Functioning Depression

Many people have a specific image of what depression looks like. They think it means lying in bed all day, not showering, or completely giving up on life. But this picture is incomplete. Millions of people go to work and live with their families every day, pretending they have no problems. However, deep inside, they are actually in a difficult situation that no one else can see. Yes, high-functioning depression is the term that describes this condition. 

People at various levels of life experience it, including doctors, teachers, students, parents, and successful professionals. Such people manage their workload perfectly, even though they are afflicted by deep sadness, emptiness, and other symptoms of depression.

Note that depression, including high-functioning depression, is a treatable condition. The depression treatment varies from person to person, depending on its severity and underlying cause.

High-Performing People with Depression

Let’s understand with an example. Sarah, a lawyer, went to court without missing a single court date. She worked 60 hours a week. Was often praised by her boss. However, every morning she struggled to get out of bed. The weight on her chest was unbearable. Before leaving for work, she would get into her car, take a breath, force a smile, and start her day. Sarah had depression.

Like Sarah, many high performers live with depression. These could be people who always meet deadlines at work, those whose lives seem perfect, or even family members admired by everyone. Their success becomes a mask that hides their pain. They are people.

These people often feel more stressed because others perceive them as strong and capable. They fear that sharing their difficulties will disappoint or belittle them. Therefore, they continue to push despite the constant pain they feel.

High-Functioning Depression vs. Depression

Generally, depression, whether it’s regular or the kind that allows people to function normally, has similar symptoms. Both involve persistent sadness, thoughts of losing interest, or changes in sleep or appetite. The main difference between them is that they deal with life in ways that contradict their inner feelings, but not their fatigue.

Common symptoms of depression may include:

• Not going to work or school
• Becoming increasingly withdrawn from relatives and friends
• Not being able to perform daily tasks
• Staying in bed all day

Common symptoms of high-functioning depression may include:

• Continuing to study or work despite being extremely tired
• Sociability, but feeling lonely
• Working but finding everything very difficult
• Appearing fine to others, but struggling inside

Neither form of depression is better than the other. Both are indeed difficult and therefore require close attention and care. High-functioning depression is more difficult to manage because it often goes unnoticed by the person suffering from it or overlooked by others. 

Symptoms of High-Functioning Depression

The problem with high-functioning depression is that its initial symptoms are always internal. Below are some common symptoms that people have experienced:

Emotional Symptoms:

• They constantly feel unhappy, even during good times.
• Nothing seems real, as if they are living their life like robots.
• They lose interest in activities they once enjoyed.
• A persistent feeling of failure, leading to recurring negative thoughts.
• A feeling of being alone in a crowd and therefore disconnected from others.

Physical Symptoms:

• Fatigue becomes a daily occurrence, even if they have had a good night’s sleep.
• Unexplained changes in eating patterns or diet can be a sign of depression.
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much may occur intermittently.
• Physical problems, such as pain, occur for no apparent reason.
• A feeling of heaviness or sadness in the body that is not due to the actual body weight.

Behavioral Symptoms:

• They try to be very productive to protect their self-imposed goals. They show off their status.
• If given the opportunity, they skip social events.
• They use other activities, such as work or other activities, to distract people from their feelings.
• Even small decisions become difficult for them, and this may have nothing to do with the seriousness of the situation.
• Waiting until the last minute to complete most of their activities.

Ways to Deal with Depression

Recovering from high-functioning depression is indeed possible. It’s a gradual process, and recovery often requires professional help. Here are some steps that can help:

1. Recognize Your Feelings:

Recognizing that something is wrong is the first step. Often, people with successful professional careers who suffer from high-functioning depression tell themselves that they should be grateful for their progress, so instead of lamenting their depression, they should remember that their lives are full of positive moments. However, emotions don’t matter how successful someone is. It is depression that, left untreated, worsens over time.

2. Start Small:

When someone feels very depressed, making changes that may seem small can actually make a big difference. This includes:

• Sit quietly for five minutes every morning
• Take a short walk during your lunch break
• List three positive things you do every day
• Call a friend or family member every week
• Set boundaries

Taking on too many responsibilities is a common problem among these people. To recover, one must learn when to say no. Sometimes, it’s okay to not be able to marathon your activities, rather than trying a little hard all the time.

3. Build a support system:

• Share your troubles with trusted friends or family.
• Join groups that share similar problems.
• Meet others who are struggling with mental health issues.

4. Practice self-care:

• Be disciplined enough to distinguish between work and pleasure.
• Participate in activities that provide small moments of joy.
• While doing this, sleep and eating right are certainly crucial.
• Exercise regularly; This will soon become a habit.

5. Challenge perfectionism:

• If they’re having a bad day, let them be.
• Learn to refuse to take on more responsibilities at work.
• Instead of focusing on success, prioritize learning skills to achieve your goals.

6. Improve coping skills:

• Learn some short breathing techniques that can reduce your anxiety in such situations.
• Instead of multitasking, focus on one task. Finding something that requires your full and exclusive attention can be a good start to practicing mindfulness and training your mind to be more present.
• As time goes on and your mood changes, write down your good and bad days in a diary.
• Create routines that help improve your mental health.

7. Seeking professional help:

Professional treatment has a significant impact on managing high-functioning depression. There are many depression treatment options available.

Therapy Options:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help change negative thinking patterns
• Group therapy experience with people in similar situations

Medical Treatment:

• Seek a consultation with a psychiatrist to have your mental health problem diagnosed and to be prescribed medication that may help.
• Before treating depression, patients may have other medical conditions that require treatment.
• Regular check-ups and treatment may be adjusted based on the patient’s advice or feelings.

Community Resources:

• Workplaces often have support programs for employees.
• Reach out to organizations that manage mental health problems.
• Online groups provide counseling support and guidance. 

With online psychiatric care services, anyone who receives regular physical health care can now also access mental health care. In a rapidly changing city like New York, certain pressures like financial constraints and crowded commutes make accessing psychiatric care even more difficult. For most people, the biggest challenges are long wait times, busy schedules, or traveling to the clinic in person. With psychiatry care platforms like GABA Telepsychiatry, people of any age living in New York can easily connect with a board-certified online psychiatrist NYC.

The Takeaway

Having high-functioning depression is like having an unseen burden hanging over your back. It makes everything more difficult, no matter how clear the success. However, there is a way out. With the right treatment, integrating coping skills and support, a person with depression can overcome it and live their life the way they like.