A 27-year-old lawyer from Toronto recently went viral for sharing her battle with high-functioning depression and anxiety. Henna, who goes by 18hens on TikTok, shared her very honest Sunday reset routine, and the video has amassed nearly 11.8 million views. “Dealing with these feelings of self hatred everyday manifests into a messy space,” she shared in the video. “I know it sounds really f*cked up, but honestly, sometimes I feel like I don’t deserve peace, so I just let things pile up around me. But even though I feel justified in this self-sabotage, I know from experience, at the end of the day, I just have to get through it.”
If you’ve never heard of high-functioning depression or anxiety, it may be because it’s essentially invisible at first glance. Dr. Cornelia Gibson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, tells Her Campus, “A person with high-functioning anxiety is seemingly able to perform duties at work, home, school or interact in social settings even while internally being bothered by these symptoms. It takes greater effort for a person with anxiety symptoms to perform routine tasks that would have been easier without the anxious symptoms. A person may have to routinely employ skills to manage the symptoms.”
Similarly, Gibson adds, “High-functioning depression is when someone has signs and symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) whether mild, moderate, or severe as defined in the DSM-V and is able to function at work, home, school, or in social settings with seemingly minimal effects.”
Henna additionally posted a video titled “Realistic morning routine of a lawyer who is depressed,” which gained over 9.6 million views. Henna says in the video, “This is my very realistic, non-aesthetic morning routine as a lawyer who is depressed as f*ck. Took me half an hour to get out of bed, so I was very late this morning. I admit I washed my face to wake up, but didn’t brush my teeth.”
“The signs of high-functioning anxiety and depression are often masked by what we have labeled as ‘good qualities’ of an effective member of society.”
Although those like Henna may appear to people as put-together, this might not always be the case. Kassondra Glenn, a licensed therapist and social worker, tells Her Campus, “High-functioning anxiety and depression can be difficult to identify. Many who experience this appear to be overachievers or to have it all together. However, in private, the symptoms of high-functioning anxiety and depression are the same as those of any other form of anxiety and depression. They can include muscle tension, racing heart, rumination, excessive worry, low energy, difficulty concentrating, and sleep troubles.”
Despite some users commenting things like “just be happy” under Henna’s video, the response to her content has been overwhelmingly supportive. The video has seemingly resonated with many people, especially those who may appear happy and successful but in reality are struggling with their own mental health. People have thanked the lawyer for her vulnerability and honesty and have shared how the video has made them feel seen and understood. One comment read, “I’m so thankful for the realistic and authentic representation of being depressed while having a ‘successful’ career and doing okay from the outside” to which Henna responded, “I often forget how I am viewed as successful from the outside. I’m barely keeping it together.”
It may not be so obvious to others when someone has high-functioning anxiety and depression. Allie Gavan, a licensed counselor on high-functioning anxiety and depression, tells Her Campus, “The signs of high-functioning anxiety and depression are often masked by what we have labeled as ‘good qualities’ of an effective member of society. For those who have high-functioning anxiety and depression, on one hand you see a person who may be gainfully employed, holds high academic markers in school, or is admired by their peers for how they ‘can do it all.’ On the other hand, the depression may show up in very forgivable ways, such as not feeling well so declining social invitations, sleeping through the weekend to make up for lack of sleep during the week, or a rigid reliance on maladaptive coping skills such as poor eating habits and use of alcohol or other substances.”
Henna shared to BuzzFeed that since she is unable to take care of herself, she’s never been able to fit the “that girl”/”aesthetic” lifestyle videos that have gone viral on TikTok as an aspirational routine. So instead, she created and posted her realistic morning routine in hopes that others like her would feel less alone and ashamed of their mental health struggles. Additionally, Henna shared that she’s been struggling with high-functioning anxiety for over 10 years, and when she isn’t stuck in bed or her house for consecutive days, she overworks herself to feel either “productive” or “successful.”
We never know a person’s struggles by looking at them or even by holding a conversation with them, so it is imperative that we consistently treat others with kindness and grace.
Sara Macke, a licensed clinical social worker, tells Her Campus, “High-functioning anxiety and depression can be the silent sufferer. Everything looks ‘fine.’ They manage day-to-day activities, even like a professional or perfectionist. People may be shocked to hear about any sort of suffering. They might be role models to those around them. However, this idea contributes to and fuels their anxiety and depression. If they can’t see it, what does it look like?”
Mental health resources like medication or therapy are vital, especially to those struggling with their mental health, but in reality, not everyone may be able to access these things. Many people who work in demanding jobs, even lawyers, are not financially capable of attending therapy consistently. A lot of these people also might not have the time to live healthier lifestyles. While there are a lot of resources to help people dealing with these struggles, like in-person or online therapy or mental health hotlines, they may not be available to everyone.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, know that there are a lot of other people who can relate to you. The effects of one’s mental health manifests differently for everyone, and although a person may appear happy, that might not always be the case. We never know a person’s struggles by looking at them or even by holding a conversation with them, so it is imperative that we consistently treat others with kindness and grace. If you or anyone you know is struggling with the state of their mental health, speak with a specialist, look for local and online support groups, talk to your insurance for options, and remember that you aren’t alone.