7 Signs You May Have 'High-Functioning' Depression Without Realising

“People lose years believing this is simply how life feels.”

Depression is quite common in the UK. It’s believed to affect as many as one in six adults.

But according to the NHS, it’s not always easy to spot. The health service’s page on the mental health issue reads: “A lot of people don’t realise they’re ill and try to carry on and cope with their symptoms.” As a result, sometimes it takes a loved one’s intervention to help them notice they’re struggling.

The fact it can fly under the radar can cause issues. Consultant psychologist and neuropsychologist Dr Monica Berntsen said “the risk is that [the depression] tends to deepen” without diagnosis.

“It affects relationships, work and physical health, and people lose years believing this is simply how life feels,” she added.

And Dr Tom MacLaren, a consultant psychiatrist at Re:Cognition Health, shared: “I see people who are still going to work and performing well, looking after their families, maintaining relationships and keeping up with their everyday responsibilities, yet internally they are struggling.

“We sometimes refer to this as ‘high-functioning depression’, although it isn’t a formal clinical diagnosis.”

So, we thought we’d speak to experts about the more subtle signs you may have depression.

Seven signs you might have “high-functioning”........

© HuffPost