You’re showing up. You’re smiling. You’re functioning, but something still feels off.
You laugh when you’re supposed to. You post. You get through the day. But beneath it all… there’s a heaviness. A quiet, aching tiredness. A part of you that’s just going through the motions.
That might be depression — even if no one else sees it.
Depression isn’t always crying in the dark
Sometimes it’s smiling at work and collapsing on the couch later...
Sometimes it’s being productive but numb...
Sometimes it’s answering “I’m fine” when your heart feels hollow...
Sometimes it’s showering, eating, working and still feeling like you’re losing the fight...
Depression wears many faces
And it doesn’t have to look "bad enough" for you to seek help!
Signs of hidden or high functioning depression
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Constant exhaustion even after rest
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Feeling empty, flat, or disconnected
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Losing interest in things you used to love
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Feeling like joy is out of reach
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Guilt for feeling low when others expect more
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Smiling in public, spiraling in private
If you see yourself in this, you’re not dramatic
- You’re not lazy
- You’re not ungrateful
- You’re just carrying more than your nervous system was meant to hold alone
Finding joy doesn’t mean forcing happiness
Joy, in therapy, starts small
It might look like:
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Naming your feelings without apologizing
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Getting out of bed when you didn’t want to
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Laughing at something silly and letting it land
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Feeling something again even if it’s not happy
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Saying, “This hurts. But I’m still here.”
What therapy can help with
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Naming the invisible weight you’ve been carrying
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Processing grief, trauma, or hormonal shifts affecting mood
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Exploring emotional numbness and disconnection
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Rebuilding joy in a way that fits your life
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Learning how to cope without shutting down
- You’re not weak
- You’re not broken
- You’re just tired and that’s a real thing
Let therapy be your space to feel again, without pressure and without pretending
Therapy isn’t about being fixed. It’s about being found.
