High-Functioning Depression: Signs, Symptoms, and How to Cope

Because depression is such a common mental health condition, it tends to get stereotyped more than it should. Many people have the image of someone who can’t get out of bed due to extreme sadness in their minds.

That is, in fact, what depression looks like for some people. It’s characterized by intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and people handle that in different ways.

However, there are some people struggling with depression who do a very good job of “hiding” it from the rest of the world. High-functioning depression is just as serious and demands attention.

Let’s take a closer look at the signs and symptoms of high-functioning depression, as well as some strategies you can use to cope.

What Is High-Functioning Depression?

If you have high-functioning depression, you still experience all of the negative feelings associated with the condition. You might struggle with extreme sadness, hopelessness, and low motivation.

However, externally, you appear completely normal to everyone else. You’re able to maintain a daily routine, go to work, and maintain relationships. While that might seem like a good thing, it doesn’t take away from the turmoil you’re dealing with beneath the surface.

What Are the Signs?

People with high-functioning depression tend to feel the same symptoms as anyone else struggling with depression. They are just able to mask those symptoms to maintain a relatively normal life.

While the signs of depression can be slightly different from person to person, the most common include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, social withdrawal, loss of interest, and changes in eating and sleeping habits.

When you’re dealing with high-functioning depression, you might also try to pretend to be happy. Even when you’re overwhelmed with negative thoughts and feelings, you try to appear positive to others. Unfortunately, it’s also not uncommon for people with this type of depression to become irritable, annoyed, or impatient. So, keeping up the facade of everything being okay isn’t easy.

Coping Mechanisms

It’s not easy to maintain a positive outward appearance when you’re dealing with so much internal turmoil.

As a result, some people with high-functioning depression seek out unhealthy coping mechanisms simply to get through the day. That includes turning to substances like drugs or alcohol, or engaging in risky behaviors that could cause harm.

These coping mechanisms are a way to deal with negative thoughts and feelings, but they aren’t sustainable and can be an extremely dangerous way to live.

What Can You Do?

So, what should you do to cope when you’re dealing with high-functioning depression?

The first step is admitting you’re struggling. You don’t have to keep wearing the mask you’ve put on just to get through the day. That doesn’t mean going from one extreme to another. You also don’t have to lie in bed all day waiting for things to change.

If you recognize that you’re struggling with depression, you’ve already taken a solid first step. Admitting the problem is a great place to start and can serve as the launching pad you need to get the help you deserve.

On your own, things like self-care, surrounding yourself with a support system, and staying involved in the things you love can make it easier to cope with symptoms.

However, the best thing you can do to cope is to work with a mental health professional experienced with therapy for depression. Therapy can help you better understand where your depression is coming from. You’ll also learn healthy ways of managing your symptoms while you work to overcome your negative thoughts.

If you’re ready to take that step and take off the mask, contact me today to set up an appointment.