Thank you for this. It is confusing. Truthfully, I think others preferred me faking being cheerful. I mean no one EVER asks me how I am doing. If I talk to a family member, for instance. They just don't ask...and I think they felt more comfortable with me being cheerful...and really did not care if I was really cheerful or just faking it. I think that's how people are.

It sounds crazy but it was easier just faking it. Either way I am still depressed.