How do I know if I have “Smiling Depression”?

Smiling Depression: What You Need to Know

Although “smiling depression” isn’t a medical diagnosis, for many people, it is an actual problem. Typically, smiling depression happens when humans who are experiencing depression mask their symptoms. They cover behind a smile to convince other people that they are happy.

Smiling depression is not a medical diagnosis. Instead, it is a term mental health professionals use to describe humans with a depressive disorder who cover their signs from others.

People with smiling depression can carry on with most daily activities, yet they are privately struggling with a serious mood disorder.

Consequently, this kind of depression regularly goes undetected because when most people imagine a depressed individual, they think of anyone who looks truly sad or cries a lot. And while it is actual that unhappiness and unexplained bouts of crying are common characteristics of depression, not everyone looks unhappy when they’re depressed.

Smiling depression is like a high-functioning shape of this mood disorder. You may be extra likely to have smiling depression if you tend to be a perfectionist or are ambitious. Keeping up appearances is necessary to you. You may be very cool at faking. Smiling depression can mimic the manic section of manic depression. You might overdo the laughter and remain highly productive at work.

But on the inside, you may truly feel like a fraud. At the same time, you might also feel ashamed about feeling down. The stigma in turn can prevent you from confiding in others or getting medical help.

But it is a very actual condition. Mental health specialists use the term when you are depressed or anxious but seem and act happy. If you have smiling depression, you may inform others that you feel great and power through your daily activities as usual. So your family and others may not realize you may need help

There are no standardized symptoms and signs of the condition, however, many humans will experience the effects commonly tied to depressive problems and depressive episodes. Moods, thoughts, power levels, and behaviors will all suffer throughout smiling depression.

Typical signs and symptoms of smiling depression include:

Significant and unintended changes in weight loss plan or weight

Depressed mood or excessive levels of irritability

Feeling slowed down or sped up throughout the day

Feeling worthless or guilty even when the situation does not call for it

Frequent ideas about death and dying

Your self-care has completely dropped off the charts. You spend so much strength keeping up with the bare minimum that you’re skipping workouts, making unhealthy meals choices, and dodging invitations to hang with your friends.

You can full of energy through your work day, correctly balancing a budget or managing a schoolroom of kindergarteners, but you're fighting to keep your focus; when you finally get home, you’re so exhausted you neglect all your personal responsibilities and fall into a mattress (or asleep on the couch) before dinner.

Many humans struggling with smiling depression are perfectionists, or they don’t prefer to appear vulnerable or out of control. The more we can shift the dialog to show positive role models living with depression—those who suggest for the combine of therapy, exercise, medication, sleep, diet—the less shame and stigma will be related with it.

If you have a buddy who suddenly stops responding to smartphone calls or texts or cancels plans, don’t ever doubt to ask them what’s going on and if they’re feeling okay. Let them understand that they are heard and are not alone. Also, it’s necessary to notice if a loved one starts giving away possessions (often a symptom that someone is thinking about suicide), or starts to isolate and withdraw.

Symptoms of depression seem pretty handy to spot: disinterest in matters you used to love, a mind-set that can change at the drop of a hat, a desire to consume all the things (or none of the things).

But here’s the thing: Sometimes you can’t see that stuff – not because it’s not there, but due to the fact it’s hidden (yes, even to yourself). You can feel all of these depressed feelings, but still show up for work (and your family and your friends) with a smile on our face.