Fake it Until You Make it?

Many of us who deal with mental health conditions have attempted, at one time or another, to pretend we are feeling one way when the reality is far different. It is the proverbial “Tears of a Clown” syndrome, to quote Smokey Robinson. Such faking of our emotions can be isolating and exhausting.

But there is a different kind of ruse called behavioral activation that has proven effective in treating depression. In this treatment method, the depressed person learns to achieve an emotional goal by carrying out a behavior that may be different than what they naturally want to do. To learn more, click here.