What does happy feel like?

[Moon90]

I'm 30 and can honestly say I can't remember ever feeling happy, even remember being 7 years old and not understanding why my siblings were excited and smiling on Christmas as I couldn't feel anything but empty, I always have this feeling. It's always like I'm hungry, lonely and just lost and no amount of meds and counselling has ever helped me. I know I'm depressed I have been diagnosed years ago but I know from others, they have felt little periods of being happy or just "normal enough" and it's just starting to p*ss me off that no matter how I try I can't feel what I think would be happiness!.
Like when you see smiles and hysterical laughter, people who you can tell aren't acting as they are just out there being anything but sad, what does it feel like to not pretend your smile Is fake and that you really are enjoying your day without feeling fake. Isn't like I don't try.

I notice more when I am happy these days following bereavement. For me it's a sense of lightness, total absorption in an activity or awareness of the world. Sometimes it's not being able to stop myself smiling.

It's most likely to happen once I've taken care of important needs like being outside and moving. Sorry to sound like my mother constantly telling me that fresh air and exercise would help, but in fact she wasn't wrong. Even at times when I have been depressed, if I've been able to get outside there was nearly always a lift to my mood.

For me it's like a warm, content feeling. I've struggled with my mental health and suffered awful periods of depression over the years. I know I'm not depressed when I can feel that internal contented warmth. When I can't feel it I know it's time to seek help.

I’d be interested to know this too...

Interesting one. When I was younger it was having new things to look forward to or recounting a story in a funny way to someone-making others feel good I suppose.

More recently happiness for me has to be more of a conscious effort, and a result of endorphins/oxytocin so a long walk will make me feel content, a good life affirming film or catchup with someone...or failing that, something with sugar in it!

I would like to work on feeling more satisifed and I think that comes from having a fewer of things on my to do list and doing more things that feel rewarding.

Most of the time these days, happiness is absence of (intense) stress!

I am sorry that you are feeling this way.
To me, happiness is something small, that makes me smile. There was a thread about counting happiness the other day, and I really agreed with it. Sunshine, a bird on the tree, music, every little thing could be a happiness for me.