Smiling Depression Test

You might think it'd be easy to tell if someone is struggling with depression, but that's not always the case (even if you're experiencing it yourself).

Sometimes, you might put on a brave face and smile through your pain, hiding your struggles from the world—and maybe even from yourself.

While you can't be expected to wear your heart on your sleeve at all times, masking your pain can get exhausting and even prevent you from getting help.

That's why we designed this quiz. We want to help you reflect on your experiences and emotions. Seeking understanding is a brave first step, and from here, you can access resources to help you make sense of what you're going through.

Let's explore what might be going on below the surface.

How accurate is this quiz?

At Best Therapists, we believe that online mental health quizzes can be an excellent first step towards improving our mental health. Quizzes like this one can educate you and provide opportunities for self-reflection, but note that they are not a substitute for professional assessments and diagnoses.

Take our quiz below ↓

Your privacy is important to us, so all results are completely anonymous and no email is required.

Example scenarios

• The High-Achieving Professional: Emma is a 32-year-old marketing executive known for her charisma and success. Colleagues admire her ability to lead presentations with enthusiasm and charm clients effortlessly. However, when Emma returns home, she feels empty and exhausted. She often cancels plans with friends, citing work commitments, but in reality, she spends evenings alone, feeling hopeless and questioning her life's purpose. Despite her internal struggles, Emma maintains her vibrant persona at work, fearing that showing vulnerability might jeopardize her career.
• The "Perfect" Parent: Mark is a 40-year-old stay-at-home dad. On social media, he posts pictures of fun family outings and his children's achievements. At school events and playdates, he's always smiling and engaging. But privately, Mark feels overwhelmed and inadequate. He struggles with persistent sadness and fatigue, often forcing himself to participate in activities. He's afraid to share his feelings with his partner or friends, worried they'll see him as ungrateful or a bad parent. Mark continues to maintain the image of a happy, fulfilled father while battling internal despair.
• The Popular College Student: Sophia is a 21-year-old college student known for her outgoing personality and active social life. She's involved in multiple clubs, maintains good grades, and is often the life of the party. However, Sophia frequently feels disconnected from her peers and questions the authenticity of her relationships. She experiences periods of intense loneliness and self-doubt but hides these feelings, fearing judgment or rejection. Sophia continues to attend social events and maintain her bubbly exterior, while internally grappling with feelings of emptiness and despair.

In each of these cases, people show a cheerful, high-functioning exterior that masks their internal struggles with depression. They may fear judgment, disappointing others, or damaging their reputation if they reveal their true feelings.

This disconnect between their outward appearance and internal experience is characteristic of smiling depression.

Crisis resources

If you're in a mental health emergency, please call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.