Anti depressants?

[moonlight]

Please educate me! Why does it seem like some women that take them seem oddly HAPPY ALL of the time? The smile never cracks. The normal range of emotions are not there.its really strange to me. I feel like I'm judging these people, and I shouldn't. Maybe if I can understand it better, the judgement will fad into understanding and sympathy.
PS I've run into several of these people at my new job and new group of people Ive met here.

[Momo]

Odd...I have never known antidepressants to automatically put constant happy faces on anyone?? Are you working in "Stepford?"

[GreyhoundsRUs]

How do you know they're taking them?

[Thirteen]

Botox and forcing yourself to emotionally disconnect produce a great poker face...?

I'm sure they have things that upset them - some people just have the uncanny ability to hide any sort of negative emotion well. I am so not one of those people.



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[MsSassyBaskets]

Funny. The people I've known to take antidepressants have been among the most "normal" people I know! No plastered-on smiles there. But I will say, as a mild cynic - people who are always smiley freak me out. The ones who are on Facebook posting beautiful, grinning, instagrammed pictures of themselves and proclaiming How Excited! They! Are! To! Be! Married! To! Their! BEST!! FRIEND!!! For! 3.25 YEARS!!! OMG!!! I just figure they feel like they've got something to prove. And they probably think I'm sad and depressed because I enjoy my life in a quieter way. But I haven't noticed any crossover between the scary-happy people and antidepressant takers.

[medpedspouse]

The ones who are on Facebook posting beautiful, grinning, instagrammed pictures of themselves and proclaiming How Excited! They! Are! To! Be! Married! To! Their! BEST!! FRIEND!!! For! 3.25 YEARS!!! OMG!!! I just figure they feel like they've got something to prove. And they probably think I'm sad and depressed because I enjoy my life in a quieter way.

Bawhahaha!! I always think the same thing? I often wonder "who are you trying to convince" when I see those posts.

[v-girl]

Some people need to fake happy so they don't crack in front of the whole world. Been there. Done that. It's a sad place.

[medpedspouse]

Back to the original question. I would think (cannot confirm obviously) that the reason why the people you speak of are acting the way that they are is because they are trying to get through the day as best they can. I can assume that they were not always on meds and that it took them living through some miserable time to realize that they needed help...they may still be living through misery if there is an exogenous reason for their depression...OR their meds may not be working for them or the dosage may need to be tweaked. Regardless, sometimes you have to fake it until you make it. Maybe that is why they have a smile on all the time? Another thought is that the meds are working and they are so appreciative to be out of the crapfest that they smile because they can appreciate that whatever is happening it is not as bad as things were before?? IDK - it is all speculation. I can, however, tell you that antidepressants do not equate pasted on smiles. As others said, I know plenty of people that are on meds that still cry, get sad, frustrated, angry, as well as joyful, smiling, etc.

[Pollyanna]

Probably the ones you have met are just "whistling in the dark" to make it through the day.

[moonlight]

Funny. The people I've known to take antidepressants have been among the most "normal" people I know! No plastered-on smiles there. But I will say, as a mild cynic - people who are always smiley freak me out. The ones who are on Facebook posting beautiful, grinning, instagrammed pictures of themselves and proclaiming How Excited! They! Are! To! Be! Married! To! Their! BEST!! FRIEND!!! For! 3.25 YEARS!!! OMG!!! I just figure they feel like they've got something to prove. And they probably think I'm sad and depressed because I enjoy my life in a quieter way. But I haven't noticed any crossover between the scary-happy people and antidepressant takers.

This sums it up perfectly. It does freak me out when people are that way. It's so fake. I have a really hard time being social with someone being that fake happy... I just assumed it could only be medically induced! Lol! Maybe not? I think what medpedsS said really is making think of it differently. Truly grateful today, because they've seen darker times. Hmmm never thought of it that way.

[ladymoreta]

Another consideration is that you haven't known this person (people?) very long. I have a friend who has been suffering from post partum psychosis, in which she alternates between severely depressed and manically happy. If they're on a swing from depressed to manic, they may need time to readjust medication? I'm not exactly sure how it works, but what you're seeing may not be the full picture of their struggle with mental illness.

[samssugarmomma]

I take antideppressants and trust me - my moods cyle just like they did before my depression.

It could be that you just aren't privy to the ups and downs of their life.

When I worked people would least comment that I always had a smile and was always happy. It was even noted in my annual reviews each year. Some of those years were my darkest due to the stresses of training, severe depression,and other health matters . I just chose not to share that part of my life with every Tom, Dick, and Harry that I met.

Even now as I walk the kids into school, I might not have slept due to a fussy baby or be mad at DH for some reason, or just having a bad day - but I get dressed and offer up a smile. If someone says " how are you?" I don't rant about my misery, I just say something pleasant. If we keep talking and I'm dealing with some suck I might say something if it pertains to the conversation. Otherwise I'll keep it to myself.

I don't see it as fake, I see it as being a pleasant person.

[moonlight]

Wow, this is really insightful information. It honestly never occurred to me to act a certain way if I wasn't really 'feeling it.' Perhaps these ladies are not medicated, but really happy people? Or just trying really hard to be happy!

[moonlight]

Another consideration is that you haven't known this person (people?) very long. I have a friend who has been suffering from post partum psychosis, in which she alternates between severely depressed and manically happy. If they're on a swing from depressed to manic, they may need time to readjust medication? I'm not exactly sure how it works, but what you're seeing may not be the full picture of their struggle with mental illness.

Ok, that just breaks my heart to think about. I've heard of those cases but not really known anyone in the throws of it. I hope she gets better.

[ladymoreta]

Wow, this is really insightful information. It honestly never occurred to me to act a certain way if I wasn't really 'feeling it.' Perhaps these ladies are not medicated, but really happy people? Or just trying really hard to be happy!

And there you go - it surprises me that this surprises you! I was taught from a very young age to suppress negative emotions and put on a happy face regardless of how I'm really feeling. As I've gotten older, I've tried to stop doing that with very close friends and my husband, but it's still my default. It's not a healthy way to constantly live life, and my sister and I have had problems in adulthood with it, but it does come in handy at times!