Just smile?
My company's vice president likes to send out 'inspirational' emails every day. This morning the email talked about how research shows that just smiling reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. I did a cursory Google search and did find articles talking about studies that link smiling with increased happiness, but I wonder if the depression these studies are talking about is not clinical.
For me, I have no 'reason' to be depressed. I just am. And it seems that plastering a smile on my face just makes the depression and anxiety worse. Does just smiling help anyone else?
@GeekGirlM For myself, merely smiling doesn't make me any happier. I really think there has to be some positive reinforcement behind it for smiling or a logical reason that makes sense. Personally, I am happier when I do good works, that is my reason for my happiness.
I really would take these studies with a grain of salt because even though in theory, they could be true, they neglect to consider the many complexities of mental illness, depression/anxiety, etc...I can imagine how frustrating it must be to battle depression, only to find out a medical study is claiming to, "just smile". We get told that enough from friends and family, nevermind having a medical research study claim that as well.
The only thing I would suggest is smiling and nodding at your boss, the next time they show you another silly medical study. 
@TrueArrow Thanks! I think a smile and hitting delete would make me feel better!
@GeekGirlM Exactly! 
Good luck! 
Yeah, I hate smiling when I don't feel like it. It doesn't make me feel better at all. It just feels awkward and weird.
@GeekGirlM
When I'm sad or mad and I see or have a glance of the reflection of my face, I try to smile. It relieves the tension for me. But, yeah, when I had depression I don't think I tried smiling... if I ever did, I don't remember it doing anything for me.
