Depression is a mood disorder characterized by extreme sadness and despair. The symptoms of depression can differ from person to person. Fatigue, lethargy, difficulty concentrating, and loss of interest in one’s hobbies are just a few of the symptoms of depression. A person may not even realize they are depressed because they are only feeling extremely low and upset from time to time. As a result, it is critical for people to come forward and speak about their current mental state, especially when the symptoms begin to interfere with their daily life activities.

Acceptance of the problem is the first step toward treatment of any issue related to an individual’s mental wellbeing. One of the reasons most people lie to others about their depression symptoms is that they do not want to face the fact that they are suffering. Even if societal expectations force you to present a healthier version of yourself, it is equally important to acknowledge your mental as well as physical problems. It is critical to discuss depression with others rather than dealing with it alone. Talking about it may or may not provide you with solutions, but it may make you feel a lot better after sharing your feelings and emotions with others. Lying and hiding about depression symptoms will only make matters worse because one will be unable to find a solution to their problem and will instead continue to suppress their feelings until one day, they have an outburst. Only by accepting one’s problems will one be able to confront them and then find a solution. 

When you lie to others, you are also lying to a part of yourself because you are unable to face reality and the severity of the problem. As a result, it is critical that you discuss your problem not only with your friends and family but also with a mental health practitioner. Getting professional help can be intimidating at first, but it is absolutely essential to receive proper depression treatment. Hiding the fact that you have symptoms of depression is just as bad as hiding the symptoms of Covid. The amount of damage it can cause in the long run is frequently underestimated. If the symptoms of depression are recognized in the early stages, they can be treated much more quickly and prevent further harm to the individual’s mental health. According to various studies, women are more expressive of their emotions than men. While men are expected to be strong and emotionally in control, they may also find it difficult to do so, since they are also human beings. They ought to have the option to seek emotional support as needed.

‘Smiling depression’ is a term used for those people who appear happy to others while internally suffering from depressive symptoms. It is difficult to recognize and understand those who are silently suffering from depression. Such people frequently put on a happy face for the outside world to demonstrate that they are living a happy life. When things go wrong, facing your problems gives you the confidence that you can solve them rather than giving up. As a result, discussing one’s depression openly will help people understand what they are going through and how getting medical help will benefit them.

– Urveez Kakalia & Aakriti Mathur.