High VS Low Functioning Depression

As you begin learning more about depression and how it differs, something to keep in 
mind is that it isn’t always black and white. The vision of being who you can tell are 
obviously depressed is only really people with low-functioning depression. There is also 
another form, called high-functioning depression, which is harder to spot in your friends, 
but just as serious.

High Functioning Depression

High functioning depression and low functioning depression differ in what you do, how 
you react to things in your life, and how other people see you. It is often hidden in plain 
sight because you go to work or school, take care of your family, and show up when it is 
needed. But you might also isolate yourself at times, similar to someone who is 
struggling with anxiety or who has an introverted personality. People with high 
functioning depression will do just the bare minimum, while low functioning depression 
makes it even that seem impossible on the worst days.

Signs of High Functioning Depression

Not sure what type of depression you have?  Here are some common signs of high 
functioning depression:

You Have Confidence Problems – If you are someone who is constantly critical of 
yourself and are overwhelmed with low self-esteem and a lot of self-doubt, you might be 
suffering from high functioning depression. It is not uncommon to never really see 
yourself as being good or talented at anything, unattractive, and unworthy of affection. 
You Rarely Experience Joy – Are you finding that you don’t experience a lot of joy in 
your life? It might be hard to be happy or excited about things, or when you do 
something other people find exhilarating, your mood and happiness level are just 
neutral. This is another thing that often happens with people who have high functioning 
depression.

Everything Seems Like a Huge Deal – People with high functioning depression often 
find that small things become or feel like big things almost immediately. This can be 
good or bad things, but it often starts with one slightly negative thought that snowballs 
and gets out of control very quickly.

You Are an Angry or Irritable Person – While this can be true of people with any type 
of depression, it is often a sign that someone has high functioning depression, because 
other parts of their life might seem normal and like they don’t have a mental illness at 
all.

