They decline social invitations

They decline social invitations
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High-functioning depression looks a lot like chronic low-level depression and can last around five years in adults or one to two years in children and teens, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. And while it may not leave a person devastated and hopeless, high-functioning depression can seriously dent your quality of life, dampening your enthusiasm for work, school, family and even social activities. A change in social activities can be one of the earliest warning signs.

“People with high-functioning depression still go to work and interact with people, but outside of work, they may stop hanging out with friends, and make excuses like ‘work’s been really stressful,’” says psychiatrist Dr Jason Stamper. “They will be somewhat isolative, and this often translates into distance in relationships.”

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They have other health issues

They have other health issues
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This is a two-way street. On one hand, underlying medical conditions can prompt depression. “Co-occurring medical conditions, like diabetes or cancer, cause stress and strain that can lead to depression,” says professor psychiatry Dr Michelle Riba. On the other hand, depression can lower immunity, making you more vulnerable to getting sick.

They’re sleeping differently

They’re sleeping differently
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Whether you can’t nod off as easily, you’re snoozing more than usual, or you’re tossing and turning, sleep problems can warn of possible depression – and it can make your symptoms dramatically worse. “Good sleep is key to good mental health,” says Dr Carol Landau, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Brown University.

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They’re worried or anxious

They’re worried or anxious
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We’re so quick to equate depression with sadness that we tend to overlook another strongly-linked emotion: anxiety. It’s important to also note that anxiety isn’t limited to fear; it can manifest itself in multiple ways, according to Dr Stamper. You might experience mental restlessness, confusion and that feeling of having a “pit in your stomach.”

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They may be relying more on vices of choice

They may be relying more on vices of choice
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That might mean drinking more alcohol than usual, taking drugs, eating more ice cream, or playing more video games – whatever behaviour serves as an emotional crutch. “If you’re feeling sad or lonely or otherwise ‘off,’ you may drink more wine more often to cover it up,” Dr Landau says. “This kind of self-medicating is especially troubling because substance abuse adds an extra layer of care that you need.” In addition to being addictive, drugs and alcohol especially can exacerbate symptoms of depression, anxiety and sleep problems, further hindering people’s abilities to cope.

Watch out for these 8 signs stress is making you sick.

They’re a successful, type A personality

They’re a successful, type A personality
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Affluent, educated people are, surprisingly, more likely to have high-functioning depression.” The paradox of high-functioning depression is that these are very often people who are educated and have important jobs,” Dr Stamper says. “They have the benefit of education and status, yet often their careers can be huge stressors.” Dr Landau says she works mostly with women whose lives and list of personal accomplishments is long and impressive. “In some ways, you’re better off as a low-functioning person,” she says, “because high-functioning people often don’t allow themselves to have all the necessary support.”

Consider suggesting these 10 habits of people who never get stressed..

They’re pretty grouchy

They’re pretty grouchy
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Irritability is another common symptom of high-functioning depression, and it’s especially problematic for women, according to Dr Landeau. “People are more likely to see an irritable woman as a ‘bitch,’ rather than showing concern, like, ‘Hey, you don’t seem the same lately. Are you okay?” she says. Because women are conditioned at an early age to be less assertive and to supress “troublesome” emotions like anger, more subtle symptoms like irritability can be missed. Consider that some one in four women have been, or will be, depressed at least once in their lives, according to Landau, and irritability may be the chief sign.

These science-backed ways to overcome depression naturally are worth sharing.

There is a family history

There is a family history
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Experts agree that knowing your family’s history is essential for predicting and diagnosing depression. Studies show that the more relatives you have who have been diagnosed with mood disorders or drug or alcohol dependence, the more likely it is that you will too. “Knowing your genetics and family history can be enormously helpful,” says Dr Riba. Life changes and stress can trigger your biological predisposition to depression, so knowing your history can help you not only predict, but shape, your future.

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Source: readersdigest.ca

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