Smiling Depression: Things You Need to Know

Depression comes in many forms, and one of the lesser-known types is “smiling depression.” Smiling depression is a term used to describe people who appear to be happy and content on the surface, while secretly suffering from depression. This type of depression can be especially dangerous because it can lead to suicide. In this blog post, we will discuss what smiling depression is, the symptoms, and how to get help.

What Is Smiling Depression?

Smiling depression is a term used to describe the experience of being depressed. But, it is the most dangerous one. Because the person suffering from it often looks happy on the outside while feeling miserable on the inside.

There are many people who suffer from smiling depression and don’t even realize it. They think that they are just having a bad day or that their negative feelings will go away soon. This is not the case.

Even so, it’s important to know that smiling depression is very real and should not be taken lightly. According to the records, worldwide people with smiling depression are increasing day by day.

So, it is not the thing that should be ignored. If you are feeling low and think that you might be suffering from depression, please reach out to a mental health professional for help. Trust me, it’s worth it.

How Depression Is Defined?

Depression is a mood disorder. It causes feelings of sadness and hopelessness that can last for weeks. Sometimes, it is misinterpreted with grief. But, grief is a natural response to loss. Depression is when the symptoms interfere with your ability to function in daily life.

It can be triggered by a life events. Such as the death of a loved one, job loss, or financial problems. Also be caused by an underlying medical condition. Such as thyroid disease or cancer. Some people may have a family history of depression.

Depression is more than just feeling down for a few days. If you are depressed, you may lose interest in activities you once enjoyed. May have trouble sleeping or concentrating on tasks, and feel hopeless.

There are people who have thoughts of suicide during the depression. It affects different people in different ways.

Faces Of Depression

It is important to know that there are many faces of it. Just because someone is smiling and seems happy. It does not mean that they are not struggling with depression.

People need to understand that everyone’s experience with depression is different. It is a mental illness that can be as big or small as a person wants it to be. There is no one way to be depressed and no one way to cope with depression. It is different for everyone. And, the ways of treating it are varied.

Faces Of Depression are categorized as:

– Clinical Depression (Smiling Depression)

– Postpartum Depression

– Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

– Bipolar Disorder

– Psychotic Depression

– Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)

– Atypical Depression

– Melancholic Depression

There are also many other types of depression that don’t fit into these neat categories. As some types may have mild consequences and some could create devastation.

Depression is not something that a person can just “snap out of.” It is a serious mental illness that requires professional help. It is important for people to be aware of the different faces of depression in order to understand. And help those who may be struggling.

Symptoms Of Smiling Depression?

It is necessary to recognize any disease if you have one. However, it is more difficult to recognize depression because it has various forms. And one of those forms is smiling depression.

Smiling depression is a type of clinical depression that can be hard to spot. Because, as the name suggests, people who are suffering from it tend to put on a brave face. And, act like everything is okay when in reality they are dying inside.

Still, there are ways to tell if someone you know is suffering from smiling depression. Because the person who is suffering from depression is most likely to be unknown with this. So, if you recognize some of the symptoms or signs. Try to talk to the person and see if you can help them.

Ways To Recognize The Person With Smiling Depression:

-Always putting on a brave face and acting like everything is okay.

-Tends to isolate themselves and withdraw from social activities.

-Hard time concentrating or making decisions.

-Experiences changes in their sleeping or eating habits.

-Feels hopeless, helpless, or worthless.

To treat better, it is the primary concern to recognize the disease. Once you have done that, it is important to get the person’s help. Because they will need professional care and support to recover from this type of depression.

Other Symptoms To Recognize

The symptoms of smiling depression can be difficult to spot. The person from inside may be struggling with deep sadness, low self-esteem, and suicidal thoughts. Some of the other symptoms are:

1. Excessive worrying: The individual may seem like they are always worrying about something. But, in reality, they are worried about their own mental state and whether or not they are “good enough.”
2. Need for perfection: The person may strive for perfection in all that they do. They may have high standards for themselves and feel like they can never meet them.
3. Intense guilt: The individual may feel a lot of guilt for seemingly no reason at all. They may believe that they are not good enough or that they have done something wrong.
4. Isolation: The person may start to isolate themselves from friends and family members. They may do this as a way to avoid judgment or because they feel like they are a burden.
5. Lack of interest in activities: The person may lose interest in the things that once made them happy. They may no longer enjoy going out, being social, or participating in activities.

The above listed are the important symptoms of it. A vital points to keep an eye out. Because as stated earlier, smiling depression is often undetected. Do not hesitate to reach out for help.

Does Smiling Depression Have Any Dangers?

Definitely, depression consists of more than just sadness. It’s a complex mental illness with a variety of symptoms, and smiling depression is one of them.

There are dangers associated with smiling depression that should not be taken lightly. For one, people with this type of depression may be less likely to seek help. They actually don’t believe anything is wrong.

Additionally, the symptoms of smiling depression can be mistaken. Only being simply unhappy or stressed, can lead to misdiagnosis and improper treatment.

Dangers Of Smiling Depression can be understood with the analogy of a volcano. A volcano appears dormant most of the time, but it can still erupt and cause significant damage.

Some of the dangers are:

• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
• Not seeking help.
• Misunderstood symptoms.
• Imbalanced mental state.
• Damaged relationships.

Causes of Smiling Depression

The causes of smiling depression are not fully understood, but there are some theories. One theory is that it’s caused by a combination of factors, such as genetics, biology, and life experiences.

Smiling depression may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Another theory is that it’s caused by stressors, such as work or family problems.

Most likely it is characterized by someone who seems happy on the outside but feels hopeless or hollow from the inside. This type of depression is often difficult to detect because the individual may not show any obvious signs of sadness or despair.

Furthermore, the causes could be:

• Hormonal changes
• A side effect of certain medications
• An underlying health condition, such as an autoimmune disease.

Diagnosis Of Smiling Depression

Diagnosis is mandatory to provide the right treatment. A mental health professional can make a diagnosis of smiling depression after interviewing and examining the patient.

There is no specific laboratory test to diagnose smiling depression. Other conditions, may be ordered to do certain blood tests or brains scans. Also, the person may be asked to fill out a questionnaire to assess the symptoms of depression.

The diagnosis of smiling depression is made if the person has experienced at least five of the following symptoms for at least two weeks:

• Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day.
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all.
• Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain.
• Insomnia or hypersomnia.
• Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day.

Treatment Options For Smiling Depression

Treating a mental illness is often a process. Person has to treat it seriously by taking care of the steps. As soon as the illness is being discovered. It becomes necessary to start treatment soon.

Some of treatment include medication, therapy, or a combination of both. It’s important to work with a mental health professional to figure out what will work best for you.

Medication can be an important part of treatment for smiling depression. It can help to regulate mood and ease some of the symptoms of the condition.

In Therapy, there are different techniques that can be used to help people with smiling depression. One popular approach is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of therapy helps people change the way they think about and deal with their problems.

Henceforth, treating a mental illness can be a daunting but necessary task. There are many different options available, so it’s important to work with them. Taking care of mental health is as important as physical health and often requires just as much care.

People Outlook Towards Depression

Mental disorders commonly known as “common cold” nowadays. So, it’s no wonder that smiling depression exists. A person who seems happy on the outside but feels nothing internally are type of depressed people.

While it may seem like an oxymoron, smiling depression is actually quite common. In fact, according to a study done by the National Institutes of Health, smiling depression affects about of the population.

There are a few different factors that can contribute to smiling depression. One of the most common is stress. When a person is constantly under a lot of stress, it can take a toll on their mental health.

However, society’s outlook towards depression is very uncommon. “Just snap out of it” people often told to the people. They see it as a sign of weakness. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Smiling depression is a real mental illness. Taking it seriously is important fact.

Ignoring such a dangerous illness can have fatal consequences. In fact, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States.

Conclusion

Smiling depression is a type of depression where people feel happy on the outside but are struggling with negative thoughts on the inside. Depressed people hardly realize that they’re suffering. Which is why the diagnosis are difficult at times.

Cases of depression are on the rise, and it is important to be able to identify the signs. There are many treatments available that can help people manage their symptoms and start feeling better.

A Word From Therapy Mantra

Your mental health — Your psychological, emotional, and social well-being — has an impact on every aspect of your life. Positive mental health essentially allows you to effectively deal with life’s everyday challenges.

At TherapyMantra, we have a team of therapists who provide affordable online therapy to assist you with issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, workplace Issues, addiction, relationship, OCD, LGBTQ, and PTSD. You can book a free therapy or download our free Android or iOS app.