It’s hard to know what to say to people who can see the sadness in your face but don’t know how to help. However, dropping the “everything’s fine” mask and letting others in is an important first step to feeling better.

Feeling lonely and isolated is a big risk for depression.

This is like telling someone with a broken leg to stop limping and it wouldn’t hurt so much.

Depression is a symptom of an underlying issue, whether it’s a chemical imbalance in your brain, being stuck in a bad situation, or all of the above.

Like, if just thinking your way out of a funk was a viable option, no one would have depression. However, people who say this usually aren’t trying to be mean but rather they don’t understand that mental illnesses are real illnesses too.

As true as this might be, it doesn’t change the fact that the person you’re talking to is still going through an emotionally draining time. Telling someone with depression that some other people have it worse will only make them feel ashamed of their feelings.

What might feel like a beautiful day to you could be a much different picture for someone with depression, who may have difficulty seeing the same joy you recognize in everyday life.

Implying that the person should feel happy ignores their condition and may make them feel guilty for their depression.

Say instead: “Want to go on a walk through the park today?”

Or “Want to grab a cup of coffee today?”

If the person says they’d prefer to stay home, it’s reasonable to ask, “Can I come and keep you company?”

It’s true that isolating yourself can increase your risk of feeling depressed, but everyone has their own way of dealing with their depression, and what works for some may not be helpful for others.

It’s also generally best to avoid “should” statements; you might feel like you’re offering a helpful solution, but telling people with depression what they need to do in order to feel better isn’t always productive.

Disclaimer: The information on this POST is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional advice. The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this article is for general information purposes / educational purposes only, and to ensure discussion or debate.

Thank you ….When first starting antidepressants, you may suddenly find that you don’t feel like yourself anymore.

Though your depression symptoms may have improved, the overwhelming waves of gloom can sometimes be replaced by an emotional inertness in which are neither able to cry nor share a real belly laugh.

If you feel this way, you are definitely not alone. In fact, there’s a term used to describe this feeling—called emotional blunting—which aptly captures the dulled emotional state many people experience while on antidepressants.

Emotional blunting means that your feelings and emotions are so dulled that you neither feel up nor down. You simply feel “blah.” People who experience emotional blunting will often report:

Being less able to laugh or cry even when appropriate.

Feeling less empathy for others.

Loss of motivation and drive.

Not being able to respond with the same level of enjoyment that you normally would.

Emotional blunting often co-occurs with other symptoms such as slowed thinking, decreased libido, and loss of concentration.

Do you want to add a word or two?….

Smiling depression is like a high-functioning form of this mood disorder. You may be more likely to have smiling depression if you tend to be a perfectionist or are ambitious.

Keeping up appearances is important to you.

You may be very good at faking. Smiling depression can mimic the manic phase of manic depression. You might overdo the laughter and stay highly productive at work.

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

One way that smiling depression differs from other types of depression is that it’s often invisible.

Others may be unaware that you’re depressed, and you may not realize it yourself.

Your comments ….

The good news is that smiling depression is very treatable. If you think you might have it, first see a psychiatrist or another mental health professional.

Many people with smiling depression keep a false front even with therapists. That makes it more difficult for you to get the help you need. It’s important to open up and honestly share how you feel.

Your doctor or therapist will help you decide if antidepressant medications may benefit you.

Other things that may help include if you:

Share your feelings with a trusted friend or loved one. It may lift the weight of hiding your true feelings.

Spend time outside with nature.

Exercise — even just 10-15 minutes a day be enough to lift your mood.

Listen to music, make art, or do other activities you enjoy.

Meditate.

Being your authentic self can be an important first step toward recovery from smiling depression.

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