At a Glance
High-functioning depression and anxiety can be difficult to spot. You might appear successful, sociable, and capable on the outside, while silently battling exhaustion, low mood, or unhealthy coping habits. This article explores what high-functioning depression really looks like, why it’s so often misunderstood, and how therapy and hypnotherapy can work together to support long-term recovery.
A lot of people assume that you can’t be depressed if you seem to have your life together, but this is far from true.
High functioning depression and anxiety might not be a clinical diagnosis under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), but it’s a reality for many people. You might not show the classic signs you’re struggling with depression, especially if you’re socially active, jovial, a confident leader at work, a straight-A student, or a put-together parent. But internally, you might be crumbling.
When you’re dealing with this condition, you may have overwhelming inner struggles and conflicts, such as feeling empty or overwhelmed, crying alone, having self-critical thoughts, or even resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Do you feel something is wrong or off while you are trying to appear normal every day? If you’re struggling with depression by yourself, asking for professional help is important. Therapy, such as CBT alongside medication, is often seen as the first line of treatment for high functioning depression. Your GP or a trained therapist could help you with that. Along with those, you can substantiate your healing journey with hypnotherapy sessions for a more holistic approach.
I, Susannah Saunders, have been helping people reduce symptoms of depression and its related unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as alcoholism, vaping, and substance abuse. Contact me today.
What is High-functioning Depression?
High functioning depression and anxiety are thought to be related to Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) or dysthymia. While you might have an outward appearance of being successful or capable, internally you may feel persistently sad, experience chronic fatigue, low self-esteem, and negative self-talk, suffer from insomnia, and feel an emotional numbness.
While any mental health struggle can feel isolating, when you’re secretly dealing with depression by yourself, the toll and exertion are greater. People afflicted with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) often have more severe symptoms that can reflect both inwards and outwards.
High functioning depression and anxiety are often difficult to diagnose or notice by your immediate circle or even by yourself, which makes it even more challenging to get the right interventions at the right time. Without the right treatment for high functioning depression, your condition may worsen, leading to MDD and suicidal thoughts. If you find yourself struggling with these kinds of thoughts, we recommend talking to a loved one or getting urgent professional help.
Here are some signs you’re struggling with depression while being highly functional:
- You feel sad or low, and any bout of happiness you experience is short-lived
- You’re chronically tired, even when you’ve slept
- You may struggle with insomnia
- You might also suffer from impostor syndrome
- While you may be carrying out all your tasks and routines, doing so may take a huge emotional and physical effort
- You find it hard to accept compliments, finding yourself “undeserving” or “incompetent”
- You may experience mood swings, like anger, irritability, and guilt, and feel less interested in activities you once enjoyed
- You find it difficult to ask for help
Causes and Risk Factors of High Functioning Depression and Anxiety
There’s no exact cause of high functioning depression and anxiety; rather, it’s a mix of different factors.
If you have a family history of PDD or mood disorders, you’re more likely to develop this condition. Hormonal disruptions due to thyroid disorder, pregnancy, or menopause might also bring about depressive disorder. Sometimes, an imbalance of neurotransmitters, like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, can lead to mood swings, energy, and motivation issues.
People who suffer from perfectionism, chronic stress, or high emotional sensitivity are often more likely to have high-functioning depression. Childhood trauma or any unaddressed major change as an adult, like divorce, the loss of a child, the death of a spouse, or job loss, might also lead to high-functioning depression.
With this condition, you’re often dealing with depression by yourself, and your symptoms can easily be mistaken for those of burnout or a personality trait. This makes treatment for high functioning depression delayed and difficult.
Unhealthy Coping Strategies
Coping is a key psychological process for managing stress and emotions (Folkman & Moskowitz, 2004). While healthy coping strategies enable long-term psychological well-being, unhealthy coping strategies often lead to maladaptive approaches and negative outcomes.
Unhealthy coping mechanisms might offer short-term relief but lead to long-term challenges, and include the following:
- Substance abuse, such as alcohol, drugs, or addiction to pain meds
- Avoidance and denial
- Self-harm, such as cutting or burning yourself, or having suicidal thoughts
- Emotional eating
- Negative self-talk
- Isolation and procrastination
- Overworking
How Hypnotherapy Can Help With Depression
High functioning depression and anxiety is a serious condition that requires professional medical intervention. While CBT, talking therapy, or medication are seen as the primary line of treatment, supplementing them with hypnotherapy can help you manage your depression.
Hypnotherapy as an alternative treatment for high functioning depression will target the subconscious blocks and triggers that are holding you back internally and not allowing you to realise your full potential.
In a hypnotherapy session, you’ll achieve complete relaxation, lowering your cortisol levels and allowing you to relax and sleep better. If your depressive thoughts are triggered by childhood or adult-life traumas, hypnotherapy can help you process those negative thoughts and emotions. Your sessions can be tailored to your individual needs, allowing me to work with you to rewire your subconscious mind and instil positive cues and coping mechanisms.
Hypnotherapy for smoking, alcoholism, and substance abuse can be used as part of a wider support plan to overcome addiction and its negative impacts.
Contact Susannah to Overcome Your Internal Struggles
Are you dealing with depression? I offer both in-person and online depression hypnotherapy sessions to help you address your symptoms in a safe space. Connect with me if you’re looking for additional support alongside your regular therapy sessions for high functioning depression and anxiety.
I have over two decades of expertise as a clinical hypnotherapist and have gained a Senior Qualification of Hypnotherapy Practice (SQHP) from the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC) and an HPD from the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH).
Connect with me today to learn more about my methods.
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