“If Only an Accident Happened on the Way to Work”: The Brain Cries SOS... No More Need to Live a “Perfectly Productive Life” [Smart Wellness]

[Financial News]“What’s the point of living like this? I wish there would be an accident on my way to work.”A, an office worker in their 30s, grew up without wanting for anything and has an easygoing personality. They are also well regarded at work, but feel lethargic when alone. They have nothing they want to do, eat, or places they want to go. After spending days feeling empty and depressed, one day A absentmindedly thinks, “I wish there’d be an accident on my way to work tomorrow. Just enough to be hospitalized for a week.”The outward face of “high-functioning depression,” which can cause people to undermine themselves through self-destructive thoughts and actions without even realizing itis what A’s wish reveals.
“High-functioning depression”—a state of being depressed inside while appearing fine on the outside—is drawing attention among people who have lived through intense competition. The problem is that it can emerge suddenly in people who maintain their social lives and relationships without difficulty and lead ordinary lives. Experts stress the need to acknowledge oneself and respond sensitively to changes in one’s mood, rather than choosing to “just push through” solely for the sake of one’s roles and responsibilities.

High-functioning depression is also called “masked depression.” The concept was developed by Judith Joseph, an American psychiatrist. As the word “mask” suggests, it is characterized by depressive symptoms that contrast with an ordinary outward appearance.
Professor Yoon Hong-gyun, a psychiatrist and author of “Self-Esteem Class,” discussed the symptoms of high-functioning depression on the variety show “You Quiz on the Block.”“People sometimes say paradoxical things like, ‘I’m okay, but I’m not okay,’ or ‘I’m living well, but I’m not doing well.’”They added, “a state in which a person functions without difficulty but feels no sense of achievement or happinesscan be interpreted as high-functioning depression,” they explained.
The medical community explains this phenomenon as “an overload of the brain’s nervous system.” To maintain a seemingly perfect daily life, the frontal lobe uses excessive energy to suppress emotions, throwing systems of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin—which regulate pleasure and reward—out of balance.
In particular, the thought “I’d rather have an accident and be hospitalized” is medically classified as “passive suicidal ideation.” Unlike typical severe depression, in which extreme lethargy can make even moving difficult, people with high-functioning depression retain the physical energy to maintain their daily lives. This raises particular concern because, in an impulsive crisis, they may be at risk of acting on those thoughts.
Another feature of high-functioning depression lies in how difficult it can be to gauge one’s own condition when the depressed mood is not pronounced enough to be outwardly apparentIf you feel that the motivation that drives your life—such as enjoyment, interest, or anticipation—is gradually drying up, it may be worth considering this a warning sign of high-functioning depression.
Professor Yoon suggested establishing consistent daily habits as a way to reflect on oneself. He explained that straying from one’s usual routine or repeatedly trying to break rules one has set for oneself may be a sign that something is wrong emotionally. He also said that people should pay attention if they identify with even one of the following:▲ finding no joy in daily life ▲ feeling worthless ▲ wishing they would get hurt on the way to work ▲ constantly dwelling on and regretting the past ▲ engaging in self-destructive behaviorHe advised people to be alert if even one of these applies to them.
To address depression hidden beneath the surface in this way, experts agree thatpracticing lowering “the standard of perfection”is urgently needed. That means letting go of the compulsion to perform every role flawlessly and taking time each day—even just 10 minutes—to let the brain rest by putting productive thoughts on hold. 
Psychiatrist Noh Hyun-jae also appeared on neuroscientist Dr. Dong-Sun Jang’s YouTube channel and said, “People with high-functioning depression tend to feel safe only when they perfectly meet social standards and expectations, or to take responsibility for every problem themselves.”“Just because you can endure something doesn’t mean you have to endure it no matter what, and just because you can accomplish something doesn’t mean you have to force yourself to hold on to it and keep it going.”they stressed.

[email protected] Kim Hyun-seon Reporter