly underemployed today, and the situation is likely to worsen even in a post-pandemic world.

Indeed, being underemployed can cause depression--specifically, situational depression--and worsen preexisting depression. It's a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. While this may sound ambitious because underemployment is more of a social problem than an individual one, there are still some things you can do to cope with it. And the first step is to figure out if you are underemployed.

Understanding Underemployment

You may be underemployed and not even know it. This is because underemployment has a lot of layers to it and is not as cut and dry as unemployment. According to Investopedia, it comes in three types:

"Visible underemployment is underemployment in which an individual works fewer hours than is necessary for a full-time job in their chosen field. Due to the reduced hours, they work two or more part-time jobs in order to make ends meet. The second type is invisible underemployment, in which an individual is unable to find a job in their chosen field. Consequently, they work in a job that is not commensurate with their skill set, and in most cases, pays much below their industry standards. A third type refers to situations in which individuals, who are unable to find work in their chosen field, quit the workforce altogether."¹

Underemployment is brutal on the soul, destroying one's self-confidence, quality of life, physical and mental wellbeing, etc. It may be better than being unemployed, but that doesn't make it any less hard.

Softening the Blow of Underemployment 

Being underemployed can cause depression, and this can result in one staying underemployed. While you can't fix a broken system all by yourself, you can use certain tools to do temporary repairs. Here are some ways in which you can protect yourself from "underemployment depression."

1. Build resilience -- Not living up to your potential work-wise is not easy to deal with. You may find yourself angry, resentful, frustrated. You may also find yourself becoming complacent and hopeless. None of these emotions are going to help you; on the contrary, they will drain you and leave you with a victim mentality. To avoid this, build your resilience with the help of therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). 
2. Detach yourself from work -- The saying "you are not your job" has become so common it is a cliche, but that doesn't mean it's untrue. Nobody is defined by the work they do. Your self-worth should not depend on what you do for a living. Because if it does, you will feel worthless when you lose your job or suffer a setback in your business. This is easier said than done because we live in a capitalistic society. However, therapy can help you separate your worth from your work. 
3. Limit "comparisonitis" -- "Comparisonitis" is the disease of constantly comparing oneself to others. It is a habit that is hard to stop once you get used to it. In today's world, comparisonitis exists mainly due to social media. Since most people share only their happiness and successes online, to an onlooker it seems as if they are the only one who is miserable. If you find yourself bothered by someone bragging about their new job or pandemic promotion, either unfollow them or go off the platform itself. When you don't feed jealousy, it will eventually starve to death. 
4. Keep trying -- Shifting the focus from others to yourself will give you more time to go after the jobs you want. Keep your head down and apply to positions you are interested in. In the meanwhile, work on that side hustle. If you are finding it hard to believe in yourself, seek free therapy online. A mental health professional will enable you to assess your strengths and weaknesses and believe me, this will help you gain confidence and get to know yourself. 

Lastly, be kind to yourself. Take some time off if you feel overwhelmed. Rethink your career options if the situation calls for it. Remember, you are more than the work you do. 

Do you have any tips for breaking the cycle of underemployment and depression? Please let me know in the comments section below. 

Source

1. Chen, J., "Underemployment." Investopedia, November 2020.