Depression is a problem that affects many people, even if it’s not always visible from the outside. In 2020, just under 19% of American adults reported to have been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives.
However, some people don’t always display visible symptoms of depression. This doesn’t mean that they don’t in fact have depression, just that they’re able to keep most aspects of their life running while the illness depletes them in other areas. This is called high-functioning depression, and it’s just as important to treat as standard depression for an individual’s well-being.
What Does Depression Look Like?
Someone with high-functioning depression, also known as “smiling depression,” may appear like they don’t have depression at all. But their symptoms are often less intense versions of depression symptoms.
Symptoms of depression include:
- Constant feelings of sadness, despair, and hopelessness
- Agitation
- Loss of interest in favorite activities
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sleeping more than usual
- Persistent fatigue, regardless of activity
- Difficulty making decisions
- Thoughts about suicide and/or death
Signs of High-Functioning Depression
Someone with high-functioning depression will still experience symptoms of depression, but they may manifest differently. This may include:
- Less intensive symptoms overall
- Self-medication, which may result in alcohol addiction or dependence on other substances
- Needing to exert enormous effort to complete tasks or obligations
- Psychosomatic symptoms, i.e. stomach problems and headaches
- Ability to maintain relationships, despite depression
Not everyone with depression (high-functioning or otherwise) will show every symptom. Depression is a highly personal disease, and it’s important to monitor how long symptoms present themselves in the same person. To be officially diagnosed with depression, a person needs to have displayed symptoms for at least two weeks.
What is a High-Functioning Mental Illness?
Any high-functioning mental illness is characterized by having less intense symptoms than a typical version of that mental illness. People with these conditions are typically more able to cope with symptoms and not allow damage to their jobs or relationships. But this doesn’t mean that their illness hasn’t subsided, and they will still experience symptoms.
People may not seek treatment for their mental illness for many reasons, such as:
- Lack of belief: The individual may not believe that they have a mental illness, or that this is a chronic problem that deserves attention. People may even believe that depression as a mental illness doesn’t exist.
- Perceived weakness: Many people have the incorrect belief that suffering from depression makes them a weaker person. They may believe that they should be able to handle their emotions, or are just trying to “deal with it” until their symptoms subside.
- To avoid attention: Depending on their work or home situation, a person may not feel safe drawing attention to their personal mental struggles. They may fear retaliation or mockery, either for having struggles or for requiring resources to cope.
- Desire to not be a burden: This is a risk for individuals in a caregiver position — they may feel it selfish to ask for assistance when other people also need help. They might see it as inappropriate to take up “resources” when other people need them.
In spite of how the person feels about their mental illness, the deficit and impairment will still impact their lives. Acceptance of the illness is the first step to reclaiming control and moving toward healing.
Can You Go Into Treatment For High-Functioning Depression?
It is possible and encouraged by mental health professionals for individuals to enter into treatment for high-functioning depression. It is absolutely dependent on the individual case. But for some people, it’s advised that they enter treatment so that they can concentrate on their own healing away from life.
This can be extremely effective for people who may struggle to find enough time to work on their mental health amid everyday responsibilities. Entering treatment (even in an outpatient treatment setting) allows for an individual to devote focused time and energy to healing their mental health. For people who desire to not be a burden or don’t want to devote excessive time to their own mental health, the best option for them may be to enter a treatment program so they can learn coping mechanisms and build strategies as soon as possible.
How is Depression Treated?
Many treatments for depression exist. But treatment plans for depression may also intersect with treatment for addiction, and the two are often intertwined. If this describes you, it’s best to seek out treatment specifically for a dual diagnosis of depression and addiction.
There are many options available for people who want to enter treatment for depression, and they don’t all fit the ideas people may have about therapy or inpatient treatment. Some are based more on conventional talk therapy, while others may focus more on the mind-body connection or addressing a key source of trauma. A major advantage to entering treatment for depression is receiving an individualized treatment plan created by staff to address your specific needs.
This type of treatment is closest to most people’s idea of therapy. Based around talking and recounting stories of the past and present, individual therapy is centered around helping you meet your goals and develop strategies to live a more balanced life. Your mental health professional may employ several different techniques to help you receive results.
This method of individual therapy is often popular with individuals who may be skeptical of conventional therapy techniques. CBT programs are designed with practicality in mind, and focus on directly applying strategies to address maladaptive attitudes and beliefs. For people suffering from depression, it may help cut down on self-medicating behaviors.
Depression can be a confusing and contradictory condition. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a method of approaching therapy that focuses on these contradictions and the idea that change in life is inevitable. The ultimate goal of DBT is to improve a person’s resilience and ability to cope, with an emphasis on strategies involving change and acceptance.
When did you last connect with your inner child? IFS therapy takes this concept and expands it in a way to promote healing by way of introspection. Individuals are encouraged to reflect on how different parts of themselves interact, develop patterns, and may have influenced reactions to past traumatic experiences. The goal is to develop self-compassion for past actions, choosing instead to see different coping mechanisms employed by different parts of the self.
At Acqua Recovery, medication is one of many tools that can be used to treat mood disorders and addiction. Plans for medication-assisted therapy center around the idea of using medication to stabilize the individual so that they can focus on coping and recovery. Treatment is designed to treat the entire individual, while medication stabilizes physical symptoms.
Depression (along with other mood disorders) often causes a separation between an individual’s mind and body. Breathwork therapy sessions help work to restore this lost connection through the simple act of breathing. Individuals work to detect and alleviate tension in their body, helping to strengthen self-awareness and ability to cope. It’s often used as a complimentary form of therapy to other forms, strengthening overall skills and helping the individual learn how to regulate their autonomic nervous system.
This revolutionary form of therapy is focused on working through trauma from a physical point of view. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy involves the patient recounting traumatic events while the therapist provides some other kind of auditory stimuli. The idea is to decrease the “freezing” impact of traumatic events so that the person can work through them without as much acute distress. This can help enable healing, both from the perspective of therapy and the brain’s natural healing process.
Someone might not think of novel experiences as a treatment for depression. But experiential therapy is centered around the connection between physical health and emotional health. In a treatment facility, you may have the opportunity to attend activities like yoga, volleyball, and mountain biking. At Acqua Recovery, we offer opportunities for outings in the Salt Lake Valley and Wasatch Back to break up routine and offer a chance to try something new.
Seek Treatment For Depression at Acqua Recovery
If you’re suffering from depression, it doesn’t matter how strong your symptoms are or how capable you are of maintaining your responsibilities. You deserve to receive help and learn how to overcome your depression.
At Acqua Recovery, we’re here for you and ready to help you on your journey to healing. You’ll benefit from a personalized care plan designed to address your needs. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you out of depression and into a more balanced emotional life.
