Decoding Smile Depression And The Silent Struggles Behind Happy Faces

As it is said that the saddest people smile the most, in today’s time of high stress and huge workloads, many youngsters tend to appear easy-going on the outside, but deep inside them lies a storm. This sometimes causes smile depression, a common phenomenon which is hard to identify. This happens when people hide their depression and show a cheerful face. The cause could be many, but the commonality of all is the stigma around mental health.

“Smiling depression, as the name suggests, is an atypical depression where instead of appearing sad and withdrawn, one seems chirpy and happy, sometimes even in excess. This is because people with depression are trying to mask their sadness with optimal functioning,” says Dr Shefali Batra, a Mumbai-based psychiatrist, CBT practitioner, mindfulness coach, and author.

She adds, “Sometimes they feel a sense of fatigue, such that their body is extremely heavy and they cannot move. The risk for suicide is much higher in smiling depression because when such people hide their sadness, they don’t get any help, and so they feel a deeper sense of isolation and rejection”

Often, patients put a lot of pressure on themselves. Dr Anjali Chhabria, a psychiatrist, psychotherapist and author, explains, “When they don’t meet those expectations, they feel disappointed and blame themselves. Over time, this leads to self-doubt and low confidence. They may find it hard to concentrate, feel guilty over small things, and carry emotional weight.” She adds, “Their sleep quality can also be affected; they might struggle to fall asleep or, at times, sleep too much just to avoid their feelings. They often feel tired, even if they haven’t done much.”

Social media

Social media is one of the factors that can cause smile depression. Chhabria says, “Social media can play a significant role in the development of smiling depression. It is a subtype of depression where individuals hide their internal suffering with an outward appearance of happiness. The pressure to maintain a socially acceptable or desirable image may discourage open expression of distress, encouraging emotional suppression, which is a known risk factor for worsening depressive symptoms (Gross & Levenson, 1997). In this context, social media does not merely serve as a distraction; it may actively reinforce the disconnect between one’s internal state and external presentation, a sign of smiling depression. Clinically, practitioners need to assess not only mood symptoms but also the client’s digital habits and the psychological impact of their online persona.”

Common signs

The signs of smile depression are very subtle. Batra says, “The smartest friends and relatives can miss them. Occasionally, a person would be impulsive, snappy and irritable. The moods of such a person are typically very reactive.”

It is important to notice what the patients generally talk about. Chhabria says, “They may crack jokes, especially ones that are self-deprecating, as a way to hide how they’re feeling. Even serious thoughts like ending their life may come out as casual comments or jokes.”

Behaviour patterns

• You might notice that they are working too hard

• They may often pretend or give fake smiles

• When alone, they withdraw from everything 

• You may see sudden mood swings

Age group and profession 

This kind of depression is most commonly seen among youngsters. 

Chhabria says, “While anyone can experience smiling depression, it shows up a lot in young adults and working professionals, especially in India, where the pressure to 'have it together' starts at a younger age. People between 18 and 29 are going through massive life shifts, starting college, landing their first job, figuring out relationships, and dealing with financial stress. We don’t always grow up with the tools or space to talk openly about emotional issues. You’re told to be tough, stay focused, and keep going. So when things start to feel overwhelming, many just put on a smile and power through.”

She adds, “Professionally, it’s even more complicated. Fields like medicine, law, business, education, and media are all roles where one is expected to look confident, calm, and in control, no matter what’s going on inside.

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Measures to be taken

It’s important to address the problem when you see the symptoms in a person. Chhabria shares what she would do in a situation like this. She says, “If the individual is not under my clinical care, for example, a colleague or community member, I approach the situation with discretion and compassion, encouraging open dialogue without making assumptions or offering a diagnosis outside a therapeutic setting. If the person is open to it, I guide them toward seeking professional help.”

Stigma

Smiling depression has become even more common than ever before. Batra says, “Society has stigmatised mental illness to the extent that people want to hide their symptoms. And people use dysfunctional methods to cope with their problems.”

Smile depression symptoms cannot be recognised easily, but when detected, they should be immediately treated by a doctor.