On paper, your life looks great. Your social media is thriving. You’re booked, busy, and people admire how much you’re achieving.
But internally?
You’re detached.
Exhausted.
Going through the motions.
You’re constantly asking yourself:
“Is this burnout? Am I just tired? Or is this something deeper?”
If you’ve ever felt this way, you might be living with high-functioning depression—a form of depression that hides in plain sight.
It doesn’t always look like what we think depression “should” look like. There may be no tears, no missed deadlines, no dramatic crash. But it’s there, quietly affecting your energy, identity, and joy.
What Is High-Functioning Depression, Really?
High-functioning depression isn’t a clinical diagnosis, but it’s a term commonly used to describe people who are outwardly performing well—going to work, showing up for family, hitting their goals—but internally struggling with persistent depressive symptoms.
When I was going through it, I didn’t realise how much I was masking. I thought I was just tired… until I started losing joy in everything I loved.
Common Signs of High-Functioning Depression
Here are some of the most overlooked signs, especially common among Caribbean professionals and creatives:
1. You’re always “on,” but never present
You can be productive without being fulfilled. If your wins feel empty or you’re going through the motions, that’s a red flag.
People praised how much I was accomplishing… but I was completely disconnected from all of it.
2. You rarely (if ever) rest without guilt
If you equate rest with laziness, or if you always need to be doing something to feel “worthy,” pause. You might be overcompensating to outrun your emotions.
3. You overcommit—even when you’re running on fumes
Saying “yes” to everything might seem like ambition, but it can also be a coping mechanism for low self-worth or scarcity mindset.
I said yes to every contract—even the ones that weren’t aligned—because I thought I had to.
4. You’ve stopped doing things that bring you joy
You can’t remember the last time you did something just for fun—not content, not productivity, just joy.
5. You’re hyper-independent and hate asking for help
You’re the strong one. The reliable one. The one everyone leans on. But who’s supporting you?
6. You feel disconnected from your own creativity
Especially for creatives and entrepreneurs, this one stings. You might feel uninspired, directionless, or like you’re creating just to meet deadlines.
Losing my curiosity as a creative was the biggest red flag—but I didn’t realise it until I stopped creating altogether.
Why Caribbean Creatives Are Especially Vulnerable
In Caribbean culture, resilience is celebrated—sometimes to a fault.
We often normalise suffering in silence. Therapy isn’t always accessible. And mental health conversations are still surrounded by stigma.
When you’re a high achiever, there’s added pressure to maintain a certain image, especially online.
And when you’re a Caribbean entrepreneur or content creator, it’s even easier to conflate your work with your worth.
That’s why conversations like this are vital—for shifting the culture, normalising emotional check-ins, and creating space for rest and ambition.
So What Can You Do?
If you’re recognising yourself in any of this, start here:
- Acknowledge it – Name what’s happening. You don’t need a full diagnosis to validate how you’re feeling.
- Talk to someone – A therapist, a coach, a trusted friend. You don’t have to carry this alone.
- Start reintroducing joy – Reconnect with small acts of curiosity and creativity.
- Redefine success – Beyond money, metrics, or external praise, what truly matters to you?
This blog is part of my Wellness & the Creative Journey series, written especially with Caribbean creatives, entrepreneurs, and high-achievers in mind—because let’s be honest: we don’t talk about this enough.
Start Here: Read + Watch How 2024 Almost Broke Me
This companion blog shares my personal story and what helped me step back from burnout.
It’s honest, raw, and meant to remind you: you’re not alone.
Wellness & the Creative Journey Series
This blog is part of my ongoing desire to normalise conversations on:
- Mental health and entrepreneurship in Trinidad and the Caribbean
- Navigating burnout as a Caribbean creative
- Healing after a creative collapse
- Embracing curiosity and joy again
- Balancing ambition with self-care
Let’s Connect +Talk
Have you ever felt like this? What signs have you experienced that made you realise something wasn’t right?
Drop your thoughts in the comments or send me a DM on Instagram.
Let’s normalise these conversations—especially in our Caribbean circles.
Want more? Watch and subscribe to my videos to get deep dives on topics like these on YouTube.
