Modern people are under great pressure in life and work. Sometimes they always pretend to be normal, even though they have a lot of troubles in their hearts. Among depression patients, high-functioning depression is the most difficult to detect or discover, because patients usually behave normally in life and have good achievements, even the patients themselves are unaware of it. Let us take you to understand what high-functioning depression is? What are the 6 major characteristics that should be paid special attention to?

Always feel melancholy late at night, occasionally have insomnia or sleep too much? In life, it may seem that everything is going well, and you can interact with people normally, but occasionally feel depressed. Even people who seem to have no abnormalities may be patients with depression. In fact, a type of depression called high-functioning depression is harder to detect or detect than major depressive disorder (MDD) because people with high-functioning depression usually have the performance in life is normal, and the achievements are even good, so it is not easy for others to find out, and even the patient himself may not be aware of it. The following will help you understand what high-functioning depression is.

What is High-functioning Depression?

The term high-functioning depression appears in Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD), as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5-TR) published by the American Psychiatric Association, which deleted an alias for mild depression (Dysthymia, also known as persistent depressive disorder).

High-functioning depression is not currently recognized as a clinical term, nor is it used in research. However, which type (positive or negative) is high-functioning depression in the broad definition of depression? Should people with high-functioning depression use the criteria for depression? Mental health experts still do not have the same conclusion.

Six Underlying Traits of High-functioning Depression

1. 1. Frequent rejection of social invitations
      Jason Stamper, a psychiatrist at the Mountain Comprehensive Care Center in Kentucky, said people with high-functioning depression can still go to work and interact normally, but after getting off work, they may refuse to go shopping with friends. In a way, they tend to be isolated and will keep a little distance from human relationships.
   2. Accompanying health problems
      As the saying goes, psychology affects physiology, and physiology affects psychology. The two are related, so hidden physical diseases in the body may also cause depression. Michelle Riba, a clinician at the University of Michigan’s Comprehensive Depression Center, said that some co-occurring medical conditions, such as diabetes or cancer Illness, can cause stress and lead to depression. On the other hand, depression can reduce immunity and make people more likely to get sick.
   3. Changes in sleep habits
      Whether you’re having trouble falling asleep, staying up all night, or having trouble sleeping, it could be a warning sign of depression, and poor sleep can worsen depressive symptoms. Carol Landau, a professor of psychiatry at Brown University in the United States, said that good sleep quality is the key to mental health.
   4. Worry or anxiety
      When it comes to depression, we often associate it with sadness, to the point where we overlook another emotion that is also relevant: anxiety. Most people think that the manifestation of anxiety may be fear, but Dr. Steinber said that anxiety can manifest itself in many ways, including mental uneasiness,
   5. Type A personalities who value work
      People who are financially well-off and educated also suffer from high-functioning depression. People with high-functioning depression tend to be educated and have good jobs, but despite their highly educated or affluent backgrounds, these people are often under tremendous pressure at work and spending too much time at work. Spending time at work is a lifestyle habit that increases the risk of depression.
   6. Become dependent or addicted to something
      If you feel sad, lonely, or otherwise uncomfortable, you may drink more alcohol more often to numb those negative feelings. Professor Landau said drinking too much alcohol is very bad for the body, because this type of substance abuse will require more treatment. And becoming addicted to something, among which drugs and alcohol are more likely to aggravate symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and sleep problems, and further weaken our ability to fight these mental illnesses.

How to know if you have high-functioning depression

Michael E. Silverman, a psychologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in the United States, said that determining whether you have high-functioning depression depends on how you define it. It does not mean it is a must to be clinically involved, or formally diagnosed, like major depressive disorder.

In contrast, major depressive disorder is a formal psychiatric disorder (psychiatric disorder), and experts will prescribe medication or adopt appropriate treatment methods according to its regulations, but it does not mean that psychotherapy is ineffective for high-functioning depression. If you meet most of the above characteristics, or often feel depressed and sad,you can seek help from a counselor.

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Reference

Living with a high-functioning mental illness

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of High-Functioning Depression?

7 Signs You’re Dealing with High-Functioning Depression

Books to Deal with High-functioning Depression

How To Manage High Functioning Depression

The secrets to overcoming high functioning depression with ease.
In this book, you will discover –

• The signs of high functioning depression for easy detection.
• Different exercises/activities that can be used to manage high functioning depression.
• How to manage people going through high functioning depression.
• And many more ………

16 Signs You Could Have High Functioning Depression

Hearing the word
“depression”, most of the people will imagine an unhappy, apathetic, empty person with no will to live, no will to exist, without the strength to change anything about their condition.
Presumably, no one will ever think of those laughing, hardworking, successful, charismatic people surrounded by a group of friends as someone who also can suffer from depression.
Well, surprisingly, they can, and that condition is called high functioning depression.

High Functioning Anxiety

We have accepted anxiety and let it into our lives without realizing how much impact it has on our everyday living. Having trouble sleeping? The answer is an anxious mind. Inconsistent work? Anxiety. People pleasing? The answer is again, anxiety. Over thinkers, insecure people, workaholics. Different categories and yet, the same driving force. Anxiety.

In this book, you will learn how to redirect your energy and focus on the people and experiences that allow you to grow, spread your wings, and free yourself from the shackles and constraints of your past.

Supplement for Mental Health

Supplement for Nervous System Health

Supplement to Reduce Stress

Supplement for Sleep Health