A student doctor has listed the five signs that someone who seems happy is struggling with ‘high-functioning depression‘, and revealed why it’s far more common than you might think.
Zachery Dereniowski, 27, is a Canadian motivational speaker and medical student at the University of Sydney, and he specialises in mental health and making educational TikTok videos around the subject.
In one of his most recent clips, Zachery revealed why signals including ‘feeling like you’re faking it’ and feeling ‘physically sick when you take a break’ could be signs that you or someone you know is depressed.
Scroll down for video
A student doctor has listed the five signs that someone who seems happy is struggling with ‘high-functioning depression’ (Zachery Dereniowski pictured)
Zachery Dereniowski (pictured), 27, is a Canadian motivational speaker and medical student at the University of Sydney, and he specialises in mental health
‘The five signs of high-functioning depression are that you can fulfill your obligations but collapse from exhaustion,’ Zachery said in a video.
‘[If you feel like] you’re constantly faking it, you could also be struggling.’
Other signs include someone who is able to battle negative intrusive thoughts while also supporting their loved ones.
If you ‘feel physically sick when you take a break’, you might also have high-functioning depression.
The fifth sign is someone who can do ‘essential things to a high standard but neglects other things completely’.
‘To whoever reads this, your life matters,’ Zachery said.
‘No one can replace you. I’m thankful you were born.’
Thousands who saw the medical student’s video were thankful that Zachery had shared his opinions on the subject.
‘It’s so exhausting being “on” so much,’ one person posted.
‘I don’t even know who I am anymore, what people expect to see or the girl who can’t get out of bed.’
Another added: ‘Well, look at that, exactly how I feel. Someone who is going through the motions, not remembering the last time I felt truly alive.’
Zachery (pictured) said you should never say things like ‘everything happens for a reason’ or ‘keep calm and carry on’ to someone struggling with depression
Previously, Zachery revealed revealed why sayings like ‘everything happens for a reason’ and ‘keep calm and carry on’ are harmful for people struggling with their mental health.
‘People do not feel better when you say “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” and “everything happens for a reason”,’ Zachery said.
Other quips that fall into this bracket include ‘keep calm and carry on’, ‘get over it’ and ‘time heals all wounds’, the doctor said.
Instead of these expressions, saying things like ‘I hear you’ and ‘I can’t even imagine how difficult this is’ are helpful for people struggling with their mental health.
‘The things you can say to someone in pain include “I hear you”, “I can’t even imagine how difficult this is” and “I’m here for you”,’ Zachery said.
Other statements that can be helpful for people include ‘let’s talk about it’ and ‘I want to understand this more so I can help’, as he said this ‘validates’ their feelings and means you are engaging.
‘You don’t have to be an expert to keep the conversation going when someone says they’re not okay,’ Zachery told FEMAIL.
‘By knowing what to say you can help someone feel supported and access appropriate help long before they’re in a crisis, which can make a really positive difference to their life.’
‘You don’t have to be an expert to keep the conversation going when someone says they’re not okay,’ Zachery (pictured) told FEMAIL
Source: Daily Mail
