High Functioning Depression is also known as Dysthymia and it differs from Depression. While Depression is a severe mental illness that impacts a person’s quality of life to the point where they can barely function, Dysthymia is more subtle than that. Someone who suffers from depression isolates from friends and family and stops engaging in things that they used to enjoy. At its worst, depression can lead a person to end one’s life.

Dysthymia or High Functioning relationships manifests differently than Major Depressive Disorder for example. People with this condition often blend in and don’t appear to be in distress. A person with dysthymia is often high achieving and can maintain healthy relationships. An individual suffering from this condition may not appear unwell, which makes it difficult to get them the help that they desperately need. People with High Functioning Depression often feel a sense of malaise or subtle sadness that doesn’t seem to have an origin.

They may feel chronically tired or find themselves working overtime to avoid their feelings. Individuals with dysthymia can sometimes be perfectionistic and have trouble letting go when things don’t go their way. They might now know why they’re having these feelings, but it could be High Functioning Depression, and it’s crucial to find help for this condition.