Smiling Depression: When ‘I’m Fine’ Is the Symptom

person masking smiling depression behind a cheerful exterior at work

Smiling Depression: When ‘I’m Fine’ Is the Symptom

By Stacey Pino · Reviewed by Dr. Siri Sat Khalsa, MD, Medical Director, AM Health Care · Updated August 11, 2026

She laughed at the meeting. Answered every text. Showed up early, left late, and never missed a beat. No one had any idea she’d been crying in her car every morning before walking in. Smiling depression is real, clinical depression that hides behind a functioning, or even cheerful, exterior.

If you’re wondering whether what you’re feeling — or what someone you love is hiding — counts as real depression, the answer is yes. The mask doesn’t make the pain less serious. It just makes it harder to see, harder to name, and often harder to treat, because everyone assumes the smile means everything is okay.

Here’s what smiling depression actually looks like, why it develops, and how to get help for you, or someone you’re worried about.

Call 866-818-4684

In this article:

person masking smiling depression behind a cheerful exterior at work

What Is Smiling Depression?

“Smiling depression” isn’t a term you’ll actually find in the DSM-5. It’s not an official diagnosis. But clinically, it lines up closely with what’s called major depressive disorder with atypical features. In plain terms, that means someone’s mood can genuinely brighten when something good happens, even while the depression is still running underneath.

Is smiling depression real?

Yes. While the term itself is informal, the experience it describes is well documented in clinical research. That distinction matters because the data backs up what the label is pointing to.

A study of atypical depression published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that depression with atypical features — the closest clinical match to smiling depression — is associated with higher rates of prior suicide attempts and substance use than depression without that presentation. In other words, whether to mask or not to mask carries real clinical weight.

How is smiling depression different from high-functioning depression?

The two terms overlap so much that they are sometimes used interchangeably, but they emphasize different things. High-functioning depression typically describes someone who keeps meeting responsibilities, like going to work or managing a household, despite depression.

Smiling depression specifically describes the added layer of appearing happy, not just functional. That shift can make the internal experience even more isolating, since the outside world doesn’t just see someone coping. It sees someone who looks fine.

Why People Mask Depression

Masking depression rarely starts as a conscious decision. It tends to build slowly, out of a few real pressures:

  • Stigma — worrying that naming the depression out loud will change how coworkers, friends, or family see you, making you seem less capable, less stable, or somehow weaker
  • Roles and responsibilities — parents who feel they can’t fall apart in front of their kids, employees in visible or high-pressure jobs who fear any sign of struggle will threaten their credibility, or caretakers who push their own needs aside because someone else feels more urgent
  • A sense of unearned pain — the quiet belief that you don’t have the right to be sad, especially when your life looks good on paper or other people seem to have it worse

These reasons don’t make hidden depression less real. They just make it easier to understand why so many people smile through it instead of asking for help.

Signs in Yourself: Recognizing Smiling Depression

Smiling depression often shows up as a gap between what you’re doing and what you’re feeling. You might identify the signs of masking depression more by what’s happening internally than by anything visible to other people.

Internal signs may include:

  • Persistent low mood or emptiness, even during moments that should feel good
  • Exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest, or that takes real effort to hide
  • Numbness, or a sense of just going through the motions
  • Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, even if you still do them out of habit
  • Racing or self-critical thoughts, especially at night when the performance can drop
  • Guilt about not feeling grateful, given how “fine” your life looks from the outside

None of these signs on their own confirm depression, but if several have stuck around for weeks, they’re worth taking seriously — even if you’re still getting everything done.

the hidden side of smiling depression when the mask comes off

Signs in Someone You Love

By nature, masked depression is designed to stay hidden. But even the most convincing smile tends to have cracks. These small signs can slip through if you know where to look.

Watch for:

  • Jokes about exhaustion, numbness, or not caring anymore that come up often, even lightly
  • Subtle withdrawal, like canceling plans more or being present but checked out
  • Perfectionism or overworking that intensifies rather than eases with success
  • Sleep or appetite changes they downplay or explain away
  • A sudden calm after a period of visible stress — which can, though doesn’t always, signal relief at having made a decision
  • Deflecting when asked how they’re really doing, often with humor

If several of these show up together, trust that pattern over the smile.

How do I help someone who insists they’re fine?

Start by naming what you’ve noticed instead of asking a question they can easily deflect. Instead of “Are you okay?” — which invites a reflexive “I’m fine” — try something like, “I’ve noticed you seem more tired than usual lately, and I wanted to check in.”

Give them room to not have an answer yet, and resist the urge to fix things in one conversation. What matters more than any single talk is showing up consistently. People are often more likely to open up to someone who keeps checking in, without pressure, over time.

Why Smiling Depression Is Uniquely Risky

Hidden depression carries real danger. The same energy and functioning that make it hard to spot can also make it harder for anyone to intervene. People who still perform well rarely trigger the concern that visibly struggling people often do — from coworkers, doctors, or even themselves.

This combination of real despair paired with the ability to function is part of what research on atypical depression points to: higher rates of past suicide attempts compared to depression without a functioning mask.

The CDC lists mental health conditions, substance use, and isolation among the key risk factors for suicide, and smiling depression can quietly involve all three while looking, from the outside, like nothing is wrong.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by call or text.

Self-Medicating the Mask: Alcohol and Substances

Keeping up a convincing exterior takes energy, and some people reach for alcohol or other substances to manage what that effort costs them — whether to relax after a day of performing or to quiet symptoms they haven’t named out loud.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, increased use of alcohol or drugs can itself be a sign of depression. Some people use these substances specifically as a coping strategy for symptoms they haven’t addressed.

Using substances this way tends to mask the underlying depression, adding another layer that makes it even harder to recognize — for the person experiencing it and those around them. Over time, this pattern can develop into a substance use disorder that exists alongside depression rather than resolving it.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration notes that mental health conditions and substance use disorders frequently co-occur because people use substances as a form of self-medication. When that happens, treating both conditions together, rather than separately, tends to lead to better outcomes than addressing either one alone.

What Actually Helps

Smiling depression responds to many of the same treatments as other forms of depression, but getting there usually starts with naming what’s happening out loud — to a professional, and ideally to at least one trusted person.

From there, a few treatment approaches tend to make the most difference:

  • Therapy is typically the first step, since it gives someone a structured way to work through what’s underneath the mask.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps identify and shift the thought patterns that keep the mask in place, including the belief that struggling out loud isn’t allowed.
  • Interpersonal therapy (IPT) focuses on the relationships and role transitions — like a new job, a new baby, or a loss — that often accompany this kind of depression.
  • Medication can help too, particularly when symptoms are persistent or severe, though the right approach depends on the individual and should be worked out with a prescriber.
  • An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is often a good fit for people functioning at a high level, precisely because it doesn’t require stepping away from work, school, or family to get real, structured care.

You don’t need to hit rock bottom to deserve help. You just need to be honest about what’s really going on beneath the surface.

Help for Depression at Inneractions

If you’re behind a mask that’s getting harder to hold up, Inneractions IOP offers evidence-based, individualized treatment for depression and any co-occurring substance use — without having to put your life on hold.

Through intensive outpatient (IOP) programs in Encino, CA, and Edmond, OK, plus virtual options available nationwide, care includes individual therapy, group sessions, and addiction counseling tailored to what’s actually going on beneath the surface.

Programming is overseen by Medical Director Dr. Siri Khalsa, and Inneractions is licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services. Our team accepts most major insurance and is available to answer questions confidentially, any time.

You don’t have to keep performing “fine.” Our admissions team can answer your questions confidentially, verify your insurance, and help you find care that fits around your work and family life.

Call 866-818-4684

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What does smiling depression feel like?

From the inside, it feels like a widening gap between performance and experience: you function, socialize, and smile while carrying persistent emptiness, exhaustion, or self-critical thoughts underneath. Many people describe feeling like an actor in their own life — and feeling guilty for struggling when everything ‘looks fine.’

What is another name for smiling depression?

There’s no official diagnosis called smiling depression. Clinically, it most closely matches major depressive disorder with atypical features, and it overlaps with informal terms like high-functioning depression, hidden depression, or masked depression — each describing real depression concealed behind a functional exterior.

Is smiling depression as serious as other depression?

Yes — and in some ways riskier. Research on atypical depression links it to higher rates of prior suicide attempts and substance use, partly because the functioning mask delays recognition and treatment. The smile changes how depression looks, not how much it hurts.

How is smiling depression treated?

The same evidence-based approaches that treat other depression work here: therapy (especially CBT and interpersonal therapy), medication when appropriate, and structured programs like IOP — which fit high-functioning people because treatment happens without stepping away from work or family. The first step is telling one professional the truth behind the mask.

Benefits of Virtual Treatment Programs

A woman relaxing at home with her feet up, having a virtual therapy session on her laptop, highlighting the benefits of virtual treatment programs.

Virtual treatment programs are revolutionizing mental health care by offering unmatched convenience, privacy, and accessibility. Learn how these programs are making therapy more accessible and effective for everyone.

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Find the Best Group Therapy for Drug Addiction Today

Find the Best Group Therapy for Drug Addiction Today

When you picture what rehab is like in your mind, what do you see?

Maybe an addict lying on a couch with a therapist listening and asking questions? Perhaps a group of people sitting in a small circle of chairs together and talking?

Pretty stereotypical scenes and also not far off.

Individual and group therapy for drug addiction are both hallmarks of the process for a reason. In a moment we’ll get into why group therapy, in particular, is so important.

Signs and Symptoms of Addiction

But first, what does addiction look like?

A substance use disorder isn’t something that manifests and takes hold overnight. There are common signs and symptoms along the way that begin to paint the picture early.

Generally speaking, here’s what you should be looking out for:

  • Using more than prescribed or intended or taking drugs longer
  • Can’t stop or cut back even though an effort is being made
  • Spending considerable time getting, using, and recovering from drugs
  • Intense cravings
  • Work, school, and family obligations aren’t being met
  • Using despite the obvious problems it’s causing to personal relationships
  • Finding yourself in increasingly more dangerous situations
  • Developing a tolerance and needing to take larger doses for the same effect
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using
  • Mood swings and irritability
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Shift in weight

Of course, different drugs have differing signs of addiction but the above can usually be seen across the board.

How Group Therapy for Drug Addiction Will Help You Recover

Now that you know what addiction can look like, what’s the added benefit of group therapy to your recovery journey.

Knowing you aren’t alone

Drug use and addiction are incredibly isolating. You might use in a group but once you stop, those people disappear and your addiction may have alienated your close family and friends. Loneliness and depression can set in. Group therapy shows you that you’re not alone and that others have gone through the same.

Support system

Because you’re in the company of people who’ve been there, you have a unique support system of people who really can support you from a place of genuine understanding. It’s easy for anyone to say “I get it” but those words mean a lot more when they come from someone who’s walked in your shoes.

Develop skills learned in counseling

In individual therapy, you work on several things en route to a sober life. One of those is coping mechanisms. In group therapy, you can talk those through and sharpen your understanding. Also, addiction isn’t known for working wonders on your communications skills, being in group setting forces you to hone those people skills. 

Build community

Naturally, once you finish your rehab program, you shouldn’t go directly back to the same group of friends you hung out with before who continue to do drugs. You don’t want to let temptation get the best of you or find yourself in a triggering situation that leads to a relapse. In group therapy, you can build a new community of friends and acquaintances that you can stay connected with long after the therapy ends. Having those types of people in your life helps with accountability too.

Inspirational environment

Among the best aspects of group therapy is that you’ll likely find yourself in a group where people are at different points of their recovery. Those that are farther along than you can serve as an inspiration for you to strive towards. Likewise, you can be that for someone else.

There are plenty of other reasons why group therapy is often considered an integral part of the recovery process, we surely think so here at Inneractions. If you’d like to learn more about our group session, give us a shout.

Why You Should Go to Sober Living in Encino

Why You Should Go to Sober Living in Encino

Recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD) doesn’t stop when rehab ends.

Whether you’re coming from an inpatient setting or outpatient care, there’s going to come a point at which you’ll have to meld back into your daily life.

Understandably, an abrupt shift from the 24/7 care of inpatient rehab to the regular hustle and bustle of life outside can be incredibly difficult to manage.

In inpatient rehab, for example, you had a regimented schedule and very much had triggers and distractions removed so you could truly put all your energy into recovery.

Even with outpatient care, even though you didn’t live in a facility 24/7, you had regular touchpoints with addiction specialists in both group and individual therapy sessions. Something of a safe space to shelter from the difficulties you might’ve found in your regular days.

There has to be a way to transition, no?

That’s where sober living comes in.

What Is Sober Living?

A sober living home functions more or less as a bridge between your dedicated treatment program and the “real world”.

You’ll sometimes even see them referred to as “transitional housing” or “halfway homes” for that very reason.

The basics of taking up residence at a sober living home are that you’re in a place that’s free of drugs and alcohol where you’ll be able to put into practice and further develop the coping mechanisms you learned while in rehab.

You’ll also generally be required to participate in some type of support group.

Why Is Sober Living an Important Part of Addiction Recovery?

Recovery is all about small wins that turn into larger ones over time. It’s about cementing positive habits and routines that make maintaining your hard-fought sobriety more manageable.

Look at it this way, it’s much more difficult to get used to a sudden change than it is to slowly adjust and then reinforce those adjustments through guidance and repetition. Sober living gives you a comfortable place to do that.

Some other key reasons sober living is an important part of the process are these:

Sober Connections

Loneliness is part of addiction and it can linger after you’ve stopped using as well. Living in a home with others who have gone through the same thing allows you to build meaningful friendships and a whole sober network.

There’s tremendous value in being surrounded by people who understand you on a deep level and those relationships help immeasurably. 

Supportive Environment

Being surrounded by sober people and those working towards the same overarching goal naturally creates a supportive environment. That’s further bolstered by the fact that you’ll be participating in some type of support group, often a 12-step program.

This introduces accountability and even more camaraderie with like-minded people.

Restoring Independence 

A critical component of sober living is getting your independence back.

While there are rules at sober living homes, you’re largely free to do as you please. You can go to and from work and do all the things that come with day-to-day life while having the safety net of a supportive home which helps in re-establishing your independence. 

Lower the Risk of Relapse

Taken together, all these things are meant to lower the risk of a return to drugs and/or alcohol. If you’re surrounded by people who care about their sobriety journey, it’ll help you with yours, and the support you give one another coupled with group work means the risk of relapse diminishes greatly.

Why You Should Go to Sober Living in Encino

Sober living in Encino at Inneractions in the San Fernando Valley offers all of the above and more in a luxurious Southern California setting.

To learn more about The ISLE, or the Inneractions Sober Living Environment, you can read here.

SMART Recovery vs AA: What’s the Difference? | Inneractions

SMART Recovery vs AA: What’s the Difference?

The common denominator for those living in recovery is a need for support. No matter the nature of your addiction, what you were addicted to, for how long, etc. building a support system you can rely on is critical to maintaining the sobriety you worked so hard to achieve.

To be honest, it’s right near the top of the post-rehab checklist.

Support groups help with everything from dealing with triggers to accountability to just being a place where folks truly understand you, where they just get it.

In that sense, it’s less SMART recovery vs. AA in the competitive sense and more about how each is more uniquely suited, or better suited, to the needs of various people.

What Is SMART Recovery?

The first thing you’ll notice is the all caps and that’s because SMART, like AA, is an acronym; it means Self-Management and Recovery Training.

The fast facts are that SMART was founded back in 1994 and is currently headquartered in Ohio. Their approach focuses on science and self-empowerment in the battle to overcome addiction and meetings can be found across the whole of the United States as well as a number of countries around the world.

You can find their handbook in at least 10 languages.

Their reliance on scientifically validated methods to empower change is a key differentiator from the distinctly more spiritual approach of AA, noting in their purpose and methods statement that their “efforts are based on scientific knowledge and evolve as scientific knowledge evolves”.

Rather than a 12 step program, which AA relies on, SMART is defined by their 4 point program which is:

  1. Building and maintaining the motivation to change
  2. Coping with urges to use
  3. Managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in an effective way without addictive behaviors
  4. Living a balanced, positive and healthy life

What Is AA?

Arguably the most well-known support group on earth is AA or Alcoholics Anonymous.

AA dates back to 1935 and also has an Ohio link, having been started there. You may sometimes see AA meetings referred to as “Friends of Bill W.” in places like cruise ships with the Bill W. in question being the founder of AA.

They define themselves as “an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her drinking problem”.

AA is where the concept of the 12 step program originated and it’s these very steps that form the core of the program itself.

A clear difference between the two programs is AA’s emphasis on spirituality in the pursuit of sustained sobriety. It’s not expressly required that you believe in God to join an AA meeting but the spiritual basis of AA is something to keep in mind. For some, it’s a wonderful thing. For others, they may prefer a different approach.

NA, or Narcotics Anonymous, was founded in 1953 and operates with the same 12-step program.

As for the meetings themselves, both SMART and AA are non-profits and their meetings are free of charge. Generally, only a small donation is recommended to cover the costs of putting on the meetings.

How to Overcome Drug and Alcohol Addiction Today

Conquering your addiction to drugs and/or alcohol is doable and among the best ways to go about it is through a professional treatment program that’s customized to your needs.

At Inneractions, that’s exactly what we do.

Moreover, once you complete rehab, we can help you transition back to your day-to-day life at our San Fernando sober living facility.

To learn more about support groups or aftercare, reach out to us today.

How to Learn Coping Skills for Drug Addiction

How to Learn Coping Skills for Drug Addiction

Recovery is a process.

Or, recovery is a journey, not a destination.

You may have come across lines like these when looking into rehab options for yourself or a loved one. Perhaps you even scoffed at them, feeling like you were reading trite cliches or platitudes.

Thing is though, recovery is a journey. Why? Well, let’s look to a definition of drug addiction from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to add some color here:

“Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. It is considered a brain disorder because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control. Those changes may last a long time after a person has stopped taking drugs”

Because addiction is thought of as a brain disorder and not as a purely physical concept, it’s something you constantly work on and nurture. Moreover, if you stop working on it, a relapse is possible at any point.

Learning coping skills for drug addiction, therefore, becomes imperative to staying on the path of sobriety.

Signs & Symptoms of Drug Addiction

Addiction to drugs manifests itself in several ways that tend to compound the longer a substance use disorder lasts.

  • Intense cravings
  • Trying to quit but unable to
  • Developing a tolerance and thus having to take larger and larger doses
  • Shifting friend groups
  • Secretive behavior
  • Financial issues related to purchasing drugs
  • Legal issues, i.e., theft, from getting the money to buy drugs
  • Work, school and home life are all suffering
  • Engaging in riskier behaviors like driving under the influence
  • Spending a lot of time either getting, using or recovering from drugs
  • Using despite very obvious negative effects 
  • Having withdrawal symptoms whenever the flow of drugs stops
  • Changes in appetite and associated weight loss or gain
  • Shift in sleep patterns, either too much or too little
  • Lack of attention to hygiene and general neglect of appearance
  • Lethargic and no motivation
  • Relationships with family and friends become fraught
  • Mood swings and irritability
  • Paranoia and anxiety

These are just some of the signs you may encounter and if you see any of them, it’s important to take note and monitor. Ignoring symptoms only makes things worse and harder in the future.

How to Learn Coping Skills for Drug Addiction

Coping skills are what help you stay the course, they’re the little “tricks” that help overcome those cravings and inevitable tough times on the journey of sobriety.

Among the best places to learn these new skills is in treatment for addiction.

In rehab, you’re in a place where all your attention is focused squarely on healing and developing the tools necessary to cope with triggers back in the real world.

As the physical addiction to drugs dissipates after detox, working on the mental side is what rehab programs are all about. You’ll work with professional addiction specialists in both individual and group settings to dig deeper into the root causes of addiction.

This is also the time you’ll be introduced to a host of coping skills ranging from practicing mindfulness, breathing exercises as well as general exercise, journaling, the importance of keeping busy, building a support system, 12-step programs and more.

What to Do After Rehab

As mentioned at the top, the journey of recovery doesn’t end when your time in rehab does, it’s something you actively work on but shouldn’t feel like work. Your post-addiction life is meant to be more fulfilling and enjoyable than the days of addiction and developing a routine that you love is crucial to that.

That’s where aftercare planning and sober living come into play, these are important parts of cementing a sober life. Sober living homes are particularly beneficial because you live in a supportive setting with a community that’s going through the same thing and building bonds with them. It also allows you to transition slowly back into your day-to-day life in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming.

To learn more about the coping skills you’ll develop or what sober living is like, reach out to us at Inneractions today.

Is Rage A Sign Of Depression?

 

On the surface, aligning rage and depression seems a bit counterintuitive. Someone who is angry is perceived to behave differently than someone who is clinically depressed. But look a little deeper and you may start to see an interesting connection. This happens to be a point that was recently brought up by NPR and one that we think merits further investigation.

 

Writer Nell Greenfield Boyce pretty much summed up the same statement in the beginning of her article.

 

“Many people — including physicians — associate depression with feelings of hopelessness, sadness and a lack of motivation or concentration, but not anger,” she writes. “And even if you pick up what is often called the ‘bible of psychiatry,’ the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, you’ll find that the list of core symptoms for major depression doesn’t include anger. But irritability — a reduced control over one’s temper that results in angry outbursts — is listed as a core symptom of depression.”

 

Noted Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Maurizio Fava also contributed to the piece and shed some light into why there has been such a disconnect all these years. He explained that when he was trained in the subject, the common thought was that anger is projected inward during depression. In essence, depressed people are angry at themselves and not others.

 

But more recent case studies examined by Dr. Fava have educated him otherwise. In fact, he found that people prone to outbursts share many of the same traits as “depressed” or “anxious” people going through a panic attack. He aligned anger attacks in the same vein and actually saw some success when people prone to rage were treated with antidepressants.

 

And on the flip side, more recent studies have shown that those diagnosed with depression do experience angry emotions on a regular basis.

 

“A recent large study looked at more than 500 people who had been diagnosed with major depression,” Greenfield Boyce added. “It found that more than half showed overt irritability/anger, and that this anger and irritability appeared to be associated with more severe, chronic depression.”

 

Ultimately, these all fall under the category of mental health. Whether you’re consistently angry or sad (or possibly both), it is important to not just zero in on certain emotions. At Inneractions, we specialize in treating co-occurring disorders and believe that healing truly begins when you look at the bigger picture.

 

How Diet And Health Impact Depression

 

Truth be told, depression is much more than an “emotional issue.” There truly is a science behind all of this, as genetic links and research studies have shown. And proving that point even more, is a new article from the acclaimed online medical resource, WebMD. Doctors from that site now claim that even germs and microorganisms play a part in chronic sadness, as evidenced by a newly discovered gut bacteria.

 

The link can tie back to certain diets and a lack of probiotics. When surveying roughly 2,100 adults, WebMD’s researchers found that those with depression did have differences in specific groups of gut bacteria. Those with an imbalance of microbes suffered from issues with their immune system and a decrease in the production of chemicals that influence the brain.

 

This chemical deficiency (at least among the 2,100 surveyed) showed direct links to depression. The other notable stat to be revealed was the “vicious cycle” that occurs once this diagnosis has taken place. We know that many people with depression don’t eat well and often have a loss of appetite. According to the researchers, those symptoms only further the problem.

 

“It becomes almost like a chicken-and-egg question,” UCLA researchers Dr. Emeran Mayer told the site. “People with depression certainly have different diets, and different habits, than people without depression. And that would affect the gut microbiome.”

 

Continued studies are being done to determine the initial causes of this type of bacterial infection and how it can be combated. Dr. Mayer did admit that healthier eating and regular vitamin supplements would all be beneficial. But science has yet to prove if that alone will completely remove the issue.

 

Foods that have shown to have a positive effect thus far include vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains (all of which fall into a healthy regular diet). Dr. Mayer also emphasized the avoidance of processed foods if you think you’re suffering from depressive symptoms.

 

“I’d say eat a diet that’s largely plant-based and highly variable in the types of plant foods,” Mayer concluded. “If you’re just eating tomatoes, that’s not enough.”

 

Obviously, overcoming depression requires a lot more than changing what you eat. But we wholeheartedly agree that a healthy diet can make a significant difference in your emotional (and physical) well being. Nevertheless, we encourage anyone suffering from chronic sadness to reach out and add therapeutic support into your recovery toolkit.

 

Dating With Depression

 

Is it impossible to date and find love when you’re suffering from depression? Absolutely not. But it can be a challenge and does require more effort than someone who is not dealing with a mental health struggle. TheFix.com recently addressed this very relevant topic on their website and offered helpful tools for anyone who feels hopeless about their romantic life.

 

Taking quotes and inspiration from relationship therapists, the site first dug into some of the symptoms people with depression may experience when trying to make a love connection.

 

“Battling depression can be physically and emotionally taxing, so make sure you’re going at your own pace and being kind with yourself in the process,” expert Lindsey Pratt told the site. “If you struggle with this, you may notice that it prevents you from feeling excitement over special moments. You may also have trouble finding energy to spend time with a new person or that your ability to imagine a happy future with a certain partner feels limited.”

 

Pratt went on to emphasize that it is perfectly ok to experience these feelings and those who do are certainly not alone. She also added that there will undoubtedly be challenges; but by continuing to put in work, you can slowly overcome them.

 

“Patience” and “compassion with yourself” are two key points that Pratt mentioned. Patience comes with working at finding a suitable mate. It may take a while and you may encounter bad matches, but it is important to carry on. Compassion refers to pushing away self-doubt if a date or online connection goes bad. This, of course, is not easy to do, but with professional support and continued effort, you can learn not to personalize rejection.

 

There are also preliminary exercises to take which can help avoid an uncomfortable dating scenario. One suggestion was to schedule a meetup at a time of the day when you feel most positive. Also, choosing an activity and location that brings you joy can help set a relationship up for success.

 

The article also recommended openness and honesty when it comes to your depression diagnosis. Time it right and don’t be ashamed to mention that you are struggling with a mental health issue.

 

“You’ll need to determine the best time to discuss your depression with a date,” the site expert went on to say. “Often this conversation happens a month or two into dating. I really like to encourage people to say, ‘You know what? I suffer from a condition that’s pretty common in the population. I have this sadness sometimes about me.’ You don’t even have to use the word depression.”