Even though I know there are other depressed people in my life, why do they look so happy on the outside? How come I can't look that way?

Different people handle their emotions in different ways - others show them whereas others hide them. Just because you show your depression, doesn't make you weaker or inferior. When I was depressed, I hid my depression well (or so I thought). However, I really didn't. People knew something was wrong - I was quiet, afraid, withdrawn. I just wasn't myself. Me showing my depression, got me the help I needed. It allowed people to reach out - even when I wasn't ready to reach out for myself.

Some people are afraid of showing what they really feel from the inside. They don't want other people to know what is happening to them so they put a mask on. But the saddest thing is that the mask is actually a really heavy one and hard to deal with and it probably breaks them even more. We can't say that being depressed but looking happy is a bad or a good thing. It just depends for the person itself. The only thing here to say is that there is no need to look happy on the outside if you don't feel like that from the inside :)

I know someone who seem to be always laughing and smiling, even when she's sad. It is a habit that she built when she was very, very young. It was so long ago that she doesn't remember when it started, but she has to try extremely hard to not smile and to let someone know that she's not okay. Even when she cries, if you talk to her, she will smile, and that makes everything worse. What I'm trying to say is, don't compare yourself to others or try to be like them. You might think that things would be easier if you could shut your feelings out and pretend to be happy, but when you really try do it, you realize that it still hurts and now you have an extra burden: maintaining that friendly smile so that people don't judge you. Instead of putting yourself through that, try to find something that makes you happy for real. Most importantly, believe that you can be happy and go find your happiness.

Each person is an individual. As individuals, we experience things differently which is why we should never judge ourselves. It is best not to compare yourself to another individual and even though that person may appear happy that is all it is. Privately, they may be crying or they may be contemplating suicide. I would suggest that you think about what you can change in order to make yourself happier.

Everyone deals with depression differently. This doesn't mean they feel any different to what you feel they just have a different way of coping with it. Don't be too hard on yourself :)

It is likely that the people you are referring to need help much more than you think. Putting on a smile through depression is only healthy for so long, and if it begins to become a mask that you wear, it is important to get help. The fact that you still show your emotions is a good sign. It is important to get support from your loved ones in order to feel really happy, instead of putting on that mask.

Some people have the ability to adapt and adjust. Some people are better at putting on a happy face when happy is the last thing they feel on the inside. This isn't easy for everyone, and you shouldn't feel pressured to match others.

Depression is more than just sadness, and can be a mix of numbness, loneliness, frustration, hopelessness and so on. Depression definitely varies from person to person, but often it is not easily distinguishable, as that person may not want to be a burden to others. Perhaps the reason why you cannot be happy like they are is because you are in a different situation and have different experiences. For some, depression is easier to hide than others.

Depression looks different for every person. Some people use smiling as a coping mechanism, some don’t. That is okay if you don’t. Despite what many people think, you are not under the obligation to look happy until you feel happy.

some people are better at hiding emotions that others, when you're down you could show it 2 ways be happy and ok on the out side but sad on the inside or sad and mad on the outside and happy and ok on the inside.