BNI Treatment Centers Warns of Smiling Depression

Calabasas, CA – BNI Treatment Centers, a teen mental health center owned and operated by Arastou Aminzadeh, M.D. and Oliver Ahmadpour, M.D., released a recent blog on smiling depression symptoms in teens. The blog opens with a statistic: “15% of Californian youth reported having a major depressive episode in 2022.” It then points out that it’s sometimes hard to tell if a teen is depressed or not. Teens hiding behind a “happy mask” are said to have “smiling depression.”

Smiling depression, while not an official DSM-5 diagnosis, still presents a problem, the blog says. While adolescents with the condition can keep up in school, maintain relationships, and tend to responsibilities, they are often exhausted when no one else is around. This is due to the typical draining nature of depression on top of the stress that comes with maintaining a happy facade, BNI Treatment Centers explains. “Some teens with smiling depression can even ‘trick’ themselves into thinking they don’t have depression. They can perform all the tasks necessary in their lives, and their relationships and performance in school haven’t suffered. This can be confusing for the adolescent, too, and leave them unaware of their own depression,” the blog shares.

BNI Treatment Centers goes on to explain the risk factors for smiling depression, which are the same as traditional depression: a family history of depression, trauma, stress, life changes, and substance use, among others. Smiling depression comes with additional risk factors, though, including perfectionism, cultural differences, and a lack of support.

The blog then addresses why teens develop smiling depression. Some reasons include a fear of burdening others, a fear of backlash, concern about appearing weak, feeling like they should always be happy, guilt over feeling depressed, and denial that they are depressed. Teens don’t want to worry their friends and family, be seen as “weird” for having mental health concerns, or seem unstable to people who rely on them, the article provides.

Importantly, BNI Treatment Centers reminds the readers about the symptoms of depression, which are the same even in those with smiling depression. These include fatigue, weight and appetite changes, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, loss of interest in activities, substance use, low self-esteem, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts.

The article stresses that despite the hidden nature of smiling depression, it presents the same, if not more, risks as traditional depression. “In some cases, teens with smiling depression feel even more lonely and isolated than those who are open about depression. They don’t have anyone to talk to, so they keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves,” BNI Treatment Centers says. The blog also highlights the additional energy of those with smiling depression, and how it can lead to more motivation to complete an act of suicide. It also points out that those with smiling depression are less likely to get treatment than those who express depression outwardly, which comes with its own risks.

The blog closes with recommendations for what parents can do to help a teen with smiling depression. “Keep an eye out for the previously mentioned symptoms, and check in with your teen frequently. Ask them how they’re feeling, and make sure they know they can talk to you whenever they’re feeling down. Let them know it’s okay to feel sad and depressed. Stay patient, and remember that depression takes time to heal from, even when enlisting the help of a professional.”

BNI Treatment Centers works with teens ages 13-17 to help them recover from mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Psychiatrists are deeply involved in developing and carrying out teens’ treatment plans, allowing them the ability to diagnose conditions and adjust medications quickly and effectively. They’re also able to diagnose and treat highly complex conditions due to their expertise. For more on BNI Treatment Centers, visit their website or call them at (888) 522-1504.