There is a tendency to forget that mental illnesses happen on a spectrum. Two people can have the same mental health disorder but be impacted in different ways. At Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health in Leland, North Carolina, we think it’s important for people to understand what high-functioning versions of common mental health diagnoses might look like in themselves and others.
What People Expect Mental Illnesses to Look Like
Often, the information people have about mental health disorders is either based on the worst-case scenario or completely false information. They might assume that people with a mental illness are not capable of working or having relationships with other people. They might assume that all people with depression are suicidal and that all people with anxiety have panic attacks that are observable to the casual observer, which may not always be the case.
What High Functioning Depression Looks Like
Often, people who have high-functioning depression have similar symptoms to other people with this disorder, including:
- Fatigue
- Loss of interest in favorite activities
- Difficulty focusing
- Guilty
- Trouble sleeping
- Restlessness
- Changes in appetite
Despite these struggles, the person may still continue to work a full-time job, have relationships, raise children, and look to the outside world, like a person who is not struggling with mental illness. When they confide in others that they are struggling, they might even be told that they don’t have depression.
What High Functioning Anxiety Looks Like
When a person has high-functioning anxiety, they may look fine, at the same time that they are experiencing:
- Chronic stress
- Extreme self-doubt
- High amounts of fear
- Continuous self-criticism
- The need to over-achieve just to measure up
- Worries about looking foolish or inadequate
- Feeling on edge
- A sense of impending doom
- Lightheadedness
- Headaches and migraines
- Digestive issues
- Trouble sleeping
- Fearing the worst-case scenario, even if it’s not likely to occur
Why It Matters
People who have high-functioning mental health disorders often struggle for years without receiving support because their condition is not diagnosed and their struggles may be minimized by people around them. They may observe other people and wonder why it seems like everyone else is able to effortlessly do things that leave them feeling utterly exhausted. They may exert themselves so much with just one part of their life that other areas suffer. For example, they might be able to show up to work freshly showered every day and fulfill their job responsibilities and then struggle to find the energy to maintain a clean home, exercise, cook, or socialize. They might receive great feedback from their boss at work and still be terrified that they are going to be fired any time their supervisor calls them. They may decide that these struggles are a sign of their own weakness or failure, when it’s just an indication that they need support.
Another reason it is important to understand that these conditions are not always visibly disabling is that even people who are considered to have a high-functioning mental illness can develop suicidal thoughts, and it’s important that we take any indications of suicidal intent seriously, even if they are coming from someone who does not seem to be severely mentally ill.
Treating High-Functioning Mental Health Conditions
Whether a mental health disorder is severe, mild, or moderate, people who are struggling deserve to feel better, and the sooner they are able to access the proper supports, the more likely they are to make a fast and complete recovery. This could be achieved through:
- Therapy
- Learning self-care techniques and coping skills, such as breathing techniques, grounding exercises, working out, mindfulness, and setting boundaries to avoid becoming overextended
- Attending support groups
- Medications
- Strengthening relationships with loved ones
- Arranging accommodations at work
Supporting People With High-Functioning Mental Illnesses
If someone shares that they are struggling with depression or anxiety, even if they seem to be living a successful life, you can offer them support by:
- Validating their experience with empathetic, non-judgmental language
- Offering support with day-to-day tasks
- Encouraging self-care activities
- Respecting their space
- Reminding them that it’s okay to not be okay
- Encouraging them to stay connected to loved ones
- Helping them to access professional help
At Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health, we treat patients ages 12 and over who are struggling with acute behavioral and mental health needs requiring inpatient treatment. We hope that providing educational and informative information will improve understanding of mental and behavioral health and get people who are struggling the help they need earlier.
