Do you often feel tired, irritable, and unmotivated but still manage to take care of your responsibilities, although it seems to take tremendous effort? You might be experiencing functional depression. Contrary to popular belief, depression doesn’t always involve intense sadness, lethargy, and suicidal thoughts. Learn more about the symptoms of this harder-to-spot form of depression so you can recognize whether your persistent low mood might benefit from depression treatment.
Plenty of people resign themselves to chronic low mood and lack of energy, but depression treatment is available. Promises Brazos Valley offers inpatient and outpatient options to support your mental health. Help is just a phone call away.
What Is Functional Depression?
Functional depression, also referred to as high-functioning depression, is a type of persistent depressive disorder (PDD) that’s long-lasting but not as severe as other forms of depression, like major depressive disorder (MDD). Many people contend with the challenges of functional depression without realizing they’ve it due to the misperception that all people with depression can’t function in daily life.
Although some depressive disorders can be incredibly disruptive, leaving people spending much of their time sleeping or zoning out in front of the TV, this isn’t the case for all forms of depression. It may come as a surprise that people with functional depression tend to have their lives in order, at least on the outside. They may go to work daily and follow through on household responsibilities in the evenings. Some might even maintain a social life on the weekends. To onlookers, a person with functional depression might appear to be reasonably happy or at least content with their life.
Symptoms of Functional Depression
Since functional depression can be somewhat covert, it’s critical to familiarize yourself with the symptoms so you can help yourself or someone you care about get the proper support. Think about whether the following functional depression symptoms apply to you or a loved one:
- Low energy – Many different health conditions can cause fatigue, so people often overlook it in cases of functional depression.
- Persistent feeling of sadness or apathy – The sadness involved with functional depression isn’t as severe as other depressive disorders and can sometimes appear as apathy or melancholy.
- Difficulty concentrating – An inability to focus has become quite common in our fast-paced world, and many people are now discovering they’ve attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), so difficulty concentrating is often attributed to other conditions when it might be related to functional depression.
- Loss of interest in hobbies and activities – Interests change over time, so losing the desire for a hobby you once loved isn’t unusual. However, with functional depression, you tend to want to isolate yourself more and lose interest in most activities.
- Changes in appetite or weight – Many factors can influence your hunger, including stress and anxiety. If you find yourself feeling much hungrier than usual or have lost your appetite, consider whether other symptoms of functional depression also accompany this change.
Additionally, notice whether tasks seem to take more effort than usual. Although you may still follow through on responsibilities with functional depression, it can often take more time and energy to complete everything.
Managing Functional Depression Symptoms
If you think you might’ve functional depression, the next step is learning what you can do to manage your symptoms. The most effective plan factors in multiple areas of your life, combining professional treatment with lifestyle changes.
Enroll in Depression Treatment
Functional depression treatment often involves therapy sessions and possibly even medication if deemed necessary.
Seek Support From Others
Talk to those you trust about your condition and ask for their support. You can also join support groups for depression.
Practice Self-Care
Prioritize activities that make you feel happier or more relaxed. Self-care can include getting pampered at a spa, spending time in nature, scheduling regular outings with loved ones, and even preparing healthy meals for yourself.
Call Promises Brazos Valley to Enroll in Depression Treatment
Functional depression may not be as severe as other depressive disorders, but it’s still a valid struggle worthy of treatment. You don’t have to continue to settle for chronic low mood and energy. Reach out to Promises Brazos Valley at 979.426.0086 or through our online form to schedule an intake assessment and discuss which of our depression treatment programs is right for you.