What is High-Functioning Depression?
What is Depression?
In order to understand high-functioning depression, it’s important to understand the basics of depression. Common symptoms of depression include:
Feelings of hopelessness
Feelings of helplessness
Irritability
Loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities
Sleep disturbances or excessive sleeping
Changes in appetite
Fatigue despite sleeping
Thoughts of self-harm
Under normal circumstances, depression interferes with day-to-day functioning. Typically, social interactions are impacted due to low motivation and negative feelings. Work performance is also affected. In some instances, depression can make it hard to get out of bed in the morning.
What is High-Functioning Depression?
So, what is high-functioning depression, and how does it differ from a general depression?
On a very basic level, high-functioning depression still causes depressive symptoms but also allows you to live a relatively normal and productive life. To those around you, your symptoms are likely not noticeable, but you struggle privately.
Symptom Presentation
Symptoms experienced with high-functioning depression are very similar to the ones listed above, just at a lesser intensity. With high-functioning depression, common symptoms include sadness, helplessness, brain fog, concentration issues, and feelings of emptiness.
Physical symptoms are also likely to manifest, including stomach issues, headaches, and body tension. With all of that going on, your sleep schedule can become affected. When symptoms are active, they just aren’t as intrusive or interfering as they would be with diagnosable depression.
Daily Functioning
After dealing with symptoms for some time, your mind and body acclimate to that experience. Managing and pushing through them becomes second nature, so your ability to function isn’t largely impacted.
You are able to go to work or school. You’re not inclined to avoid social events or spending time with your family and friends, and you are able to maintain your routine responsibilities.
Work successes are not uncommon, but often, they don’t feel like they’re enough. Meeting goals or finding achievements isn’t as fulfilling as it should be, which can impact mood.
The Energy Impact
Having high-functioning depression takes a lot of energy from your bank. You spend much of your day going about your routines and having necessary interactions, all while fighting off symptoms internally. By the end of the day, you’re more likely to feel exhausted, both mentally and physically.
You may notice that you can’t bounce back as easily from your fatigue. There may be days you simply go through the emotions. It’s not bad enough where you can’t get out of bed, but you’re not operating at 100 percent.
How to Address It
High-functioning depression may not seem significant since the symptoms aren’t as severe, and daily functioning isn’t highly impacted. However, just because it isn’t as intrusive as diagnosable depression doesn’t mean you should go on living with it unmanaged.
Over time, it’s possible for high-functioning depression to spiral into something more significant. Plus, having any kind of depression can cause difficulty, stress, and strain. Since you’re so used to powering through, it may seem like the logical thing to do is power through your depression itself. However, life is worth living and enjoying. Unmanaged high-functioning depression can chip away at your mental health and create greater problems down the road.
If you or someone you know is dealing with high-functioning depression, reach out to us today so we can help you thrive again.