A PICTURE PERFECT SMILE…

“Smile please!!” or “Say cheese!!”

A saccharine sweet smile is come on our face by hearing these words. These lines are usually heard at the time when someone is going to take our photograph. Smile is one of the most important parts that make a photograph beautiful.  It is an expression which denotes pleasure, happiness, amusement etc.

A smile seems to have a favourable influence upon others and makes one likeable and more approachable.  Do you want to be more attractive? Just Smile more! Research has proven that we find others more attractive when they are wearing a smile.  Smile has special powers. The power of a smile can heal a frozen heart.  Smile is a contagious thing. Give to the world and the world will give back to you. Smile at the world and the world will smile back at you.

Just imagine you have worn a gorgeous dress, a nice pair of shoes, nice accessories with an awesome hairstyle and perfect make-up on your face. Click a photo or selfie.  Something is still missing in that photograph. That missing part is a smile on your face.

However, most of the time that perfect smile which comes on our face at the time of clicking photo is fake. Though picture perfect smile makes our photo beautiful and more attractive but that doesn’t come from inner joy.

Do you know thousands of people who look happy but struggle with depressive thoughts on a daily basis?

Typically depressed people are known as who cry a lot, stay alone in home all day or avoid talking with others. What may or may not be surprising is some people can totally fake it. They can smile, laugh and act like everyone else, even while they are in excruciating emotional pain.

Everyone does not experience depression in the same way. Some might not even realize that they are depressed in their day-to-day life. It doesn’t seem possible that someone can be smiling, laughing and at the same time depressed. Those people keep their real thoughts and feelings inside while pretending to be okay but they usually feel very alone.

People who are depressed but act like they are fine usually they find a way to spend time alone crying or being upset and then go back to acting with friends and family. Acting happy is emotionally exhausting and keeping the pain secret is isolating. So, faking it can even increase the depression. This type of depression is called “smiling depression”. Smiling depression often goes undetected.

The definition of smiling depression is: appearing happy to others, literally smiling, while internally suffering with depressive symptoms. Another way to think about smiling depression is to see it as wearing a mask.

People suffering from smiling depression may offer no hint of their problem to the outside world. They often maintain a job, run a family household, participate in sports and have a fairly active social life. With their mask on, everything looks great, even at times perfect. However, underneath the mask they are suffering from sadness, panic attacks, low self-esteem, insomnia, and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts.

This is complicated because depression attacks a person’s thoughts and feelings, rather than kidney or lungs. Depression can cause a person to think he/she hates himself/herself or is unhappy in his/her relationships. It can cause someone to believe everyone would be better off without him/her. It can cause people to feel sad, angry, guilty and numb.

People often can’t recognize their own feelings and hide them aside. They might not even be aware of their depression or don’t want to accept their symptoms due to a fear of being considered “weak.”

The smile is a defence mechanism, an attempt to hide their true feelings. A person could be experiencing sadness about a failed relationship, career challenges or lacking from their true purpose in life.

Common symptoms of smiling depression are feelings of anxiety, fear, anger, fatigue, irritability, hopelessness and despair. Those suffering from this and other forms of depression may also experience problems sleeping or eating disorder and a lack of enjoyment in pleasurable activities. Everybody’s experience is different. It’s possible to feel just one or many of these symptoms.

Suicide can be a particular threat for individuals suffering with smiling depression. Typically, people suffering with severe depression might have suicidal thoughts. However, those suffering from smiling depression often have the tendency to plan for suicide and follow it. This is why smiling depression can be more dangerous than a classic form of severe depression.

If you or anyone you know might be suffering from smiling depression, the good news is help is available. This is treatable like other mental health problems. Whether through counselling or psychotherapy, it is possible to successfully get out of this state of mind and be freed from the sadness.

Your loved one or close friend whom you suspect is suffering from smiling depression may deny it and may even have a negative reaction when you inform  the problem. This is normal. Often people aren’t aware of smiling depression and the word “depression” might sound too extreme. Keep in mind they may have the view of getting help as a sign of weakness or something only needed by the severely disturbed.

As long as you continue to deny or avoid what makes you feel empty, it will be near impossible to fix the problem. When depressive thoughts and feelings aren’t addressed, they typically build up and become worse.

Apart from counselling or psychotherapy, those suffering can start opening up and discuss feelings to those around close ones like family members, friends. Sometimes we forget that those around us are happy to support us in the same way we would for them. Opening up and sharing feelings is a key element in coping with depressive thoughts.

So, from today don’t allow yourself and others to fake smile. A natural smile is always favourable more than a fake smile. Smile is God’s gift to you. It reveals your inner joy.  It also helps to spread happiness. In that sense, if you smile well you are making this world a better place to live in. Therefore smile. Thus spread joy all around.

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