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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.

If you enjoyed this video, please like and share it

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.