Smiling depression is real and you might have it without even knowing
If most of your days are spent smiling at others while feeling sad and depressed, you may suffer from smiling depression, according to MNN.
Depression is usually associated with noticeable sadness and a sense of disengagement from your loved ones. However, smiling depression (or hidden depression) exists and is treatable. According to Thai-An Truong, a mental health therapist at Oklahoma’s Lasting Change Therapy, the symptoms of smiling depression are similar to those of regular depression: low mood, sadness, hopelessness, low self-worth, and suicidal thoughts. The difference stems from the fact that people with smiling depression hide their vulnerability and use laughter as a means to disguise their pain.
Social media exacerbates the symptoms of smiling depression. Sufferers look at other people’s posts about their perfect lives and feel pressured to keep up with them, if only for the sake of appearences. They even post their perfect shots with captions that don’t quite capture the reality.
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The good news for those suffering from smiling depression is that help is closer than they think. The first step is to acknowledge the problem. The next step is to talk to someone you trust and let them know what’s going on. If they don’t take you seriously, find someone else. You can also bring a few self-care changes, like eating a better diet and getting daily exercise.
If a friend or family member who seems to have it all figured out turns to you for comfort, don’t brush it off and tell them to be happy for what they have.
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