Newest Buzzy Pop Psych Label: How Being a “Highly-Functioning” Individual Masks Poor Mental Health

By Moon Harper

Apr 01, 2024 06:13 AM EDT

A new term gaining traction in pop psychology, high-functioning depression, with over 70 million views on TikTok, portrays depression differently, describing individuals who experience the mood disorder while also performing well at work or in school.

What is High-Functioning Stigma?

John T. Maier, a psychotherapist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, notes that high-functioning lacks a clinical definition. However, the increased interest in the term suggests a growing recognition that individuals in high-paying jobs or excelling academically can still struggle with depression.

According to Maier, people are more willing to acknowledge their depression yet feel pressure to meet high expectations. Here are three indicators of high-functioning depression:

1. Talking Negatively About Oneself

Your feelings about work might seem irrelevant if you are consistently meeting work deadlines. However, if you find yourself unusually pessimistic at work, it could be a sign of depression, explains Irina Gorelik, a psychologist at Williamsburg Therapy Group. Negative self-perceptions or outlooks on the world are both indicators of mood disorder.

2. Not Wanting To Do Things You Once Normally Do

Gorelik emphasizes the importance of mood, noting that individuals may struggle to find enjoyment in activities they once cherished. Tasks once considered optional may be sidelined. Additionally, individuals may find it challenging to derive pleasure from activities such as watching movies or spending time with friends. Gorelik highlights that managing work responsibilities while experiencing these symptoms can lead individuals and others to underestimate their struggles. However, she stresses that meeting financial obligations does not necessarily indicate good mental well-being.

3. Masking Your Struggles with High Performance

Gorelik compares high-functioning tendencies to masking. Individuals may exert additional effort in the workplace to conceal their struggles with poor mental health.

You are hiding the struggles behind your performance. While you can keep up with daily life without others noticing, sustaining that high performance takes extra mental effort.

Describing yourself as high-functioning also suggests that you have economic worth to society, explains Maier. When people use this term, they are not only referring to excelling in family life or religious activities, but it indicates, "I'm doing great at my job."

In the past, acknowledging mental health struggles could imply difficulty in job retention or academic performance. The surge in the term's usage indicates a shift in perceptions of depression and anxiety. It suggests that you are somehow distinct from others with this label, Maier explains.

Is High-Functioning Depression Real?

High-functioning depression is still a genuine condition despite not being an official diagnosis. However, some mental health experts avoid using the term due to concerns about worsening depression stigma, arguing that we would not need to add a high-functioning qualifier if depression were not stigmatized.

For instance, some may wrongly believe high-functioning depression is less severe or think anyone with depression can function well if they try hard enough, perpetuating the idea that it is not a genuine condition. Like other types of depression, high-functioning depression is severe and can be debilitating if untreated. Individuals with this condition experience similar symptoms but often suffer in silence.