High Functioning Depression Test

On the outside, it might look like you have it all together. But on the inside, you might struggle with deep pain, sadness, or even numbness.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Though high-functioning depression can be a silent struggle, it is treatable with the right support.

This quiz is designed to be a first step in getting the help you need. Here, you'll reflect on your emotions and experiences, and we'll provide resources after the quiz. Remember, your feelings are valid even if your quiz results don't suggest that you're struggling with high-functioning depression. Your well-being matters, and support is available no matter what you're going through.

Let's explore together what might be happening beneath the surface.

How accurate is this quiz?

At Best Therapists, we believe that online mental health quizzes can be an excellent first step towards improving our mental health. Quizzes like this one can educate you and provide opportunities for self-reflection, but note that they are not a substitute for professional assessments and diagnoses.

Take our quiz below ↓

Your privacy is important to us, so all results are completely anonymous and no email is required.

Example scenarios

• The Driven Executive: Sarah is a 38-year-old marketing director at a Fortune 500 company. From the outside, she appears to have it all: a successful career, a beautiful home, and an active social life. She consistently meets deadlines and leads her team effectively. However, Sarah struggles with persistent feelings of emptiness and fatigue. She often lies awake at night, plagued by self-doubt and guilt over not feeling happier despite her achievements. Sarah maintains her demanding schedule and social commitments, but finds little joy in activities she once loved. She's irritable with her partner but hides any negative feelings from her coworkers. Sarah uses her work as a coping mechanism, often staying late at the office to avoid confronting her feelings of worthlessness and sadness.
• The Popular Teacher: Mike is a 45-year-old high school teacher beloved by students and respected by colleagues. He's known for his engaging lessons and involvement in extracurricular activities. Mike always has a smile for his students and never misses a day of work. However, outside of school, he battles persistent low mood and exhaustion. He struggles to grade papers or plan lessons, often pushing through fog-like concentration issues to complete his work. Mike has lost interest in his hobbies but continues to participate in school events to keep up appearances. He experiences frequent headaches and muscle tension but dismisses them as stress-related. Despite his cheerful demeanor at work, Mike feels increasingly isolated and finds it hard to connect with friends and family.
• The Successful Grad Student: Elena is a 26-year-old Ph.D. candidate in biology. She maintains excellent grades, publishes papers, and is on track to complete her degree early. Elena is admired by her peers for her work ethic and seemingly effortless success. However, she constantly battles feelings of inadequacy and guilt. Elena struggles with insomnia, often lying awake ruminating over minor mistakes or perceived failures. She pushes herself to attend social events but finds them draining and joyless. Elena uses her studies as a distraction from her emotional pain, working long hours in the lab to avoid dealing with her feelings. Despite her accomplishments, she frequently thinks about dropping out, feeling that her work is meaningless, but she never shares these thoughts with others.

In each of these examples, people maintain high levels of functionality in their professional or academic lives while struggling with persistent symptoms of depression.

They may be skilled at hiding their struggles from others, but the ongoing feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and lack of joy significantly impact their internal experiences and overall quality of life. This disconnect between their outward success and internal struggles is characteristic of high-functioning depression.

Crisis resources

If you're in a mental health emergency, please call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.