We all know what depression looks like. The loner that has withdrawn from their friends and activities. A person suffering from depression sits alone in their dark room and cries. Advertisements for anti-depressant medication perpetuate these stereotypes. However, this generalization isn’t always correct. There are also people suffering from high-functioning depression. These people tend to lead much more normal lives on the outside while struggling internally.

Low-Functioning VS High-Functioning Depression

High-functioning depression is when someone seems to have it all together on the outside, but they are extremely sad on the inside. These people often lead very normal lives. Many people suffering from high-functioning depression even excel in life. These people tend to be perfectionists. They have a good job, straight A’s in school, or excel in their field. Celebrities like Kristen Bell and Olympic athlete Allison Schmitt suffer from this types of depression. You often don’t think about successful people as people that suffer from depression.

Low-functioning depression is what most people think about when they picture depression. A person suffering from low-functioning depression is much more likely to withdraw from society. Keeping a job, maintaining relationships, and keeping commitments can be difficult for someone with this type of depression.

Isn’t High-Functioning Depression Better?

You may think that still being able to complete your daily tasks is a good thing. However, this often hides the fact that the person is suffering. It is very difficult to get help if people can’t tell that you suffer from depression. Also, the stigma of having a mental illness makes asking for help harder. This means that many of the high-functioning people suffer in silence without any help. Suffering in silence can have grave consequences. Eventually, many of these people end up breaking because of the stress to keep up outward appearances.

Someone that shows outward signs of depression is much easier to help. Furthermore,  seeing someone withdrawing can get them the help they need before it is too late. While there is no such thing as a “good depression” those who show more symptoms tend to receive the help they need.

Spotting Depression

It is easier to see the classic symptoms of depression. These manifestations of how a person feels on the inside make spotting low-functioning depression easy.

• Withdrawing from friends and family: One of the classics signs of depression is no longer spending time with loved ones. If you no longer see a friend or family member that at one time you saw often, they might be struggling with depression.
• Overly tired: Depression can cause insomnia or sleeping too much. If you notice a friend or family member that seems tired all the time, they may be depressed.
• Changes in mood: Depression often manifests itself in anger or sadness. If you see someone who is acting outside of their normal character it may be depression.

These symptoms are often easy to spot but what happens when someone is hiding their depression well? There are other symptoms that you can look for in a person with high-functioning depression. These symptoms include:

• Mood swings: It is very difficult to keep depression completely under wraps. There are often emotional outbursts. Irritability, aggression, and anger could be signs that someone is struggling with depression on the inside.
• Changes in diet: Many people attempt to eat away their feelings. This can lead to weight gain. Although, there are people that do not eat at all while they are depressed. If you see a friend’s diet change drastically, you may want to ask them if they are struggling with something.

How You Can Help

The biggest thing that someone needs when suffering from depression is someone with which to talk. The is an old saying “pain shared is pain lessened.” Be there to listen to your family members or friends. It isn’t necessary that you have all the answers for all of their problems. Sometimes they just need someone to listen to them vent.

At any rate, get them out of the house. Invite them to events. Go out of your way to make them feel like they are included. Even if at first they brush you off, they will eventually come around. Be persistent. Make excuses to stop by the house and check on them. People that suffer from depression often feel like they are completely alone. Do you best to combat this feeling by including them.

You can also recommend that they see a professional. Lastly, a person with schooling and training in the field may be able to help them more than you can. Explain to them that asking for help doesn’t make them weak, in fact, the opposite is true. Asking for help for something requires a lot of courage.