How High-Functioning Depression Manifests Itself & What You Can Do About It?

A Quick Guide

High-functioning depression has identical signs and symptoms to major depression, however, they are milder. Changes in eating and sleeping patterns, low self-esteem, exhaustion, pessimism, and difficulties concentrating are a few examples. Most days, symptoms continue, resulting in a practically constant state of depression that lasts for at least two years. Most people suffer internally but perform nearly normally. High-functioning depression may be treated with both medication and therapy.

High-functioning depression is a serious condition that, if untreated, can have negative effects. PDD, or persistent depressive disorder, is the medical term for the diagnosis of high-functioning depression. People with PDD exhibit many of the same symptoms as depressed people, albeit to a lesser extent. This makes it possible for the person to carry out daily tasks like going to work or school, doing well generally, managing their family responsibilities, and participating in the majority of social activities.

Understanding high-functioning depression

Persistent depressive disorder is often identified in people with high-functioning depression. Constant lethargy or a low level of energy are typical signs of PDD. Additionally, the symptoms last for at least two years in those with PDD or high-functioning depression.

It might be challenging to recognize when someone is likely suffering from high-functioning depression. The consequences may appear gradually until a person finally understands there is an issue. An upsetting life event occasionally makes things more challenging.

It might be challenging to recognize this sort of depression in oneself as well as in others. A person with PDD appears healthy to those around them but they are battling on the inside. Although it might not seem as bad as major depression, high-functioning depression should still be identified and treated. PDD can make life difficult and diminish its quality, although self-management and proper treatment can definitely help.

People who are ill frequently possess a push-through-the-feelings personality type. They can be perceived by others as perfectionists, which might strengthen their resolve to uphold a particular reputation. The disease may make it difficult for people to accept they need assistance. Which in turn can cause emotions to build up until they explode at a vulnerable moment.

Is it a real disorder?

You won’t find high-functioning depression in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5, the standard reference for the mental health industry, because it isn’t a legitimate medical diagnosis. However, according to experts, the word is increasingly being used on websites for treatment centers and health blogs to describe people who are persistently sad, exhausted, and anxious. It’s a helpful phrase because it includes people who don’t always neatly fit into standard diagnostic criteria. Moreover, the phrase is also readily comprehended.

Dysthymia, commonly referred to as a chronic depressive condition, is a low-grade depression. It is characterized by a lack of energy or exhaustion that affects the majority of high-functioning people. These are people who are generally miserable in life but do not fit the more severe criteria for serious depression. Typically, dysthymia lasts for two or longer years. And if you do, you probably put on a brave face and carry on with your day. Dysthymia is progressive and somewhat sneaky, making it challenging to diagnose. 

People frequently don’t notice they have an issue until they become tired of constantly feeling down or until a potentially stressful event triggers their emotions to explode.

Even some cases of classic, episodic major depression which includes symptoms such as poor mood, loss of interest, or pleasure may be characterized as high-functioning. They typically consist of people who have great willpower and are willing to deal with severe symptoms without seeking assistance.

What is Dysthymia or Smiling Depression?

Dysthymia, also known as persistent depressive disorder, is a less severe form of depression that lasts for longer than two years. Even though they battle with minor depressive symptoms, a person with dysthymia may have developed some coping skills that enable them to operate. Dysthymia is sometimes a defining feature of high-functioning depression.

High-functioning depression is also referred to as “smiling depression” in general. It serves as a non-clinical synonym for dysthymia’s “functional” characteristics. When someone tries to hide their emotional pain from friends, family, or coworkers out of concern for them, it is referred to as “smiling depression.”

Those with high-functioning depression are able to maintain a good attitude. They are able to carry on with their daily lives relatively regularly by repressing their emotions and hiding behind a smile.

Dysthymia may be concealed for a variety of reasons, some of which include:

• Genuinely unaware that they suffer from a severe mental illness.
• Not to appear frail.
• To keep their issues from becoming public.
• To refrain from weighing others down.

What are the causes of high-functioning depression?

High-functioning depression is typically brought on by a number of different circumstances, including the following: 

Brain chemistry: Depression can result from imbalances of specific neurotransmitters, which are substances in the brain that, among other things, control and regulate mood.

Genetics: Depression frequently has a hereditary component and can run in families. So having a depressed relative increases your risk of developing the condition.

Life events: Depressive symptoms can be brought on by upsetting or stressful life events like the loss of a relationship, employment, or a loved one.

Medical conditions: You may have a higher chance of simultaneously developing depression if you have a medical condition like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, or chronic pain. Given that depression can make other medical conditions worse. It is critical to get therapy as soon as you notice any symptoms and to inform your doctor.

Medication: Depression is a side effect that some drugs may have. Alcohol and other drugs used recreationally can also contribute to or worsen depression.

Personality: Some personality characteristics may increase your risk of developing depression.

Trauma: Having a traumatic or stressful experience might make it more likely that you will develop mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD.

How is high-functioning depression diagnosed?

Anyone who thinks they could be experiencing the symptoms of depression, including high-functioning depression, should get support from a mental health professional. They are capable of accurately diagnosing PDD or other mental diseases if they are present in a person. PDD, also known as high-functioning depression, frequently manifests as episodes of:

• Always feeling as though you lack energy.
• Hopelessness.
• Inadequate self-esteem.
• Making definite judgments becomes difficult.
• Sleeplessness or excessive sleeping.

A psychiatrist or other mental health specialist will search for indications that your capacity to operate normally is being interfered with by the mental health condition. They can determine whether you have a more extreme form of depression. They can also rule out other conditions that might be causing your symptoms.

Learn more about 7 Signs Of Depression In Teens: How To Recognize & Treat Them

The Warning Signs of High-Functioning Depression

Even though there are clinical indicators that experts look for when diagnosing PDD, your experiences can be unique from those of others. The following are some indicators that you might be experiencing a type of high-functioning depression.

• Because you struggle to gather the will to complete even the most elementary activities, some people could label you as lazy.
• Because your appetite changes based on how you’re feeling. You experience weight fluctuations even if you’re not following a diet plan.
• It’s possible that you’ll start crying or feel hopeless for no apparent reason.
• While your performance at school or at work could seem good. You are having trouble making yourself seem normal to your peers.
• You feel tempted to consume drugs or alcohol to improve your mood.
• You find it challenging to feel good about yourself, especially when someone compliments you. You might constantly seek out opportunities to criticize whether it is yourself or others.
• You’re often called gloomy or a downer by others. You can find it difficult to look at the positive side of any circumstance.

How to Manage High-Functioning Depression?

Depression can sometimes seem like an insurmountable challenge. Many people make the mistake of thinking that nothing can be done to aid them right now or that whatever relief they do receive will only be momentary. Unfortunately, this dysfunctional thought pattern might leave you stuck in a cycle of passivity. So it is all about breaking that cycle and keep trying even when it is hard to rationalize with yourself. You can take particular actions to manage your high-functioning depression, such as:

• Get proper sleep: Get adequate sleep every night, but watch out for oversleeping. Maintaining good sleep hygiene will definitely benefit your mental health because it can help you improve your overall quality of life.
• Make an effort to be active: Get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, even though it could be difficult to do so. For instance, you might decide to do yoga, or go for a walk. If starting this exercise initially doesn’t seem possible. Try beginning with a five or ten-minute walk and gradually increasing the duration each day.
• Try getting some sunlight: It has been proved that spending time outdoors in the sunshine has a major positive impact on one’s mental health.
• Watch what you eat: Although it may be tempting to either binge eat or eat junk food. Do not let yourself fall into unhealthy eating patterns. Make sure you are eating wholesome, balanced meals.

What are the treatment options?

Even if a depressed individual may be considered “high functioning,” this does not mean they do not require treatment. Depression treatments can include the following options:

Therapy

You can address the shame or anxiety of experiencing depression as well as the depression itself by using:

• Mindfulness techniques
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy DBT
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT

The need to keep your depression a secret from everyone can be overcome with therapy. Your job environment, family, cultural background, or any other circumstances that are causing you to conceal your depression would be explored by your therapist as they work with you.

Medication

If you have moderate to severe depression, an antidepressant will probably be prescribed by your doctor. These drugs function by restoring the neurotransmitter imbalance in the brain. Finding the antidepressant that works best for you may take some time because there are so many different kinds of them. 

Support groups

If you feel uncomfortable talking to others in your life about your depression. Support groups can be useful in providing a secure space for you to discuss it with people who have had similar experiences.

We hope you found this article useful in learning more about what high-functioning depression is, along with its causes, signs and symptoms, and treatment options. 

Learn about Signs Of Depression In Men: Recognizing The Symptoms

Learn more about Mild Depression: 6 Telltale Signs, Causes, & Self-Help Strategies