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What is Smiling Depression?

Written by Paulina Arenas, Edited by Ishanth Shantmoorthy


Many don’t know what smiling depression is. It’s something that many people don’t think about. This is a type of depression where they use a mask to hide it. They hide their pain with a smile. This is where they smile through it all and they can carry on with day-to-day activities, but they are privately living with a serious mood disorder. (MedicalNewsToday)


There are many reasons why they hide their depression behind a smile. They would rather suffer alone. They worry about what others will think, how they might be a burden to others, and sometimes it’s because they think pretending will make it go away or they just don't know how to get help. (MedicalNewsToday)


Reaching out to them may not be enough and actually realizing what they are facing is hard. There are so many signs that you need to look out for and other symptoms that may be part of it too. There are the most common signs of depression like low mood, including sadness, hopelessness, emptiness, thoughts of self-harm, low energy, and feelings of worthlessness. There are others that most people don’t think about, like the change in their sleep, change in body weight — maybe masking it as them wanting a change — or they show anger and irritability, they change to being distant or grow more social (HealthLine), and many things that people don’t take into consideration.


There aren’t many treatments other than going to therapy and medications, but there are many ways to help the people around you. Many times people think they don’t do much, but in reality, they do so much for the person who is drowning in darkness. Sometimes things like telling them about your concerns and making a safe space for them so they can feel comfortable talking to you about their problems. Offering emotional support. Even just offering to take them to a doctor’s appointment can do so much for them. (VeryWellMind)


Giving them resources to help can sometimes be better for them because, like I said before, they don’t want to feel like a burden to you. So giving them resources can be as helpful if not better. Giving them the National Helpline for mental health can help individuals talk to someone about their mental health freely and confidentially. (SAMHSA) They even help with referrals if talking to them helped you.


Doing something that many feel is so tiny and insignificant can really change someone’s whole world for the better. Even saying "I see you" and "I’m here for you" can be their light out of a very dark place for them. This is why it’s important you know what to look out for.


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