What is Smiling (Atypical) Depression? Symptoms and Treatment

What is Smiling (Atypical) Depression? Symptoms and Treatment

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What is smiling depression (atypical depression)?

Smiling depression (atypical depression) is a person's attempt to appear happy to the outside, despite the storm raging inside.

The person who is depressed or does not enjoy what they are doing does not show this situation to the outside. For smiling depression (atypical depression), the term atypical depression is used, which has the closest meaning and similarity. People with smiling depression (atypical depression) wear a mask in their daily lives, to the people around them, but in their inner world, they feel hopeless and lost, and may even consider ending it all.

Feelings such as not being in a good mood, experiencing sadness, experiencing distress when something happens to them are quite normal and everyone experiences them from time to time. In order to be called depression, it must last for at least two weeks.

What are the symptoms of smiling depression (atypical depression)?

Thesymptoms of smiling depression (atypical depression) are experienced intensely in the person like normal depression. When looking at the symptoms of smiling depression (atypical depression), the person generally does not enjoy life.

  • Smiling depression (atypical depression) is referred to in the literature as a sub-branch of normal depression, i.e. major depression. This condition can sometimes be confused with normal depression, so it may delay the diagnosis.
  • The person is intensely dominated by thoughts and feelings such as not enjoying life and hopelessness. Even in positive emotions, the person experiences a momentary happiness, but this is temporary.
  • Even if the person spends time with his/her loved ones in the desired environment, he/she may feel momentarily cheerful, but when he/she leaves that environment, he/she experiences a state of depression.
  • An increase in eating and appetite can be observed.
  • Excessive desire to sleep
  • The person may experience chronic pain in the arms and legs.
  • In normal times, the person may also show a lot of irritability in the face of a normal event.
  • Smiling depression (atypical depression) can be treated with therapy and medication. For this reason, it is useful to consult a specialist physician for a clear diagnosis.

Smiling Depression (Atypical Depression) Treatment

The treatment of Smiling Depression (Atypical Depression) can be carried out in combination with therapy and medication support. The psychiatrist decides on this treatment plan and makes the treatment plan according to the patient's condition.

  • In order for treatment to be carried out, the correct diagnosis must first be made.
  • Unfortunately, depression deepens during the period without treatment and makes treatment more difficult.
  • Medication and dose adjustments are made according to the patient's condition. For this, certain tests must be performed.
  • In addition to medication support throughout the treatment, the patient is also supported with therapies as long as deemed necessary to improve the existing disease.
  • In such cases, the medication should never be discontinued spontaneously unless the physician decides, this may worsen the existing disease.
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CreatorNP Istanbul Hospital Editorial Board
Updated At05 March 2024
Created At25 October 2022
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