High-functioning depression is characterized by a low level of daily sadness and is frequently invisible to friends, family, and coworkers. Learn more about the signs and treatment of high-functioning depression.
People withhigh-functioning depressionsuccessfully continue daily activities while experiencing periods of sorrow or hopelessness that negatively impact their overall happiness. Treatment forhigh-functioning depressioncan resolve symptoms, improve well-being and prevent the development of more severe depression.
What is High-Functioning Depression?
High-functioning depression is also calleddysthymia, or persistent depressive disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5),persistent depressive disorder is a form of chronic depression characterized by a depressed mood lasting at least two years. For children and adolescents, themood can be irritable rather than sadand the time requirement is one year. For all age groups, symptoms are not absent for greater than two months.
People with high-functioningdepressionexperience a depressed mood for most of the day and on more days than not. Althoughhigh-functioning depressionshares signs with othertypes of depressionsuch asmajor depressive disorder, the symptoms are less severe and interfere less with daily activities. For example, people withhigh-functioning depressionmay have successful careers, healthy relationships, and active social lives. As a result,high-functioning depressionmay be invisible to family, friends, and coworkers. However, thechronic, low level of sadnessofhigh-functioning depressioncan negatively impact a person’s physical and mental health over time. Proper diagnosis and treatment can help resolve symptoms and improve the quality of life for a person living withhigh-functioning depression.
Signs of High-Functioning Depression
Since debilitating depressive periods do not characterizehigh-functioning depression,the signsare often difficult to recognize. People withhigh-functioning depressionoften fail to seek help because the disorder has become so much a part of them that they believe theirsymptomsreflect normal life.
Ready to Break Free From Addiction?
If you’re seeking help for yourself or a loved one, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. Don’t wait—start your journey to recovery today.
Symptoms of high-functioning depressioninclude:
- Feeling empty or sad
- Lack of interest in everyday activities
- Lack of appetite or overeating
- Sleep problems
- Low energy or fatigue
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Hopelessness
- Trouble making decisions
Living with High-Functioning Depression
A personliving with high-functioning depressionmay experience several different thoughts or emotions daily, such as:
- Gloomy mood:feeling sad throughout the day, making it challenging to experience enjoyment when participating in favorite activities or social situations
- Exhaustion despite sleeping well:gathering the energy to get out of bed and make it through the day may be challenging
- Irritability:having a short fuse when dealing with others
- Self-criticism:continually feeling bad about one’s self
- Weight changes: gaining or losing weight without trying to due to over or under-eating
- Excessive worry:constantly questioning past and present decisions and what they mean for the future
- Extreme stress:small, daily problems cause a great deal of stress
- Substance use:dealing with chronic everyday sadness may lead tosubstance use
A persondealing with high-functioning depressionmay carry on with their daily lives while suffering inside. Without knowinghow to deal with their underlying depression, a person withhigh-functioning depressionmay try to distract themselves from their sadness by using alcohol or other substances. However, there are many successful coping strategies and treatments fordealing with high-functioning depression.
Associated Stigma
Thestigma surrounding depressionand other mental health conditions can make seeking help difficult.Depression stigmaincludes the belief that only those with severe symptoms, such as inability to function in daily life or suicidal thoughts, require treatment. This stigma can cause those withhigh-functioning depressionto believe they should quietly tolerate their symptoms.
However,high-functioning depressionis a severe disorder that can be debilitating.More than halfof people withhigh-functioning depression, or dysthymia, eventually have an episode of major depression. Thus, seeking proper diagnosis and treatment forhigh-functioning depressionis critical.
Am I Depressed?
If you are wondering, “do I have high functioning depression?”, you should seek help from a qualified mental health professional. They will be able to identify symptoms ofhigh-functioning depressionand develop a treatment plan. A brief set of test questions, likethis one, can also help you evaluate your symptoms and be used as a guide for discussing them with a mental health professional.
Treatment for High-Functioning Depression
Treatment for high functioning depressioncan vary depending on the patient and the type and severity of their symptoms.High-functioning depression treatmentincludes both psychotherapy and medications, as the combination of both therapies ismore effectivethan either treatment independently.
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, with a qualified mental health professional can help a person with high functioning depression:
- Identify negative thought patterns and learn how to replace them with positive ideas
- Recognize triggers and learn how to deal with them in a healthy way
- Develop coping strategies to resolve symptoms, include journaling, exercise, and meditation
- Discover ways to enrich relationships with family and friends
- Gain problem-solving skills to deal with life’s challenges
Psychotherapy can also involve group or family therapy andcognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a form of treatment that consists of focusing on how thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes lead to problematic behaviors.
Along with psychotherapy for the treatment ofhigh-functioning depression, medications are also sometimes necessary.Medications used to treat high-functioning depressioninclude antidepressants such as:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs)
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors(SNRIs)
If you or a loved one is dealing withhigh-functioning depressionalong with an addiction, help is available. The Recovery Village has locations across the country, staffed with mental health professionals who have experience working with substance use and depressive disorders. To learn more,call The Recovery Villagetoday to speak with a representative.
