Depression is certainly not a topic to joke about, but if you need to fake it, for a play or any other kind of performance, it's important that you do it respectfully and carefully. Absolutely avoid pretending to be depressed just to get someone's attention. However, if you need to, here's an article that tells you how to mimic a depressed person's appearance, behavior, and even speech.
Note: If you suffer from any symptoms of clinical depression and would like some more in-depth information, read this article.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Looking Depressed
Step 1. Wear dark colors
This solution does not necessarily mean being depressed, but during a performance many make this kind of mental association. If other characters are wearing bright colors, try wearing black or gray clothing. Viewers will immediately notice the difference.
This also applies to the type of clothes you wear. If the other characters are wearing new or trendy clothes, use older, perhaps a little worn out clothes. One idea might be to use sweaters or whatever you would wear when you're home alone
Step 2. Put on the same clothes a few days before the performance
Your character should wear the same things over and over, as if changing them is too challenging. Ideally it should be something comfortable, like a sweatshirt and your favorite pair of dark colored jeans, instead of a fancy or trendy piece.
People with clinical depression often lose interest in activities they previously found exciting, and sometimes even just taking care of your appearance can become an annoying chore
Step 3. Avoid colorful or particularly bright make-up
If you don't usually wear makeup, go ahead and skip this step. On the other hand, if you regularly incorporate some make-up into your routine, stop doing it. When you are depressed, you tend to lose interest in your usual habits a bit, so leaving tricks on the shelf may suggest that you are suffering from depression.
Step 4. Avoid showering a few days before the performance
Again, when you are depressed, your normal daily activities start to get too demanding. You may be too angry or distracted by how you feel, forgetting to do things like shower or care about your appearance. If you want to pretend, skip a few showers during the week and keep your hair unkempt, as if you don't care about fixing it.
Method 2 of 3: Pretending to be Depressed
Step 1. Stand a little apart from the other characters
People with depression usually tend to distance themselves from friends and family. If you want the audience to think you are depressed, distance yourself a little from the other characters when you are on stage. If it looks like you don't want to participate as you usually would, the audience will perceive it visually.
Instead of standing, sit on the floor in a corner hugging your knees. If you have a hoodie, pull it up
Step 2. Pouting is your "normal" expression
Instead of showing interest or excitement in what other characters are saying, try making a few faces. Try to always have an absorbed expression, as if you are trying to solve a complicated math problem, when instead you are just listening to others argue. You will certainly get the idea.
- If it helps, try really focusing on something complicated or particularly difficult. Try to remember all the words of your favorite song in your head to distract yourself. Get a focused expression.
- Don't overdo the pout, frown a little and make an expression as if you are trying to focus on something challenging, especially if others laugh and make a few jokes. The point is to avoid looking like a sad clown, which would be excessive and unrealistic anyway. You don't have to give the impression that you are acting.
Step 3. Bring some props with you
The right one can be very suggestive to communicate the fact that you are suffering from depression. Try any of the following:
- Books like "We are infinite", "The glass bell" or "Crime and punishment"; they all have to do with depression;
- A stick, as if you expected to need help picking you up;
- An old umbrella, as if you were expecting rain at any moment;
- A worn and sad looking stuffed toy, because you just need it.
Step 4. Listen to slow, sad music
To get into character, try listening to slower, sadder music than you might be used to listening to normally. This can have a dual function: to make you identify with the part and to give the idea that you are depressed. Here are some examples:
- Nick Drake.
- Elliot Smith.
- Confessional Dashboard.
- Nico.
- Joy Division.
- The XX.
- The Cure.
- Digital Daggers.
Step 5. Don't laugh
One of the quickest and most convincing ways to appear depressed is to stop laughing at things that you would normally find funny. Sigh heavily and look down. If it's impossible to make yourself laugh like you used to, you'll look depressed.
- This step can be difficult, so try to have some depressing thoughts in mind to use as a reference if you feel like you are about to laugh. Think for example of polar bears, which face extinction due to global warming.
- Sometimes giving yourself a strong pinch, lip biting, or snapping a rubber band on your wrist can be effective in avoiding laughing, but try not to overdo it.
Method 3 of 3: "Play" Depressed
Step 1. Whisper or mumble the words
Depression affects the desire to communicate effectively, as well as the actual ability to hold a conversation. When it's time for your jokes, say them in a soft voice. Give the impression that you need to make an effort to speak loud enough to hold a conversation. Pause for a long time before responding, then sigh deeply and try saying something like:
- "Oh … I have no idea."
- "Really I do not care".
- "As you say…".
- "Apparently…".
Step 2. Use sarcasm
Respond to questions or prompts in the discussion as if you feel nothing but contempt for the conversation. Respond with mockery to simple questions and act as if everything that happens around you makes you angry, even if the other characters are simply asking you what you want to eat for lunch.
- Sarcasm is sometimes more of an attitude than something specific to say, but you can always repeat what someone says to you in a derisive tone. For example: "I don't know, what do you want to eat for lunch?"
- He often rolls his eyes when others speak. One of the simplest ways for sarcasm to be perceived is to act as if you don't want to bother to respond. Remain silent and simply raise your eyes upward.
- Avoid becoming unpleasant. It can happen that you push yourself too far, thus starting to look more angry than depressed. This may cause you some problems, so use sarcasm in moderation and only as a last resort.
Step 3. Talk less
When we are in a good mood we tend to communicate and have conversations. When you are depressed, sometimes you just don't want to talk. If you want to sound depressed, don't say anything at all.
If they ask you something directly, just shrug and look down instead of answering
Step 4. Find the downside in everything
If a carefree conversation is going on, make it heavy, as if you just can't help but find the downside in everything. Try to be depressing in every conversation, even at the cost of completely diverting her from her original intent.
- If your friends are discussing how much fun they had over the weekend, try saying something like, "It looks like they discovered a new case of Ebola over the weekend …".
- If your mom asks what you want for dinner, say something like, "I just read about that kid in Alaska who lived on a bus and died of starvation…".
Advice
- Don't think that the glass is always half full. Think negative, but don't overdo it. He agrees with some ideas, but also shows some skepticism.
- When frowning, make sure you don't overdo it. Just a small smile, veiled with sadness.
- They could call you emo or goth. Just ignore it and frown, or say thank you with a hint of sarcasm.
- Try sitting on the couch, wrapped in blankets, eating ice cream, watching movies and responding with a grunt every time someone asks you a question.
- Whatever you do, you pretend to be completely disinterested. Avoid laughing and, if you think it is appropriate, make a forced smile; this might help you get the idea.
- Be careful when pretending to have some mental disorder. It might annoy people who really suffer from it.
- When someone tells you something, just take a deep breath and smile.
- Try to look a little scared when someone comes towards you; this could give the impression that you are afraid of any kind of communication or socialization.
