Why Am I Making More Mistakes at Work?
Depression at Work - Article 3
There are times when depression changes ordinary life so gradually that we begin blaming ourselves before we recognise what is happening. Why Am I Making More Mistakes at Work? is a question many people carry quietly, often alongside guilt, confusion or the fear that they should simply be coping better.
In this article, I offer a compassionate explanation of what may be happening beneath the surface. "I never used to make mistakes like this." Perhaps you've sent an email to the wrong person, forgotten an important deadline, entered incorrect information or missed something you would normally spot immediately. The mistake itself may have been small, but your reaction feels enormous. You replay it repeatedly, question your competence and wonder whether everyone has noticed. If you're living with depression, making more mistakes at work is a common and understandable experience. It doesn't mean you've become careless or incapable. It often reflects the impact depression can have on attention, memory and mental
The resource explores why depression increases mistakes, the pressure to be perfect, the hidden cost, remember your track record. It looks beyond labels and considers how depression can affect the nervous system, thinking, energy, emotion, relationships and everyday functioning. Where the article focuses on work, it also considers the pressure to appear capable while privately using enormous energy just to get through the day.
I have written this for people who recognise themselves in the question, and for relatives, colleagues, managers and professionals who want to respond with greater understanding. The aim is not to make assumptions or offer a quick answer. It is to create space for the experience to make sense.
Throughout the article, I encourage curiosity rather than criticism. Difficulty concentrating is not carelessness. Exhaustion is not laziness. Emotional numbness is not a lack of love. Crying easily is not weakness. Needing support at work does not mean someone has stopped being capable or valuable.
My hope is that this resource helps the reader feel less alone and gives them language for something that may have been difficult to explain. Understanding does not remove every challenge, but it can reduce shame and make the next supportive step feel more possible.
Please remember that this article provides general information rather than a diagnosis. If depression is affecting daily life, physical health or safety, speaking with a GP or appropriately qualified mental-health professional can be an important form of care.
By Maggie Learoyd
Psychotherapist | ADHD, Autism & ARFID Specialist
Founder of Space to Breathe Therapy
