High-functioning depression: When success masks suffering

Published 7 June 2026 · general

People with depression don't always feel overwhelmed or struggle to get things done — some are highly efficient and productive, despite their low moods. So

People with depression don't always feel overwhelmed or struggle to get things done — some are highly efficient and productive, despite their low moods. So it can't be that bad, right? Wrong! This article deals with the topic of depression and suicide. Reader discretion is advised. If you are suffering from serious emotional strain or suicidal thoughts, don't hesitate to seek professional help. You can find information on where to find such help, no matter where you live in this world, at this website It's Sunday morning, sometime between 5 and 6, when I suddenly jolt awake. Instantly, a thousand unfinished tasks crowd my mind. I jump out of bed and start moving. It has been this way for years. I take care of the laundry and the dog and make breakfast. I exercise while thinking about the coming week and how exhausting it will be. I'm tired. I'm always tired. Shortly afterward, my son tells me that he has lost his bank card. It's not a major issue, really, but something inside of me gives way and suddenly I'm crying, telling my husband that I'm done with this life. "Can you take care of my child when I'm no longer around?" My sudden breakdown was triggered by something so small and banal it scares me. How working mothers can avoid burnout and depression To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Depression and drive Two years ago, I was diagnosed with depression. I go to therapy once a week. For a long time, I thought that was enough. After all, I was always able to go to work and take care of my family and our home, even socialize. Now I am in a day clinic, surrounded by people suffering from depression for whom simple tasks such as doing the dishes requires an enormous amount of effort.

Some don't even have the energy to get out of bed. For many of them, going to work, or doing sport, is simply out of the question. It's the opposite for me. The worse I feel, the faster I move, rushing through everyday life. I've heard of the non-clinical term "high-functioning depression," describing those who experience depressive symptoms yet retain their drive. From the outside, those who are affected appear efficient and productive. This describes how my life feels to me: a highly efficient nightmare. Not an official diagnosis High-functioning depression is not an official diagnosis in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD‑10). It is therefore not a mental health diagnosis that psychiatrists or psychologists can make. "I don't think much of the term 'high-functioning depression," said Ulrich Hegerl, a psychiatrist who chairs the board of the German Depression Aid and Suicide Prevention Foundation. "It's a faddish term that keeps cropping up." Hegerl said the fact that some individuals remain driven despite suffering from depression could be attributed to their personalities. "Even when they are well, people who suffer from depression tend to be the ones who are there for others — committed, responsible, unwilling to disappoint and determined to keep going until their very last ounce of strength," he said. But, at home, Hegerl said, these types of people fall into bed completely exhausted, their energy depleted. "A feeling of exhaustion, constant inner tension, feelings of guilt, appetite disorders, sleep disorders, a tendency to worry — these are all typical signs of depression found in people with 'high-functioning depression,' just like everyone else," Hegerl said. High-functioning depression: The hidden trap To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Daniel Huys, a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy and head physician at LVR Clinic in Bonn, doesn't use the term either.