Normally, when we talk or read depression, we are all automatically led to imagine a certain prototype of “depressed person“. More or less, in the collective imagination, the depressed classic presents:
- low mood tone
- poor energy
- insomnia or hypersonnia
- low or excessive appetite (with consequent loss or weight gain, quickly)
- physical ailments
- poor work or school performance
- Reduction of usual relational and social activities
- negative vision of self and the future
- In the most important cases, suicidal thoughts or desires
Not always, however, depression It presents itself in such a clear and defined way. This makes even more difficult for the person and above all for those next to them, the recognition of a moment of difficulty. Furthermore, it is inevitably delays the request for help from a professional.
Non -classic forms of depression
For some, the manifestation of depression It can have to do with anger. There are dysphoric reactions, nervousness, tension and often highly aggressive reactions (towards people or situations), to minimum stimuli.
Other times, depression is manifested mainly through organic disorders and symptomsoften difficult to ascribable to a precise diagnostic label and, also for this, tending to chronicity. In fact, there is talk of masked depression which is often linked to somatization disorders.
It seems absurd, but you can also witness a depression characterized by a picture apparently within the limits of “normality”. There are people who, while experiencing sensations and emotions typical of depressionmanage to smile, to work working and socially and even to appear happy outside and capable of efficiently managing one’s life.
The “smiling depression”
In these cases the expression is used “Smiling Depression“, Precisely to indicate the typical attitude in these cases. With statements such as” I’m fine “,” everything is fine “, the subject shows a smile of circumstance.
Speaking in technical terms, it is certainly a form of atypical depressionwhich allows those who are affected to carrying out a normal life, to always appear satisfied and serene in front of the others, while internally there are totally opposite emotions. It goes without saying that the first difficulty in these cases is precisely linked to the possibility of recognize the problem early and clearlyso as to be of help to the person who suffers from it.
Literature on the phenomenon of smiling depression
Recently, in this regard, Dr. Olivia Remes, a doctoranda psychologist of the University of Cambridge (UK), has published an article in the magazine The Conversation. According to the expert, this condition can have a early debut in the life of the person and also last long. This is because of the late identification (which, in many cases, never happens) and the particularity of its characteristics, which do not respond to the normal parameters of classical depression.
From the research carried out, it seems that it affects between 15% and 40% of depressed subjectsresulting more frequently among subjects with a tendency to mental mullionlessness on the past and hypersensitive to criticisms or socially embarrassing situations.
In addition to those already mentioned, there are other reasons (often linked to specific personological operations) that make this form of depression more dangerous. In fact, appearing happy to others while in reality one suffers deeply can be the symptom of one serious difficulty in accepting to have a problem. We do not realize a condition that would instead need to be taken over, or you are sure to “make it alone”, underestimating the real situation or overrubating one’s resources and abilities.
Why hide your depressive state
People with one “Smiling Depression” They could fear of being considered weak or vulnerable if they showed their difficulties outside. Or present strong guilt for the fact of suffering or making suffering.
As in many other psychopathological paintings, the idea of being able to need a psychotherapist may appear exaggerated and lead to feeling “crazy”, therefore avoided. It may happen that these people don’t talk to anyone, that they tend to reinforce and show their side more and more “Smiling”. They provide a non -realistic self -image, but at the same time very efficient.
The suicidal risk to which this form of atypical depression It exposes is also greater than classic forms, because the subjects are however able to actively carry on their daily life in its various facets. They therefore have less difficulties in finding energy and resources to implement the actual suicidal intentions.
The treatment of smiling depression
How (and perhaps more) in Classic depression paintingsalso in this case, timely intervention by suitably trained specialists is decisive for the prognosis of the disorder. In cognitive behavioral therapy, in addition to acting on any dysfunctional reactions and behaviors, we try to understand together with the patient what its global functioning is.
It is helped to become aware, in the specific case of the “Smiling Depression”of the fact that it is neither necessary nor useful that the person takes care of himself completely alone. That it is not humanly possible to make it alone and that their discomfort also hides a profound malaise. We try to strengthen an alternative style of thought, which allows the person to show outside their real moods, also providing the useful and effective tools to cope with you.
