Finally catching up on some therapeutic writing and blogging……

#PenandPaper: Stop trying to prove to somebody that You Can Be Somebody!  #LoveLifeAndRelationships 

 

Smiling Depression: What You Need to Know

What is smiling depression?

Smiling depression doesn’t just affect people with low incomes and sketchy lives. It doesn’t target dysfunctional homes and rebellious teens (Hurd, A.A., 2017). 

Smiling depression, believe it or not, often affects seemingly happy couples, the educated, and the accomplished (Hurd, A.A., 2017). To the outside world, you got it; these victims seem like the most successful individuals (Hurd, A.A., 2017).

 “Smiling depression” is a term for someone living with depression on the inside while appearing perfectly happy or content on the outside (Elmer, 2018). Their public life is usually one that’s “put together,” maybe even what some would call normal or perfect (Elmer, 2018).

Smiling depression isn’t recognized as a condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) but would likely be diagnosed as a major depressive disorder with atypical features (Elmer, 2018).

What are the symptoms of smiling depression?

Someone experiencing smiling depression would — from the outside —appear happy or content to others. On the inside, however, they would be experiencing the distressful symptoms of depression. 

Depression affects everyone differently and has a variety of symptoms; the most distinguished being deep, prolonged sadness. Other classic symptoms include:

• changes in appetite, weight, and sleeping
• fatigue or lethargy
• feelings of hopelessness, lack of self-esteem, and low self-worth
• loss of interest or pleasure in doing things that were once enjoyed

Photo by Jopwell from Pexels

Someone with smiling depression may experience some or all of the above, but in public, these symptoms would be mostly — if not completely — absent. To someone looking from the outside, a person with a smiling depression might look like:

• an active, high-functioning individual
• someone holding down a steady job, with a healthy family and social life
• a person appearing to be cheerful, optimistic, and generally happy

If you’re experiencing depression yet continue to smile and put on a façade, you may feel:

• like showing signs of depression would be a sign of weakness
• like you would burden anyone by expressing your true feelings
• that you don’t have depression at all, because you’re “fine”
• that others have it worse, so what do you have to complain about?
• that the world would be better off without you

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Why People Hide Their Depression

It's not uncommon for people to keep their depression private. From wanting to protect their privacy to fearing judgment by others, there are many personal and professional reasons why people hide their symptoms of depression (Morin LCSW & Snyder, MD, 2020).

If you think someone you know has smiling depression, share your concerns. Normalize mental health issues and talk to them about how they can get help. And, offer emotional support as well as practical support(Morin LCSW & Snyder, MD, 2020).

 

 

A Word From Kysha Ann  

                              Retreat: Take a little time out of the day for a little quiet solitude and turning inward, creating space for silence, contemplation, and mindfulness.

·                                 Reflection: This quiet time is a time to reflect on how the year has gone, and how I’d like to move into the New Year. We don’t often give ourselves enough time for reflection, as we’re always busy inactivity.

·                                 Letting go: What have we become burdened with over the past year? Over the past decade? This time of turning inward is also a great time to let go of burdens, resentments, etc.

References

 

Elmer, J. (2018, November 18). Smiling Depression: Symptoms, risk factors, test, treatments, and more. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/smiling-depression

 

Hurd, A.A., S. (2017, March 17). Smiling depression: How to recognize the darkness behind a cheerful facade. Learning Mind. https://www.learning-mind.com/smiling-depression/

 

Labeaune, Psy.D., R. (2014, November 12). The secret pain of "Smiling" Depression. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-guest-room/201411/the-secret-pain-smiling-depression

Morin, LCSW, A., & Snyder, MD, C. (2020, April 15). Could you have smiling depression? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-smiling-depression-4775918

Talk Less to Listen More to Learn More

Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

Think carefully before you speak.

‘The older I grow the more I listen to people who don’t talk much.’

German G Glien

Your words can hurt other people’s feelings. They may influence others, encourage them to do something they wouldn’t normally do. Don’t just throw around whatever you have in your mind. Because words have power to change people’s lives. So, use your words responsibly.

Listen more before jumping to conclusions. Consider all possible arguments, both for and against, no matter if you like those arguments or not at the very beginning. Look at the bigger picture, analyze every single piece of information, take your time to come up with personal judgments. Don’t act on impulse. Slow down.

Limit yourself to what’s important. Speak when necessary. 

There is so much noise in the current world already. Focus on what you’re trying to communicate, and find balance. If you narrow your speech down to what you’re really trying to say, people will listen. If you speak too much, they’ll fall asleep.

Get to know others better. You’ll never learn about other people, if you don’t let them talk, introduce themselves, share their successes and failures.

Photo by Startup Stock Photos from Pexels

Every person has its own unique life story. We all have something to say, no matter how important or trivial our speech is going to be. The question is, how much you’re willing to listen to get to know other people.

When you speak less, you do more. Actions speak louder than words. Some people tend to show off how many great products they bought, or where they spent their last summer holiday.

But, shouldn’t we ask, if they created something on their own, or they just bought souvenirs manufactured by others? Because creating has bigger value – it helps us to grow, discover new stuff, fail, learn from own mistakes.

For those of you who don’t like talking, try writing to express yourself. Maybe, some of you feel like nobody understands you, or you’re just being misunderstood. But, quiet people usually tend to observing others, analyze different situations, judge the world.

And then, they prefer to write because it’s easier for them to show who they really are. 

 Source Link: http://www.lifetobe.net/2019/12/15/talk-less-to-listen-more-to-learn-more/