What do I do when everyone keeps telling me it's all in my head. They say that if I think im feeling better I will start to be happier. I try to be happy so much, however it never works. I always end up feeling empty or even worse sad.

In my experience. Most of the time your pain is valid. Because you're not able to put a Band-Aid on it. People like to think it's not a valid concern or issue. In fact trying to force yourself happy can actually worsen the situation, as now not only are you still unhappy;but now you're beating yourself up because people have convinced you it's not real. Don't let people invalidate your pain. it's true the people who say these things may mean no harm, but If they won't take your unhappiness seriously then they're not good people to have around.

Before you try to be happy, have you tried to connect with your inner self to know what is actually make you feel empty or sad? People might tell you it's all in your head, but you know yourself best. Search the answers within and if that's not working try to consult before it getting worse.

People say that if you smile more you'll be happier. I feel like this isn't true for everyone though. It's probably not just in your head, I believe everyone's emotions are valid and should be expressed and heard. Try to make yourself heard. And if you can't do that then try talking to a counselor or therapist about it. Maybe even a parent or trusted adult. Also consider not trying to be happy. Let it happen naturally. That can help you get used to being happy.

It's hard when you feel like others don't understand your situation, or aren't empathetic enough towards it. It affects you because it makes you feel like you aren't handling your depression the "correct" way. Depression is much more complicated than black-or-white, so don't let what others say ("It's all in your head") affect how you feel. Are you seeing a counselor or anyone professional? These people are able to give you better coping strategies, and understand what you're going through more. I hope you will be okay!

It's okay to give ourselves a break from being well, sometimes. It's ok to acknowledge that we are miserable, depressed, unwell, sometimes. We cannot be 'happy' all the time, much less content, even when we are not depressed. Plus - of course it is in our heads, where else would mental ilness be? Any kind of depression treatment is best done with a professional, and can range from thought techniques to medication, whatever you are comfortable with at your own pace. It takes a long time to find the right solution for our brains; sometimes it's just a matter of rewiring them with new thought patterns and perspectives. But it's exhausting and we deserve to give ourselves a break from that pressure now and then! Don't let others dictate your mental health. You're in charge of it.

When people are saying that they probably really care about you and want you to feel better. Unfortunately they are not you so they can never fully understand how you feel. It is important to reach out to a professional so that you may discover and learn new tools to deal with your emotions. Everyone has different ways of achieving health and happiness.

Trying to act happy is different from actually feeling happiness from within , Just try to be in an environment where you would feel less stress .

"Of course this is happening inside your head Harry, but why on earth should that mean it isn't real?" - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Listen, of course it's in your head. But your head is a part of your body, just like your lungs and your stomach and your liver, and nobody says illnesses aren't real when they happen to those organs, right? Your brain can become ill just like any other part of your body. Mental illness is as real as diabetes. Telling yourself you feel better only works when you are already healthy enough to make that choice, and healthy people don't understand why it doesn't work for depression. See a therapist who does CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), try medication, do what you can to get better. Once you are already feeling better, then you can use this type of self convincing.

So you feel empty or sad once you try to be happy. Why? What do you try to lift your mood, and why does it fail?

I can relate to that, I think people realize the mind is very powerful,but they don't always realize that sometimes will power alone isn't enough. A little help from a trained mental health physician can go a long ways.