What To Know About High-Functioning Depression 

A man sitting at a table with a laptop and mug looking exhausted. This represents how Marcus Hunt is a depression therapist in Utah providing depression therapy, therapy for men, PTSD treatment and anxiety therapy through online therapy in Utah.

It’s hard to get out of bed in the morning but yet you do it because you believe there’s no other choice but to keep pressing forward. It’s hard to be motivated but somehow you find a way to do the things you need to. It’s hard to care about yourself and your well-being. The world keeps spinning around you but it doesn’t feel like anything has purpose or meaning. If it was up to you then you would sit on the couch and spend your evenings alone. You have family, friends, or a relationship to attend to but it’s harder than it used to be. You go to work, socialize, and fulfill all your responsibilities so nobody has any idea that you even struggle with any form of depression. On the outside, you seem to be handling life just fine but it takes an enormous amount of energy to appear this way. 

Life feels harder than it used to and you aren’t sure why. You may not know that you are struggling with depression because you think depression is for people who can’t get out of bed or do anything. The truth is that you might be dealing with high-functioning depression. 

What is high-functioning depression?

High Functioning Depression? Is that a thing? The truth is it’s not its own diagnosis but it’s a way in which depression can be manifested. Those with high-functioning depression seem to be handling life well when it comes to their behaviors but on the inside, they are struggling. High-functioning depression not only is difficult to detect by other people but it’s hard to detect in yourself. It doesn’t feel THAT bad when it comes to what you think other people struggle with when it comes to depression. It may be true that having high-functioning depression means your depressive symptoms aren’t that severe but it doesn’t mean they aren’t serious, and they don’t deserve treatment. The most important part of high-functioning depression is to first have the awareness to understand that it’s happening to you and know what to do. 

What does high-functioning depression look like?

High-functioning depression can be hard to diagnose based on outside behaviors as those who struggle with this form of depression may be able to hide it but it’s how they are feeling on the inside that can give more information on depressive symptoms. If you are someone who is struggling with high-functioning depression you may go to work and complete your responsibilities but you struggle with the motivation to do so. It might take you longer to get things done than it did when you weren’t depressed. High-functioning depression might mean that you are depressed 3 out of 7 days a week but not all of them. You might lack confidence in yourself and don’t feel worthy of good things in your life. You struggle with your self-esteem and you don’t know why this is an issue for you but it is. 

High-functioning depression looks different for everyone, and it can feel different too. Any feelings of sadness, lack of motivation, or low self-esteem deserves support and help. It doesn’t matter if you don’t feel depressed all day every day of the year or if you don’t lie in bed all day, your struggle still matters, and it still requires help and support. 

Symptoms of high-functioning depression 

There are many symptoms of high-functioning depression and they might vary in severity but here are some common symptoms

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  • Feelings of sadness and discouragement

  • Sleeping too much or insomnia

  • Appetite changes 

  • Lack of energy 

  • Loss of motivation 

  • Desire to isolate and be alone

  • Struggling with making decisions

  • Decreased ability to focus and concentrate

  • Taking more time to complete tasks than usual 

  • Feeling less connected to relationships you felt connected in 

  • Keeping thoughts and feelings to yourself 

  • Feelings of guilt or worthlessness 

Can high-functioning depression be cured?

Like many mental health issues, there is not necessarily a cure for high-functioning depression. The reason for that is that there are many reasons why people experience it and everyone has different biology that impacts how it can be managed. High-functioning depression can be treated and managed. Finding the right balance of treatment options is different for everyone. Early intervention for high-functioning depression may help you have a more positive outcome than if you are to wait for it to progress to get worse. 

What is the treatment for high-functioning depression?

There are several different options to help manage and treat high-functioning depression. Here are some of them:

Psychotherapy 

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Psychotherapy is the fancy name for therapy or counseling. Traditional talk therapy focuses on your history with depression and its timeline. As a therapist, I sometimes view depression as a symptom of something else that may be happening or has happened in your life. People that have experienced trauma or negative experiences in the past may be more prone to depression than others. Therapy focuses on gaining a greater understanding of what you are experiencing, healing from the past, changing negative beliefs you might have about yourself, and being able to use coping skills to deal with it in the present and in the future. 

Medication management

Many people are resistant to medication for mental health purposes because they believe they should not depend on something for their mental health. What we do know is that people with depression might have less trouble producing or utilizing serotonin than those that don’t. As much as you might not want to take medication it can help you produce biological hormones that your brain may not be producing. There are many classes of medication for depression with the most common ones being SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). These are prescribed by a primary care provider or a psychiatrist. 

Ketamine for Depression

Ketamine is a newer form of treatment for people who experience depression. This is not the first line of treatment by any means and is often what is used IF nothing else is effective. Ketamine involves going to a ketamine clinic and being administered this medication through a shot or an IV. It requires being monitored by medical staff to ensure its safety as this is a newer form of treatment that is still being studied and explored. People have reported ketamine being helpful to lessen their symptoms of depression. 

Is high-functioning depression serious?

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High-functioning depression is just as serious as any other form of depression. It might not be as severe and Major Depressive Disorder but left untreated it definitely can become so. High-functioning Depression isn’t a better form of depression and if left untreated it can become debilitating and dangerous. Depression isn’t just serious when you are having suicidal thoughts but it warrants treatment no matter what. You don’t have to wait until your symptoms get worse to deserve help but if you are recognizing yourself in this post then maybe it’s time to reach out for help. Depression can come and go for some people but going through periods of depression throughout your life might mean you need support. Not everything in life has to be dealt with and figured out on your own. 

High Functioning depression in Men 

Men seem to be especially reluctant to recognize symptoms of high-functioning depression that they may have. As a men’s therapist, I provide therapy for men with high-functioning depression and find it takes a lot for them to get into therapy. They are afraid that this means they are weak or they can’t take care of themselves. This isn’t true at all. Men experience mental health issues but they don’t talk about it or believe that they can be helped. Just because you are a man that goes to work every day, takes care of your family, and knows how to be responsible doesn’t mean that what you have isn’t high-functioning depression. I promise that your life can be even better and you can be even more fulfilled by working through your past and treating your symptoms of high-functioning depression through therapy for men. 

High-functioning depression in relationships

High-functioning depression can really impact your relationships without you knowing. Symptoms of depression tend to make you go inward. You start to isolate yourself and spend more time alone. You don’t have the confidence or self-esteem to feel valued by the people in your life so maybe you stop trying to put in the effort. If you experience high-functioning depression you might not even want to work on your relationships and it doesn’t bring you meaning and connection. It might feel like one more thing that you feel like you have to do. People often share they feel broken or unloveable and don’t feel worthy of relationships. This can be problematic when you are in an intimate relationship or marriage. Depression can impact relationships and might require couples therapy as another form of treatment. It can become even more challenging if both you and your partner are experiencing symptoms of high-functioning depression. It can be hard when both partners are in a slump when part of a healthy relationship is co-regulating. When both partners are depressed it can lead to greater arguments, irritability, and struggle to fulfill daily tasks. 

Therapy for high-functioning depression can help

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As a therapist, I strongly believe that attending therapy every week when you are showing signs of high-functioning depression can make a world of difference. Working with a therapist to help you know how to manage your depression and how to improve it can drastically improve your life. Therapy can help you find ways to cope and improve your ability to manage your daily life which might feel hard right now. You deserve to feel better, and you can improve your mental health with the help of a professional. 

Start working with a depression therapist in Utah today 

You don’t have to keep white-knuckling it through life. You can find relief from high-functioning depression with the help of mental health professional. You can feel like yourself again even if it’s been a long time. This Utah Counseling Clinic has a depression therapist who specializes in depression therapy. To begin therapy follow the steps below: 

  1. Book a free 15-minute phone consultation 

  2. Meet with a depression therapist in Utah

  3. Begin finding relief from your symptoms of depression 

Online Therapy in Utah 

I realize how hard it is to prioritize your mental health. You might be prone to brushing going to therapy to treat your depression under the rug. You think that if you just try harder you will be able to finally be ok. I know that therapy can make a huge difference in your life, and I know you deserve help from someone that can help. I want to make therapy convenient for you and this is why I offer online therapy in Utah. Online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy and offers you more convenience so you can attend an online therapy session on your lunch break without leaving your home. 

Online counseling also means I can help you overcome your depression wherever you are in Utah. I work with clients in Salt Lake City, St. George, Logan, Cedar City, Heber City, and more. Reach out today to see how online therapy can help you. 

Other mental health services provided by Marcus Hunt Therapy 

Depression Therapy isn’t the only counseling service provided by this Utah Counseling Practice. Other mental health services Marcus Hunt Therapy provides include anxiety therapy, EMDR therapy, PTSD treatment, therapy for men, marriage counseling, LDS marriage counseling, and premarital counseling

About the Author 

A photo of Marcus Hunt AMFT. This represents how Marcus Hunt provides relationship counseling, EMDR therapy, anxiety therapy, and PTSD treatment in Utah.

Marcus Hunt is an associate marriage and family therapist at Marcus Hunt Therapy in Utah. Marcus has a master's degree in marriage and family therapy. He earned his undergraduate degree in behavioral sciences from Utah Valley University. Marcus enjoys helping men work through their trauma and depression by utilizing EMDR therapy. He understands how high-functioning depression often goes unnoticed and consequently untreated so Marcus is trying to bring more awareness to this mental health issue. When Marcus isn’t doing therapy, he enjoys riding his ebike through the Spanish Fork river bottoms. 

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4 Reasons Why Men Are Hesitant To Start Working With A Men’s Therapist