A smile of depression is all around us. However, the patient often does not realize it, even covering it with a cheerful facial mask.

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Have you ever seen someone who seems happy and cheerful face but secretly actually suffering from depression? The phenomenon is referred to as Smiling Depression (asymptomatic depression). This depression smile is probably suffered by people around us. It could be a couple, boss, coworkers, neighbors, friends, and others.

There was a desperate cry in every smile ...

When he was smiling and looking fine, actually inside his heart he was crying. However, he does not want to show it in front of others for various reasons. For example lazy was asked why sad, do not want to bother others, and do not want to be considered weak by others.

Mostly, people with this depressed smile do not even seek help from psychologists or psychiatrists. In fact, if a person experiencing this stage of smile depression, then it means he was experiencing a stage of severe depression. Behind a cheerful face, there is a feeling of gloom, anxiety, deep despair, constant sadness, or even thoughts of suicide. The person who is in this stage of the depression smile usually feels increasingly sad when he realizes he has no reason to be depressed.

Depression that more often hit this woman experienced by many who have fine family, attention husband, enough property, and others. As a result, feelings of depression will make them feel more guilty. Sense of depression is not just a feeling of sadness, but influenced hormones and substances in the brain that became the cause of all the dark things that people who suffered from depression.

Most people who experience a depressive smile do not know that he is depressed. It happened because there was no special sign that started it. Plus the assumption that people who suffer from mental illness is someone who is crazy, insane, and so forth.

If you are experiencing this depression smile, do the 4 things I used to practice:

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1. Accepting that depression exists

We often hear advice not to think too much about sadness that goes on and on. In fact, if the depressed person says that he can not eliminate the sadness he is suffering, some people assume that his friend secretly enjoys sadness.

In fact, the first thing to do in order to overcome depression is to recognize that mental illness is indeed in our bodies and must be aware of its existence. Despair, sadness, fear, worry, and anything else is a signal that our body sends that we actually need others to support us.

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2. Talk to the person you trust

Not everyone understands depression as a serious mental illness. However, believe that not everyone thinks like that.

The bad thought that "no one can understand my feelings" will only make things worse. Tell the sadness experienced by the closest people who can be trusted.

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3. Seek professional help

If your spouse, family, and friends can not understand what is felt, it's good to call the psychologist and psychiatrist immediately. If the psychologist you meet seems unsuitable for talk because he likes to talk and give unnecessary advice, you can meet other psychologists who may be more suited to you.

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4. Strengthen confidence

Not confident is a common thing experienced by depressed people. However, realizing your own potential and calculating your fortune will make you more confident. It's a good idea to write yourself a letter that contains the motivation to get up. Confidence will increase your immunity from depression.
Remember that no one is perfect. Everyone faces their respective storms. The power of a person in the face of his own depression differs from one to another.

So, comparing the situation of one person to another is not the right way. Just like someone who is experiencing a smile of depression, there are many people whose lives seem fine but are actually going through a difficult time. Realizing that we are not the only ones who experience sorrow can help us overcome feelings of loneliness and suffering.

This method is not always able to help us overcome depression, but the feeling of solidarity with others who experience deep sadness can strengthen us. In principle, just skip today, before thinking about how the next day will come.

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Note:

• This work is a collection of old works since I first studied at the faculty of fine arts and design. Even part of this work I can not remember where.

• The material I use is simply "Duplex" paper instead of canvas, and some formerly used "Kaphie" acrylic paints are very popular in some artist's kalanagan in Indonesia.

• I also mixed some watercolors and ink used printer printers into some of the works I made this.

• These photos are documented since early 2016 until mid-2017.

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