Eric Audras via Getty Images Close-up of a businesswoman suffering from a headache in an office

The morning of September 30, 2015. I'll never forget it:

My alarm rings, I try to wake up and go out of bed but... I can't: my body feels like a heavy sandbag forced down to the mattress, my mind races, and my eyes traitorously well up with tears.

The first emotion is fear. Not that I can't get up but that I could be late for work. I try to leave my bed again. No luck. And yet, my mental block doesn't prevent me from calling to a boss and asking for one day off for health reasons.

One day has turned into three weeks, two of which I spent in bed with thoughts about my useless work, overwhelming loneliness, and pointless life.

I bet you know what happened:

Depression.

To be specific, workplace depression.

The difference between two is huge: while the former is mental illness affecting about 350 million people and involving symptoms difficult to treat without doctors and medicine, the latter is better known as emotional burnout. That said, workplace depression is not the problem to ignore: it can cause severe health concerns or signal about changes we need to make to become happier.

Here come five things to know about this mental condition for those suffering from it or wishing to understand its nature.

Forewarned is forearmed.

1. It's a major issue for thousands of organizations worldwide

Dr. Sara Evans-Lacko from the London School of Economics and Political Science reports workplace depression to be a major issue for economies, with its "devastating" consequences for thousands of organizations. Their study of eight countries spanning diverse cultures reveals the cost of mental health problems, which is $246 billion a year collectively. Its most negative impact comes from managers staying at work while depressed.

It can be difficult for a sufferer to report the problem to employers, but with so many adults experiencing this mental condition, it's odd to know that depression is often a taboo subject in the workplace.

Steve Horvath, president and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, admits "it's a difficult challenge for employers because they have to address the issues of their organization's culture." However, 84% of managers believe it is part of their job to help employees with signs of depression. What they need is more training on how to do that.

Back in 2012, mental health issues cost the Canadian economy $50 billion. Considering the extent of the problem, it makes sense for employers to build the culture of support and help sufferers combat the illness.

2. Work itself can't cause depression

According to Clare Miller from the American Medical Association, "work can't cause depression" itself. It can be a force, decent or harmful, but a person can't get depressed "simply from work." There need to be other things, too.

However, suffering at work is not a small problem. It impacts our mental condition and individuality, awarding with symptoms of depression such as helplessness, low self-esteem, procrastination, frustration, social withdrawal, decreased effectiveness, and giving up.

3. You can beat it by your own

That's what I did and succeeded. When it comes to burnout or fatigue, one doesn't need doctors to enhance well-being. Powerful weapons to beat work depression include but are not limited to:

a) proper lighting