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12 Signs you might have high functioning depression
If we asked you now to describe a depressed person, what would you say?
Chances are you would envision a sad person that has problems even getting out of bed
in the morning.
That can be true, but not for every person suffering from depression.
There is one form of depression that doesn’t quite look like what you would expect.
It is called high-functioning depression.
The tricky thing about high-functioning depression is that it’s hard to spot because the people
dealing with it look like they’re holding it all together.
Those people might be college graduates, with successful businesses, living in big homes
with spouses and children and still be depressed.
If you want to learn more about high-functioning depression, check out these 12 signs:
No1: You are a high achiever…
If you experience high-functioning depression, you can be quite successful in your career.
That is exactly why it is called high functioning.
Even though you have emotions and thoughts that are typical of depression, you manage
to function pretty well.
You might even have more than one job, excel at your hobbies, maintain good grades if you
are in school and have satisfying relationships.
You simply achieve all of those things while experiencing the sadness and emptiness that
accompany depression.
No2: …yet, you doubt yourself constantly Even though you manage to achieve many good
things, you still always doubt yourself.
This is because high-functioning depression negatively affects your thinking processes.
It means that you have a tendency to question everything you do.
This way of thinking leads to crippling self-doubt and questioning yourself as to what you are
doing with your life and if it will ever be good enough.
No3: You struggle to focus On the outside, you seem like a productive
employee with an outstanding work ethic, but internally you are working overtime to maintain
your focus on a project.
This is because high-functioning depression affects your ability to keep attention on
a task for a longer time.
You probably have to constantly redirect yourself back, which results in taking a longer time
to finish your work.
But, because you still manage to finish it and you probably do a great job, nobody knows
what is happening with you.
No4: You feel like you are not being true to how you feel
Generally, people with high-functioning depression have a clear sense that something isn’t
right, even though they may be unsure exactly what that is.
On the inside, you may feel lost, empty, and sad, even though you don’t know why.
But, on the outside, you behave differently.
You manage to do everything you should; you keep in touch with your friends.
Nobody notices how you really feel.
This is why you have that constant feeling that you are faking it, because you’re constantly
pushing yourself past your natural limits.
No5: Even good days are not entirely happy People living with high-functioning depression
often experience a barrage of emotions in their daily lives: stress, guilt, and worry.
This is why even the good days have that lingering sense of sadness and melancholy.
You experience periods of sadness that are not necessarily triggered by any external
event.
That is why you simply cannot “snap of it” and also why you cannot be entirely happy
even on a good day.
No6: You get annoyed easily High-functioning depression can make you irritable.
You might become upset about a small thing and have difficulty letting it go.
Things that never bothered you before can easily annoy you when you are experiencing
high-functioning depression.
Your reactions might be over the top.
This is one symptom that is easily overlooked because nobody really associates it with depression.
No7: Your sleep habits have changed Changes in your sleeping can be a warning
sign of high-functioning depression.
Whether you don’t nod off as easily, you’re snoozing more than usual, or you’re tossing
and turning, the truth is that you are sleeping differently.
This sign is very dangerous because it makes all other symptoms even worse.
If you are not sleeping well and regularly, you will be even more exhausted, distracted
and grouchy than your depression is already making you.
No8: You are often worried or guilty People are so ready to connect depression
with sadness that they almost always overlook that there are other feelings that are very
often associated with it, especially in its high-functioning form.
The most prominent feelings other than sadness and despair are worry, anxiety and guilt.
People with high-functioning depression are often worried and feel guilty about past and
future events.
You worry that you chose the wrong career, you worry about paying off all those student
loans, you worry that you married the wrong partner, etc.
We all have these worries, but if you can’t seem to shake them off and they are persistent
in your thoughts, it may be a sign of high-functioning depression.
No9: You have difficulty experiencing true joy
With high-functioning depression, you don’t seem to be able to enjoy all those things
that used to bring you pleasure.
Whether it is your hobby or hanging out with your friends, you cannot find pleasure in
doing those things like you used to.
They may even feel like burdens.
You find yourself wanting to avoid them because it feels like more of an effort than it should.
No10: You are very critical – of yourself and other people
High-functioning depression leads you to being very critical, both of yourself and of other
people.
You rarely see anything good that you do, but you never miss any of your mistakes and
tend to fixate on them.
You think you’re a failure, you think your boss is a moron, and life, in general, is
just one big drag.
These negative thoughts are something that burdens you a lot but you can’t seem to
make it stop.
No11: You seek perfection People that suffer from high-functioning depression
are often perfectionists.
On the one side, we live in a society that demands perfection in a way.
If you don’t have it all – a great job, perfect family - you are a failure.
But, the problem is when you set unreasonably high standards and you start beating yourself
up when you can't rise to your own expectations.
And that is exactly what people with high-functioning depression do and that causes them great distress.
No12: You find it hard to slow down and rest If it is hard for you to slow down and take
a rest even after an exhausting day at work, it may be a sign of high-functioning depression.
This happens because when you slow down, your negative thoughts take over.
So, instead of bearing your uncomfortable thoughts, you busy yourself with some kind
of work and activity even when you are very tired.
Have you ever met someone that suffers from high-functioning depression?
Have you maybe recognized yourself in any of these signs?
Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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