What Is High-Functioning Depression? Know These Signs to Watch For
People living with high-functioning depression work harder than their peers to keep up with the world around them. Most of us don’t realize how hard that must be.
Anybody you meet could be living with high-functioning depression: the successful entrepreneur at your kid's school, the top server at your favorite restaurant or the straight-A student on your block.
These individuals may seem to have it all together, but what they share is a set of coping skills masking their depression to make it look as though everything is fine.
What is high-functioning depression?
While high-functioning depression isn’t found in clinical diagnosis books such as the DSM-5, it is a very real form of depression.
What does high-functioning mean?
The term “high-functioning” is the ability to get by in spite of a challenge. “He has [an ailment or disorder] but he’s high-functioning” is how we might hear the term used. “High-functioning” means a person appears to be fine because they are going about life in ways our society considers “normal.” But the amount of emotional and psychological energy required to maintain this “normal” state is enormous.
What is depression?
Depression has many symptoms. Overall, people with depression feel sad or "blue," and it tends to last for quite some time. Along with feeling down, depression is associated with many behavioral and emotional challenges, like sleep problems, social isolation, trouble eating, and more.
Learn more about depression here.
There is an oft-used allegory that we can use here to describe high functioning depression: ducks and swans look like they are coasting gracefully across the water, but underneath the surface their legs are kicking furiously to create the illusion of ease. While all the ducks and swans are pulling off the same illusion, they are using every bit of energy they have just to keep afloat. That’s what it’s like to live with high-functioning depression.
High-functioning depression symptoms
It can be hard to recognize high-functioning depression in others or ourselves. Watch for these signs:
- Is it difficult to make decisions, even about seemingly simple, day-to-day things?
- Do you still spend time with your friends, but feel less connected?
- Is your sleep the same, yet you are more tired during the day?
- Do you still have an appetite, but aren’t enjoying food like you used to?
- Are you still rolling with the highs and lows of your work or family life, but not enjoying the wins?
There’s no scoring here but if you felt resonance with a lot of the above questions, pay attention to that. People with high-functioning depression may also face the following challenges on a regular basis:
- Checking off daily tasks takes enormous effort.
- Hiding true feelings from loved ones shows up as headaches and stomach pains.
- Self-medicating with substances like alcohol.
- And here’s the high-functioning part: Despite persistent sadness and symptoms of depression, you can still knock out work and maintain your relationships -- but it takes a lot out of you.
High-functioning depression and anxiety
When it comes to high-functioning depression and anxiety, it is still depression and it is still anxiety. All the symptoms of both depression and anxiety are present, but the individual’s ability to cope and carry on makes it seem as though everything is fine.
In high-functioning anxiety, as with high-functioning depression, it takes more energy to maintain one's “normal,” no matter how together the individual appears to be. The source of the need to out-perform, work harder and keep going may be the anxiety itself.
A symptom of anxiety is living with a sense of impending danger or doom. Instead of feeling paralyzed by this anxiety, an individual might try to do whatever feels necessary to keep the danger at bay. The outward appearance of this energy looks like high performance but the fuel is coming from fear rather than peace or happiness.
Read about high functioning anxiety here.
Do I have high-functioning depression?
High-functioning depression more than likely isn’t going to show itself as obviously as it might with some cataclysmic event. By definition, this depression isn’t limiting your functioning but it is wearing you down. It’s like driving with the parking brake on. It’s subtle, and thus trickier to see clearly.
Think of it like the character Pig-Pen in the Charlie Brown comics and cartoons. Wherever he goes a cloud of dust follows no matter his mood. It stands out because everyone else doesn’t have that cloud fluttering about themselves. He carries on participating in all the activities that Charlie Brown and the other kids are engaged with but the cloud never leaves him. That is how it can feel living with high-functioning depression – the cloud being depression instead of dust, and everyone is accustomed to it, functioning as if nothing is taking place.
The best way to learn if you might have high-functioning depression is to consult with a licensed mental health professional.
Treatment for high-functioning depression
If you feel like you or someone you care about is living with high-functioning depression, we encourage you to find help.
“Functioning with untreated depression is exhausting and unsustainable,” explains Casey N. Tallent, PhD, director of telehealth development at Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center. “We know that treatment for depression works. The sooner someone gets treatment, the less likely the depression will come back again.”
Eating Recovery At Home and Pathlight At Home are ideal virtual treatment programs for those who are living with high-functioning depression or anxiety. In treatment:
- You can continue your daily routines, stay engaged at work and with your family, while seamlessly getting help for high-functioning depression or anxiety from the comfort of your home.
- We are able to help busy professionals, stay-at-home parents and others who feel their depression keeps them from being the people they want to be.
- You'll benefit from individual and group therapy and peer support several hours a day, several days a week
“We designed Pathlight At Home to make intensive, evidence-based care more accessible,” shares Dr. Tallent. “You can expect to see significant improvement in your depression while making meaningful connections with your peers and compassionate care team.”
Additionally, Pathlight At Home was named Best Online Therapy Service of 2022, 2023 and 2024 by top publications, including “People,” “Parents” and “VeryWell Family.” Past participants have experienced more than a 40% improvement in anxiety and depression.
Find help for depression
If you are wondering whether you’ve been living with high-functioning depression or if you simply want to explore a different method of getting help, let’s chat. Get started today.
