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- [Amanda] Hey, Psych2Go family.
Welcome back to another Psych2Go video.
All the love and support that you've given us
has aided our mission to make psychology
and mental health more accessible to everyone,
so thank you.
Now, let's get into the video.
What do you think of when you imagine a person
who is depressed?
Are you thinking of someone who looks really sad
or cries a lot?
While those may seem to be the obvious hallmarks
for depression, not everyone who is depressed
or going through a depressive episode
will show how they're feeling.
Instead, they may hide their emotions
and appear to look happy and cheerful.
As a result, this type of depression often goes undetected.
Before we begin, we would like to mention
that this video is created for educational purposes only
and is not intended to substitute a professional diagnosis.
If you suspect you may have depression
or any mental health condition,
we highly advise you to seek help
from a qualified mental health professional.
Number one, you seem cheerful, optimistic,
and generally happy only on the outside.
Are you able to get up, go to work, and interact with others
without showing how bad you may be feeling inside?
According to Heidi McKenzie,
a clinical psychologist practicing
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
smiling depression is another name
for high-functioning depression
or persistent depressive disorder.
This may mean that you are able to function normally
and go about your day like any other person,
even though you may be experiencing symptoms
of depression internally.
Two, you're obsessed with showing others
how perfect your life is on social media.
Do the things you post on social media
reflect what's happening in your actual life?
While it's normal to share only your best moments,
actively trying to create an online presence
to look like you're living the perfect life
may be harmful to your mental wellbeing.
Posting photos to show others how happy you are
when you're not in real life
may only serve to create a void
that gives smiling depression room to grow.
Three, you're reluctant to seek help
because you're concerned about appearing weak.
Ever heard of the saying, "Real men don't cry"?
Statistics have shown that men are far less likely
than women to seek help for mental health problems.
This may be because they fear being judged
or treated differently for their depressive symptoms.
As a result, they may be more likely
to put on a happy appearance
and keep their feelings to themselves.
Number four, you fake a smile
even though you're going through some big life changes.
Have you ever lost your job or moved to a different country?
As with other types of depression, smiling depression
can be triggered by big life changes.
Whether it's a breakup with a loved one
or the death of somebody close to you,
these large changes may bring about symptoms of depression
as well as the pressure to keep up an appearance
that you are unaffected.
Number five, you throw yourself into hobbies
and work to keep busy.
Have you found yourself working overtime lately?
Whether it's work, chores, or hobbies,
people with smiling depression may throw themselves
into being busy to avoid confronting how they really feel.
This avoidance to acknowledge and address your emotions
can be harmful and may lead to emotional
and physical burnout.
And number six, you struggle with denial.
Diagnosing people with smiling depression
is difficult for many reasons.
Firstly, some people might not even be aware
that they are depressed,
and those who are aware often refuse to or don't seek help.
Furthermore, according to a paper
from the World Health Organization,
smiling depression presents with conflicting symptoms
compared to classic depression,
which makes it harder to diagnose.
Do you know anyone who might have smiling depression?
Have you experienced any of the symptoms above?
Tell us about it in the comments below.
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with others who may find it helpful too.
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All the references used are also added
in the description box below.
Thank you for watching, and we'll see you in our next video.