Your Work Addiction May Be Related to High-Functioning Depression
Introduction
In today's fast-paced world, many individuals find themselves dedicating an excessive amount of time and energy to their work. While dedication and commitment are commendable qualities, it's essential to recognize when work habits may be related to underlying mental health issues. In this blog, we'll explore the possible connection between work addiction and High-Functioning Depression (HFD).
Understanding High-Functioning Depression
High-Functioning Depression is a unique mental health phenomenon that is not yet recognized by the DSM-5 and where individuals experience depressive symptoms while still effectively managing their daily responsibilities at a high capacity. It often goes unnoticed because those with HFD maintain a facade of normalcy and may not acknowledge feelings of distress.
Work Addiction: Signs and Symptoms
Work addiction, also known as "burnout" or "overworking," can have detrimental effects on physical and mental well-being. Some common signs of work addiction may include:
Excessive Hours: Working long hours regularly, including weekends and holidays.
Neglecting Self-Care: Prioritizing work over self-care activities such as exercise, sleep, and relaxation.
Constant Stress: Feeling constant stress and pressure related to work.
Neglecting Relationships: Neglecting personal relationships due to work commitments.
Loss of Enjoyment: Losing enjoyment in activities outside of work.
The Link Between Work Addiction and HFD
It's crucial to recognize the signs of work addiction and its potential connection to HFD. If you or someone you know exhibits these signs, seeking support and professional help is essential.
Seeking Help and Balance
Addressing work addiction and its potential connection to HFD requires a multi-faceted approach. It's essential to:
Self-Reflection: Take time to reflect on your work habits and their impact on your well-being.
Seek Professional Help: Consult with a mental health professional who can provide guidance and support.
Set Boundaries: Establish healthy boundaries between work and personal life.
Practice Self-Care: Prioritize self-care activities that promote mental and emotional well-being.
Reach Out: Don't hesitate to seek support from friends, family, or support groups.
Conclusion
Your work addiction may be related to underlying High-Functioning Depression (HFD). Recognizing the signs and seeking help is the first step toward achieving a healthier work-life balance and overall well-being. Remember that you don't have to navigate this journey alone, and support is available to help you find a more fulfilling and balanced life.
You can take this insightful quiz at Dr. Judith's High Functioning Depression Quiz for a better understanding of your experiences. Keep in mind that this is in no way a diagnosis and that these tools may be useful when discussing a treatment plan and diagnosis with your licensed provider.
Disclaimer: You may want to consider your individual mental health needs with a licensed medical professional. This page is not medical advice.
Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified Psychiatrist and Media Consultant with over 1 million followers on social media, leads the First-of-its-kind study on High-Functioning Depression. While there is a multitude of research on depression and dysthymia, there is very little on depression in the prodromal phase in people who have symptoms of depression but do not meet criteria for a major depressive episode because they are functioning at a high capacity and they do not report or acknowledge being in significant distress. These individuals do not necessarily identify with the emotion “depression” until someone points out that they are exhibiting symptoms of depression and or anhedonia. While High Functioning Depression is a term that has risen recently in the past 5 years in the online discourse and mental health circles, it is not yet recognized amongst medical professionals and is not in the diagnostic manual for psychiatry (DMS-5). Many individuals during and after the Covid-19 pandemic began to present to Dr. Judith’s practice using the term, “High Functioning Depression” and there have been reports of HFD worsening without treatment into fatal forms of mental illnesses. This along with Dr. Judith’s online followers asking for more resources on HFD, led to Dr. Judith and her research team submitting the first of its kind High Functioning Depression study to the IRB in 2023. She is currently enrolling individuals into this study to learn more about the risk factors and unique presentations of individuals who identify as having High Functioning Depression. Dr. Judith holds degrees in biology, chemistry, religion medicine, and business from prestigious institutions such as Duke University and Columbia, and has post-doctoral and research training at Columbia University and NYU. Passionate about inclusive mental health treatments, Dr. Judith heads a dedicated team of 10 women focused on innovative research for various mental health conditions. Her lab pioneers high-functioning conditions research, develops psychometric scales for mood and anxiety, and promotes evidence-based approaches. Her lab has enrolled patients into phase 2-4 clinical research studies aiding in the development of novel treatments for pediatric, adult and geriatric conditions ranging from ADHD to Alzheimer’s dementia. Some of the novel treatments have become FDA approve and now help to treat millions of people worldwide. Her clinical research site, Manhattan Behavioral Medicine has participated in both Pharma and NIH funded research and is one of the few clinical research sites solely owned and solely operated by a black woman Principal Investigator. This is important as it is well known that for many years minority populations and women were largely underrepresented in clinical research. Dr. Judith is dedicated to creating space for diversity and inclusion in this space so that research and evidence-based treatments are representative of all populations. Dr. Judith Joseph is committed to advancing mental health treatment and embracing diversity in her work.