Why We Need To Talk About High-Functioning Depression
Amanda Leventhal, a college student at the University of Missouri, appears to have it all together. She’s not someone many would characterize as “depressed” and yet, she is. It wasn’t until she wrote an essay on her struggles that her friends knew anything was wrong. Leventhal says she doesn't identify with the mopey women in antidepressant ads. Her symtoms manifest themselves in other ways.
The problem is that there are many faces of depression. Many are part of a growing contingent suffering from what’s been dubbed high-functioning depression. Due to the stigma attached, many keep their sadness hidden and no one knows anything is wrong.
High-functioning depression is when someone seems to have it all together on the outside, but on the inside, they are severely sad. Carol Landau, PhD adds “people often say being ‘high-functioning’ is better than being ‘low-functioning,’ but that’s not true because the most important thing is for a depressed person to get help.
According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.
So how do you talk to a friend who you believe is masking her depression? Landau says to ask if she is okay, pointing out that she hasn’t been herself lately. Leventhal echoes that sentiment. “Just little things, like asking, ‘How are you doing?’” she says. “Just be there to listen and ask them what they need. Landau says it’s best to be able to come armed with a suggestion, like a reputable therapist, or an app like Headspace, used for meditation. “There are so many different types of therapists, medications, apps, and other tools,” Landau says. “That’s why it’s tragic that so many people don’t seek help.”
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