Issues with careers/jobs when losing interest after anxiety/depression

Hi,

Can someone share their experience with the following. Let's say you're applying for jobs because you need to get a job. You are in a professional field. This is in line with your career, etc. (at least how it seems on the outside)

What's happened, though, because of the depression/anxiety or other mental issues, you have lost the interest, motivation and ambition. The employer is expecting someone enthusiastic, motivated, energetic and interested. You're none of those.

You yourself know that this doesn't feel right. You don't want the job really, but you need a job. Do you pretend you are interested, enthusiastic, motivated and energetic in order to get a job? How do you deal with the conflicting feelings this would evoke on top of your condition in this situation.

Thanks,
- stuck

Stuck, you have a great idea.
I wouldn't say pretend, I would say put on a convincing performance. You are the one you have to convince first. Then your prospective boss will be easy. This could take hours of rehearsal until you really sound convincing that you are a professional with a professional skill set. You just need to make clear your accomplishments and skills you can use in this position. Let that be the convincer.

How you feel inside is not the reality, it is just the environment you work in. A professional takes the emotional landscape for what it is but still acts as the professional through the interview, and with luck, the job itself.

Keeping one's personal life out of work life is a key to success and less stress.

I wouldn't stop there, I would get a therapist and or a psychiatrist for meds to see what can be done to minimize the effects of anxiety. Nothing has to get in the way of living a normal looking life outside, but it is necessary to create a wall that keeps personal disclosure of inner conflicts to a minimum at work.

Psych Central on the other hand is someone where you can empathize with others.

Thanks for sharing your story.

Yes people pretend. Most jobs ask for people who are outgoing, about 50% of the population would not describe themselves as outgoing. If you need a job, you need a job. You do your best to do the job effectively.
Most people are not very passionate or excited about their line of work. If you are, you're very lucky. So yes people do pretend, especially during the interviews and even weeks or months after landing the job. After awhile you get more comfortable and don't have to impress your boss anymore as much.

As long as you're doing your job well, that's all you need to do.