What Exactly Is High-Functioning Depression?
According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Health Statistics, “In 2019, 2.8% of adults experienced severe symptoms of depression, 4.2% experienced moderate symptoms, and 11.5% experienced mild symptoms in the past 2 weeks.” It is this last category of “mild symptoms” that often go unnoticed. This can be especially true with individuals struggling with high-functioning depression. The good news is that, like any other type of depression, there are also effective, evidence-based treatment options for high-functioning depression.
Better Understanding Depression
Many people are unfamiliar with the exact details of depression. According to the peer-reviewed thesis, Depression, by Doctors Chand and Arif, “Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest… (DSM-5) classifies the depressive disorders into Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder; Major depressive disorder; Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia); Premenstrual dysphoric disorder; and Depressive disorder due to another medical condition. The common features of all the depressive disorders are sadness, emptiness, or irritable mood, accompanied by somatic and cognitive changes that significantly affect the individual’s capacity to function.”
Although depression is more common than many people may think, that does not mean that it is not serious. Depression should never be minimized or merely “accepted,” yet this is often what happens when people experience high-functioning depression.
Better Understanding High-Functioning Depression
Most people categorize high-functioning depression under the umbrella of persistent depressive disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Persistent depressive disorder (formerly dysthymic disorder) is characterized by chronic low-level depression that is not as severe but may be longer lasting than, major depressive disorder. A diagnosis of persistent depressive disorder requires having experienced a combination of depressive symptoms for two years or more.” Of course, it is important to note that this is not always the case, which is why connecting with a professional for a proper diagnosis is critical.
Many people with high-functioning depression ignore the symptoms because they have such a “busy” schedule. In fact, one of the reasons people with high-functioning depression often stay so busy is because they use it as a coping mechanism to avoid dealing with their feelings of depression. Unfortunately, this ultimately allows the issues and symptoms of high-functioning depression to build up and potentially worsen.
The Signs and Symptoms of High-Functioning Depression
While not everyone will have the same experience, there are many signs and symptoms of high-functioning depression that are more universal. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Feeling anxious or irritable on a regular basis
- Having an impending feeling of dread
- Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and/or loneliness
- Feeling fatigued and lethargic (run down)
- Having trouble concentrating
- A change in appetite (eating too much or not eating enough)
- Changes in sleep patterns, usually related to insomnia
- Feeling physically run down
- Using alcohol and/or substances to self-medicate
It is this last sign that can be particularly dangerous because untreated high-functioning depression can lead to addiction. This, of course, can make a bad situation significantly worse.
High-Functioning Depression and Addiction
When it comes to high-functioning depression and addiction, the former may lead to the latter. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Science & Practice Perspectives, “[M]ood disorders may motivate individuals to resort to drugs and alcohol to cope with their negative affective states. Such an explanation would jibe with clinicians’ everyday experience of individuals with SUDs saying they use drugs and alcohol to combat unwanted moods. The substances may initially minimize or moderate the mood symptoms, but withdrawal and chronic abuse typically exacerbate mood degradation, leading to increasing abuse and ultimately dependence.”
Now, the good news is that there are many effective means, methods, and modalities for treating high-functioning depression. Perhaps the most common way that high-functioning depression is treated is via psychotherapy. Meanwhile, one of the most common and effective types of psychotherapy is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
CBT can be particularly effective because it can get to the underlying factors that are contributing to high-functioning depression. According to the peer-reviewed journal, BioPsychoSocial Medicine, “Cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) helps individuals to eliminate avoidant and safety-seeking behaviors that prevent self-correction of faulty beliefs, thereby facilitating stress management to reduce stress-related disorders and enhance mental health.” Getting to these underlying thoughts (cognitions) and feelings (emotions) will ultimately help individuals healthily manage their negative and potentially destructive depressive behaviors.
The Importance of Long-Term Success at The Phoenix Recovery Center
Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” That is why all of our plans are individualized and comprehensive with a focus on the future.
Recovery is a journey. That successful journey can start right here at The Phoenix Recovery Center.
Many people struggle with high-functioning depression and don’t even know it. This is because unawareness is often what makes a person “high functioning.” For these reasons and more, it can be highly beneficial to know what high-functioning depression is, who it affects, and how it can best be treated. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this alone. For more information about the negative effects of high-functioning depression and how it can be effectively treated, please reach out to The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.