6 Signs You Might Be Living With High-Functioning Depression
Many people assume that if you have depression, the signs will be pretty obvious. It’s easy to picture someone with depression spending all day in bed, withdrawing from their friends and family, and forgetting about their obligations at work, school, and home.
But while these symptoms can be characteristic of severe depression, lots of people struggle with high-functioning depression. Someone with high-functioning depression might not even realize that their mental health has been declining because the symptoms can be quite subtle. Furthermore, their loved ones may not notice, either, as people with high-functioning depression are typically quite skilled at suppressing their symptoms around other people. Here are a few little-known signs that someone is struggling with high-functioning depression.
1. A Lack Of Purpose
If you’re dealing with high-functioning depression, you are often able to continue to fulfill your responsibilities in the office, the classroom, or your own household. But the projects and tasks that once left you feeling engaged and satisfied don’t inspire the same sense of purpose anymore. You may feel like you’re just checking items off of a to-do list rather than achieving meaningful goals.
2. Doing The Bare Minimum
Maybe you’re able to keep up with obligations, knowing that if you don’t take care of these tasks, no one else will. But you’ve pushed everything to the back burner when it comes to your hobbies, volunteer efforts, or personal creative projects. You feel like you only have the capacity to take care of the bare minimum now, and anything beyond that is simply too much.
3. Everything Takes More Effort
When you have high-functioning depression, you may be able to muster enough energy to ensure that your bills are always paid on time, your house is relatively clean, and you attend enough social events that your friends don’t worry about you. But doing so seems to take up so much of your energy that when you do have downtime, all you want to do is sleep or watch TV. Your normal day-to-day routines leave you completely drained.
4. Feeling Down About Yourself
People with high-functioning depression can be quite tough on themselves. You might be holding yourself to a very high standard, and when you make minor mistakes, you can’t help but criticize yourself harshly. It can be hard for you to forgive yourself when you slip up, which only fuels your negative thought cycles. You always feel like you’re slipping behind your peers, even when you’re doing your very best.
5. Your Social Circle Doesn’t Notice
If you have high-functioning depression, the people around you may not realize anything is wrong. You’re struggling behind the scenes, but you can barely admit it to yourself. Sometimes, you tell yourself that because other people have it worse, you don’t have the right to ask for help. Instead of opening up to your friends, you try to handle your symptoms on your own.
6. Intense Physical Symptoms
High-functioning depression can result in severe physical symptoms. Plenty of people with depression struggle with problems like headaches, stomachaches, and muscle pains. But if you have high-functioning depression, your physical symptoms can be especially frustrating. This can occur as a result of attempts to brush your symptoms under the rug. If you never express your feelings or reach out for help, you’ll end up internalizing all of your problems. This will almost inevitably lead to uncomfortable physical symptoms.
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Do you suspect that you’re suffering from high-functioning depression? Working with a therapist can help. Reach out to us to discuss your options for scheduling your first session.