自由职业似乎会加速抑郁

 

Ask a group of freelancers² what the biggest perk³ of their job is, and someone will invariably say "working in your pyjamas⁴". For me, not having to get suited and booted every day isn't just a perk（小费，额外收入）, it's a necessity, because some days I just don't have the energy. I have depression, and that is why the decision to work for myself, in the safety and comfort of my own home, was one of the best I have ever made.

 

Depression doesn't mean I'm always low; there are long periods where you wouldn't be able to tell there was anything wrong at all. But during a relapse, the fact that I don't have to slap on a fake smile and spend all day with a group of people who almost certainly don't understand what I am dealing⁵ with, is an incredible relief.

 

About 4.7 million people in the UK are living with depression, according to the Depression Alliance, and just this summer figures released by theHealth and Social Care Information Centre showed that prescriptions⁶ for antidepressants had topped 50m a year for the first time.

 

Despite this, depression is frequently misunderstood. And no wonder: causes are seldom straightforward⁷, ranging from inherent chemical imbalance to life circumstances, while symptoms can be both emotional, such as a sense of hopelessness or an inability to feel joy (or indeed anything), and physical, including sleeplessness⁸, weight loss/gain, and chronic⁹ fatigue¹⁰.

 

Mental health issues carry a stigma¹¹ and can be tough to talk about, especially at work. In a 2008 study by the Depression Alliance, 79% of respondents felt that disclosing their illness to colleagues could be detrimental¹² to them. Working from home, it is very rare that I have to try and explain my illness to anyone, least of all a boss who can't quite comprehend why my productivity has taken a nosedive despite the fact I'm not coughing or running a temperature.

 

But perhaps the most precious advantage of all is the flexibility¹³ that comes with working for yourself. As a freelancer¹ I am in control of what I do and when. Even knowing that I have this choice can avert¹⁴ the sense of panic and paralysis¹⁵ that the thought of having to go into an office would bring.

 

Eve Menezes Cunningham, who runs the Feel Better Every Day consultancy on a self-employed basis, has experienced not only depression but also anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder¹⁶. She says the flexibility of working freelance has transformed her life.

 

"I've learned to listen to my body and mind more," she says. "I can work crazy hours some of the time and take it easier when I feel the warning signs of burnout. It is much better for me to be able to control my own work and lifestyle rather than being back in a corporation."

 

Of course, no situation is perfect, and freelancing also brings with it a number of factors that are likely to exacerbate¹⁷（加剧，恶化） depression – the blur¹⁸ between home and work life, for example, and the weight of responsibility that comes from being your own boss.

 

"When you don't have a boss you don't have anyone to direct you – all the responsibility is on your shoulders," says occupational psychologist and career coach Sherridan Hughes. "Also, at work you have a defined role: a salesperson¹⁹ isn't an administrator²⁰, and vice²¹ versa. When you're freelance you have to have all these different roles, some of which may not be your natural character, and that can be very stressful."

 

The financial implications of not having a regular salary would weigh on anyone's mind, but when you are suffering from depression those worries can become all-consuming. To make matters worse, you are also most likely to struggle to motivate yourself to get more work.

 

Probably the most dangerous aspect of self-employment for the person with depression, however, is the potential to become isolated²². Lack of colleagues means there is a risk no one will spot the signs of a low patch, while the very fact that you don't have to put on that brave face means you could go the other way and spiral into negativity unchecked.

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