10/08/2024
I’m guilt of this too. Smile whenI feel like 😭.
Smiling is usually thought of as being associated with positive emotions – such as happiness, joy, excitement, cheerfulness and/or peace of mind, for example.
However, as we talk about in our book "Learning The Language Of Depression: Overcoming Communication Barriers so People with Depression Are Safe and Understood", it’s very common for people with depression to smile and say “I’m fine” even when they are deep in a depressive episode. And, a major reason why is because they fear becoming a burden to the people they love 😥
As understandable as masking depression with a smile for this reason is, however, it can result in people with depression feeling alone, misunderstood, and not receiving the support they need. Consequently, in Learning The Language Of Depression:
✅ In order to help people with depression feel more comfortable being open about how they really feel, we will explain the thinking traps that people with depression often fall into that can falsely convince them they are a “burden”; as well as what we encourage them to remind themselves of moving forwards in order to help them let go of the negative thought “I will become a burden if I say how I really feel when I’m in a depressive episode”.
✅ We will talk about the steps that those supporting someone with depression can take in order to create a “safe, judgment-free space” for them to feel comfortable being open about how they really feel instead of hiding it.
👉👉 To pre-order your copy of "Learning The Language Of Depression: Overcoming Communication Barriers so People with Depression Are Safe and Understood", please visit Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Waterstones, or whichever other online book store that you prefer ❤️
All our love,
The Depression Project Team.
