Understanding The Symptoms: What Is Walking Depression?

When many of us think of depression, we may think of a mental health disorder that causes major disruptions to a person’s life. Depression can be commonly associated with symptoms like extreme fatigue, an inability to get out of bed, difficulty completing or attending work, and trouble maintaining personal health and hygiene. While symptoms like this may be present in many cases, some people living with depression find they are able to maintain their day-to-day lives. It may be said that these people are experiencing “walking depression.” If you believe you may be living with walking depression or any other mental health concern, don’t hesitate to reach out for help from a licensed mental health professional.

What is "walking depression"?

Walking depression” can be a nickname for the experience of feeling depressed but continuing to carry out the activities of daily life with minimal disruptions. This presentation of depression can be harder to notice in a person.

Living with mental health conditions like walking depression

People with walking depression often appear to have no trouble maintaining a job, relationship, or career. They may keep up with an active lifestyle or fulfilling hobbies. For example, where typical depression may interfere with a person’s ability to keep up with a volunteering commitment, someone with walking depression will likely continue to show up while feeling profoundly unhappy on the inside. 

Because of this, walking depression is sometimes considered more dangerous than typical depression due to the exhaustive nature of masking symptoms daily. Additionally, prolonged sadness or depression can lead to even greater physical and mental health risks. 

Symptoms of walking depression may include: 

• Avoidance of social interaction, including phone calls, gatherings, or celebrations
• Increased irritability
• Excessive fatigue or constant tiredness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substances, overeating, or intentionally isolating
• Anxiety about the past and future
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies that were previously enjoyed, such as art or fitness
• Insomnia

Symptoms of depression: walking depression vs. major depressive disorder

When it comes to clinical diagnosis, “walking depression” generally serves as a nickname for what would typically be referred to as major depressive disorder with atypical symptoms. While the most noticeable difference between what is considered walking depression and typical depression may be the ability to keep up with daily life, prolonged walking depression will likely interfere with this ability down the line. 

Additionally, as walking depression is usually a form of major depressive disorder, many of the symptoms tend to overlap. 

Symptoms of clinical depression, or major depressive disorder

There are different symptoms of major depressive disorder, which can vary depending on the person, the severity of their symptoms, and other factors. In general, a person with major depressive disorder is likely to experience the following, and someone with walking depression may also experience some or all of these:

• Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, tearfulness, or emptiness
• Angry outbursts, irritability, or frustration, even over seemingly small matters
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia or sleeping too much
• Tiredness and lack of energy, so that even small tasks may take extra effort
• Changes in appetite and weight
• Anxiety, agitation, or restlessness
• Slowed thinking, speech, or movement
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, self-blame, fixating on past failures 
• Trouble thinking, making decisions, concentrating, and remembering things
• Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, or suicide*
• Unexplained physical issues, such as back pain or headaches

*If you or a loved one are currently experiencing suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached at 988 and is available 24/7.

Symptoms of walking depression

The symptoms of walking depression are typically the same as regular clinical depression, since “walking depression” is not an official, separate, clinical diagnosis. However, classic symptoms like trouble getting out of bed, social withdrawal, and inability to participate in activities once enjoyed may not manifest in cases of walking depression. Instead, depression for these individuals might look like:

• Feeling low enthusiasm for activities but engaging in them anyway
• Increased irritability
• Excessive fatigue or constant tiredness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substances or overeating
• Anxiety about the past and future
• Insomnia

Treatment for a mood disorder like walking depression

Due to the quiet and internalized nature of walking depression, there’s usually a certain level of self-assessing that must be done to identify the existence of symptoms. In many cases, people with walking depression tend to feel guilt or shame surrounding their symptoms, likely due to the stigmas that continue to surround mental health. issues. 

If you feel you are experiencing symptoms of walking depression, it can be important to remember that what you are feeling is valid. There is generally no requirement for how “bad” depression symptoms must be in order to seek help. Even if you are currently able to maintain your day-to-day life, it can be extremely important to open up about what you are experiencing with a mental health professional before symptoms worsen. 

Seeking support through therapy for mental health conditions

Friends, family, and community can be important and valuable forms of support, if you are experiencing symptoms of depression, it is usually best to consult a therapist or mental health professional as soon as you are able. 

Benefits of online therapy for symptoms of depression

If you are living with persistent symptoms and side effects of depression, it may be helpful to speak with a therapist. However, due to depression symptoms, the process of seeking help may seem extremely challenging. That’s why some people choose to turn to online therapy instead, since you can easily get matched with a licensed therapist and then meet with them remotely from the comfort of home.

According to research, online cognitive behavioral therapy or “talk therapy” can be equally as effective as in-person therapy at reducing the symptoms of certain mental illnesses, including depression.