On TikTok, you'll find millions of users diagnosing themselves using the terms “high-functioning,” or high-functioning anxiety, high-functioning depression, and high-functioning autism.
The term “high-functioning” is not actually clinical, but it generally refers to someone who excels at work or school. Therefore, if someone has high-functioning depression, it means they are excelling at work despite having poor mental health.
Psychologist Irina Gorelick of Williamsburg Therapy Group said that after the pandemic, when levels of both depression and anxiety have skyrocketed, people are finding it easier to excel in certain areas of their lives despite having depression and anxiety. He says he has become more aware of the fact that
“There has been a lot more attention to mental health since COVID-19,” she says. “And people are much more aware of signs that may have been subtle before.”
The concept of a high-functioning depressed or anxious person is not new, but we've become obsessed with the term recently. And experts think this may signal a shift in the way our mental health manifests itself.
Gorelick likens high-functioning tendencies to masking. People work extra hard at the office to cover up for poor mental health.
“It hides the fact that I struggle with performance,” she says. “You can maintain basic aspects of your life without people noticing the changes, but it takes more mental effort to maintain that high level of performance.”
John T. Meyer, a psychotherapist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, says that calling yourself “high functioning” also signals that you have economic value to society.
“When people say “high functioning,'' they are probably saying “I do a great job of raising my family,'' or “I do a great job of going to church.'' No,” he says. “It means 'I'm doing a great job at work.'”
Historically, admitting to having a mental health problem can indicate difficulty holding down a job or doing well in school. The surge in use of the term shows that people are rethinking what depression and anxiety look like.
“This label implies that you are different from others in some way,” he says.
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