High Functioning Depression: Hiding Behind the Mask
Do you wake up each day grappling with the idea of getting out of bed? At work, you seem to thrive under pressure and complete all of your tasks, just to come home and collapse on the floor. Maybe you started drinking alcohol or taking substances to feel something other than emptiness.
You are not alone – many Floridians share the same thoughts. In Tampa Bay and West Central Florida, 1 in 6 residents are living with depression, while 1 in 12 are living with a substance use disorder.
Clean Recovery Centers offers a program that addresses depression, substance use disorder, and co-occurring disorders. You may be thinking you don’t need help – after all, you function every day. Let’s talk about the seriousness of high-functioning depression and how it can still interfere with life.
Understanding High-Functioning Depression: What Does it Entail?
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by feelings of hopelessness, shame, and emptiness. It can vary from person to person in severity and the symptoms they experience. High-functioning depression is not a medical term, but it describes someone who has depression but still maintains a stable life. The symptoms are present but do not interfere with day-to-day activities.
High-functioning depression is often associated with persistent depressive disorder. Having formally been diagnosed as dysthymia or dysthymic disorder, this is a mild to moderate form of depression compared to the more severe forms. Symptoms last for most of the day and for most days, though there may be days when the person does not feel affected. It is still chronic as symptoms must last for at least two years to meet the diagnostic criteria. All depression is life-long, but there are techniques to manage different types.
Major Depression vs High-Functioning Depression: Similarities and Differences
Major or severe depression is clinically called major depressive disorder (MDD). It is similar to high-functioning depression as it produces similar symptoms. However, the main difference is in the term “functioning.” Those with major depression will have a difficult time completing tasks, including what most would qualify as “simple.” They do not have the energy or concentration to clean the house, go to work every day, or even pay bills on time.
Those with high-functioning depression will typically have these tasks accomplished. Behind the scenes, it will take most if not all of their effort to keep these things going. The dishes will get done, but the energy it takes is more than that of someone without depression.
Risk Factors for Developing High-Functioning Depression
Depression can develop at any age and can affect anyone. Whether depression is high-functioning or major depends on the person and their circumstances. Risk factors for depression include:
- Having a family member with a mental health condition
- Having a difficult time responding to stress
- Experiencing a traumatic event such as abuse, neglect, or loss
- Taking substances, especially depressants such as alcohol or opioids
- Having other mental health conditions
These factors do not guarantee that depression will develop. Those who have more of these factors are likely to develop major depression. Depending on how you cope with stress and if you have other mental health conditions such as anxiety, your depression may feel manageable at times. Just because it feels that way, however, doesn’t mean it’s feasible to manage in the long-term.
Signs to Look For: Spotting Symptoms of High-Functioning Depression
Because high-functioning depression results in productivity, it can be more difficult to spot in a loved one or even yourself. One sign to watch for is subtle hints. Depression can cause guilty feelings, especially when not accomplishing goals and tasks. The person may be more down or disappointed with the amount of work that was accomplished in the day, even if it was a lot.
Another sign is taking substances or increasing the amount of substances they already take. Unmanaged depression – even high-functioning – causes feelings of emptiness and worthlessness. Some will take substances or increase alcohol intake as a way to cope, hoping to fill the void to feel better. However, this results in worsening depression and can reduce the amount of functioning the person has.
A difficult symptom to recognize in high-functioning depression is masking. The person does not want family and friends to worry, so they figuratively “put on a mask” in front of others. They give off a happy, well-adjusted social persona when in reality, they are falling apart on the inside.
Having low energy when not completing tasks is also a symptom of depression. You may see a loved one excelling when it comes to school or work, but at home, they have a difficult time falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking in the morning. You may be able to notice a more disheveled and tired appearance over time.
How to Help a Loved One With High-Functioning Depression
Spotting high-functioning depression in a loved one can be tough. Here are some tips we have for helping your loved one:
- Check-in with them: A simple text or phone call goes a long way. There may be times when the person does not answer, but reaching out still offers them support and love. A quick “Thinking of you, hope you are having a good day,” can brighten the spirit of someone with high-functioning depression.
- Don’t cast assumptions: The stigma around mental health is improving, but many feel they are not “bad enough” to seek treatment. Assuming a loved one is fine because they can function can make them feel worse and further away from getting help. Also casting judgment on them for seeking treatment is detrimental. High-functioning depression is still depression, and everyone deserves to get help when needed.
- Share your experience: If you feel comfortable, share your own experiences with negative feelings and how you cope. No two people use the exact same coping mechanisms, and sharing them with each other can help open new opportunities. Maybe you like to take quiet walks in the woods. Inviting your loved one encourages bonding and can help them find a new method for managing their depression.
- Take care of yourself: Remember that you are important too. Helping a loved one with depression can be difficult, especially if they keep refusing help. Keep yourself physically and mentally healthy first before offering support. If your mental health is poor, you will not be able to offer the same level of care which may make the situation worse.
Treatment Options for High-Functioning Depression in Hillsborough County
High-functioning depression is still depression, and treatment can be the saving grace needed to feel better again. Therapy for depression as well as medications can make a huge difference for those living with high-functioning depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) will be a large portion of therapy, as it works to change negative thought and behavior patterns to positive ones. Addressing past traumas will also be a part of the program, helping you heal from the past for a brighter future. Your mental health is important, and there is no better way to manage it than with treatment.
If you or someone you love is living with high-functioning depression, help is available today. Clean Recovery Centers specializes in treating substance use disorders and mental health conditions. Each of our facilities has a certified, rapid-resolution therapist that specifically addresses trauma. You will be welcomed into a safe and comfortable environment to begin healing your depression from within. Call us today at (888) 330-2532 to learn more about our program offerings.
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