Hey everyone, and welcome to TopThink.
Today, we are going to learn about 10 signs of high functioning depression.
Now, let’s begin.
1.
Unknown Symptoms High functioning depression is frequently
misunderstood and even more frequently mislabeled.
Though high functioning depression affects millions of people around the world, it isn’t
actually a mental illness.
It is, however, nearly synonymous with a common illness called persistent depressive disorder
or PDD.
PDD, also known as dysthymia, is mild, chronic depression that lasts upwards of two years.
Though high functioning may not last as long as PDD, it remains one of the most common
mental disorders in the world.
The problem is… it’s one of the most difficult to recognize.
The symptoms of high functioning depression are covert, diverse, and intensely personal.
They are often interwoven into your daily routines and become unique to you as a person.
Because high functioning depression is so difficult to label, it’s frequently ignored
by individuals struggling with depressive symptoms.
In other words, depressive symptoms are difficult to pin down, and it’s common for people
to discount or ignore the warning signs of mild chronic depression.
You may not be crying every day or struggling with constant anxiety.
You may be living a normal life, but that doesn’t preclude you from battling this
confusing, debilitating condition on a regular basis.
Just because you are productive and self-disciplined… doesn’t mean you’re immune to mental illness.
2.
Productive Depression Does depression make you lazy?
This is one of the most common stereotypes about individuals struggling with depression.
Even though this illness can batter you with anxiety and sap your motivation, it’s very
common for individuals with depression to maintain bus, productive schedules.
In fact, some of the most successful, affluent people in the world struggle with depressive
symptoms on a daily basis.
That’s why depression is increasingly common among high functioning individuals.
They’re not lazy.
They’re not unproductive.
But they do struggle to enjoy their work, and they wrestle with negative emotions like
emptiness, irritability, and dissatisfaction.
If neglected, these feelings can get worse over time, impacting your happiness and well-being.
3.
Getting Over It Almost everyone struggling with depression
has heard this question before: “Why can’t you just get over it?”
But depression isn’t a temporary feeling you can “get over.”
Though commonly confused with individual emotions like sadness or frustration, depression is
a gradual, overwhelming condition that changes the way you think, feel, and find meaning
in your life.
It colors the goals you accomplish, the mindset you carry, and the habits you maintain, because
your depression has a hand in almost everything you do.
Depression, even if you are a high-functioning individual, is not something you can ignore,
forget about, or resist.
There is no foolproof cure, and it can persist and fluctuate throughout your life.
In other words, “getting over it” is not really an option.
4.
Imposter Syndrome If you have high-functioning depression, you
may be familiar with a self-destructive phenomenon called imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome, like high functioning depression, is not a diagnosable mental illness, but it
does affect an astounding number of people in the world today.
Imposter syndrome is loosely defined as “feeling like a fraud.”
You may feel like an “imposter” in your own life, which makes it difficult for you
to recognize and evaluate your self-worth.
Imposter syndrome is particularly common in high-achieving people.
You may not feel prepared for a difficult job.
You may not believe in your ability to face a new challenge.
Naturally, those mental hurdles create incredible stress and anxiety in your life, which amplifies
many depressive symptoms.
That’s why high-functioning people are constantly battling with self-doubt and low self-esteem.
They’re prone to depressive episodes because of their overbearing pressure to achieve.
They feel like frauds and imposters in pursuit of goals they don’t think they deserve.
Not only is this condition stressful, but it significantly impacts your happiness and
motivation moving forward.
If you don’t feel worthy of your goals, it becomes harder and harder to accomplish
them.
5.
Denying Treatment Not everyone who recognizes their depression
seeks help, advice, or treatment.
Unfortunately, many individuals with depression are unwilling to acknowledge or validate their
own symptoms.
This is especially common among people with high functioning depression.
You may not understand what you’re feeling or why it’s affecting you.
Or maybe you’re resistant to admit you’re struggling with a mental illness.
Here’s a common situation.
You think you may have high-functioning depression.
You recognize that you are at risk or currently suffering from depressive symptoms.
You notice some of the warning signs in this video, but you refuse to label yourself as
“depressed.”
Instead of recognizing or addressing your symptoms, you brush them under the rug.
You ridicule yourself for having these negative emotions, and you choose not to seek professional
help.
Why is this situation so common?
Because no one wants to be “depressed.”
No one wants to adopt the stigmas and stereotypes we associate with depression.
People are resistant to acknowledge their own mental illness, because their vision of
depression is heavily skewed and fictionalized.
So, instead, they say, “it’s not so bad,” and they ignore their depressive symptoms.
But depression, whether you’re high functioning or low functioning, is something you should
talk about.
If you believe you have symptoms of this mental illness, those emotions are worth exploring,
even if you don’t like or understand them.
6.
Emotional Isolation Many individuals with high functioning depression
avoid talking about their feelings and symptoms… but that can be lonely.
Depressive episodes are frequently associated with feelings of loneliness or isolation,
because it’s difficult to express or describe the way you feel.
Even if you’re speaking to a loved one or a trained professional, you may struggle to
get the right words across.
And that makes you feel even lonelier.
As isolated as you may feel, you aren’t going through this alone.
Countless people struggle to interpret their feelings and symptoms, because depression
is a complicated and contradictory condition that no one entirely understands.
But that you can recover, like millions of others have before you.
You may have ups and downs, high points and low points, but your depression is not invincible…
and it won’t last forever.
So embrace opportunities to talk to people you trust.
Vocalize your feelings and engage with other people who share your experiences.
Even though you may feel alone, it’s important to remember… you never are.
7.
Persistent Fluctuation High functioning depression changes shape.
Not only does depression look different in each person, but the symptoms of your depression
may fluctuate over time.
Sometimes, you may experience fatigue, lack of concentration, or indecision.
But those symptoms may fade, and others may take their place.
A month later, you may encounter imposter syndrome or intense anxiety.
Even though your symptoms look and sound different, your condition remains the same.
Because depressive symptoms change, many people assume they have recovered when mild symptoms
disappear temporarily.
They neglect their mental health and dismiss any peripheral symptoms that may be impacting
their mood.
For example, someone with high functioning depression may blame their lack of concentration
on their diet or schedule.
Or maybe they associate aimlessness with a change in their career.
But depression can last a long time.
It takes many different shapes, and it stems from a wide variety of experiences.
People with high functioning depression may struggle for years with no idea when or where
their symptoms began.
8.
Losing Your Passions You can often recognize high-functioning depression,
not by a decrease in productivity, but a lack of pleasure.
High functioning individuals may be disciplined enough to maintain their busy schedules, even
if they struggle with chronic depression.
However, their passions and personal interests fall by the wayside.
For example, you may resign from social groups or lose touch with hobbies you had outside
of work Ask yourself this simple question.
“What do I do for fun?”
If you don’t know the answer, fun may be the last thing on your mind.
Depressive may feel like treading water in a swimming pool.
Some people can freely enjoy the pool, splashing around or swimming laps, but you’re just
trying to stay afloat.
If you’re constantly fighting to keep your head above water, you’re not thinking about
pleasure or entertainment.
You’re just trying to survive.
9.
Self-Criticism Do you criticize yourself for symptoms you
can’t control?
Many high functioning people develop a critical relationship with their depression.
They insist they’re “just stuck in a rut,” so they push themselves to produce and achieve
as much as they did in the past.
They attack their failures, and they overburden themselves with unreasonable expectations.
Unfortunately, criticisms and high expectations negatively affect your mood, your perspective,
and your motivation.
You try to grit your teeth and power through the pain, but your persistence only drives
you deeper.
Depression, whether you like it or not, is not a problem you can solve with force.
The harder you push, the worse your symptoms are going to get.
10.
Mountains of Guilt If you have high functioning depression, you
may be prone to intense feelings of guilt.
Your ambition and depression are pulling you in opposite directions.
You want to accomplish goals, but you don’t have the energy, motivation, or courage to
do so.
And that failure leaves you with lingering feelings of guilt.
Over time, your guilt builds into a powerful, suppressive force, which negatively impacts
your confidence and your self-esteem.
Depression can feel like a never-ending stream of guilt.
It piles higher and higher, pulling you deeper and deeper, until you’re buried under a
mountain of negativity and self-doubt.
But you won’t stay buried under that mountain forever.
It takes time, patience, and perseverance to claw your way out… but you, like many
others, can leave your depression behind.
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