Myths You Should Know About Depression
Depression is a very serious illness that affects millions of people in the United States and around the world.
Unfortunately, given all that is known about depression, many common myths about this serious condition continue to circulate in popular culture… myths that often lead individuals suffering from depression to forego the treatment they need.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, the first step you should take is to seek help and become informed so you can separate fact from fiction and recover as quickly and as effectively as possible.
“The Blues” vs. Depression
Some individuals confuse feeling down for several days as a sign of more serious depression. This confusion typically stems from depression’s common usage in the English language. However, there’s a big difference between being depressed and suffering from depression.
Feeling depressed occasionally does not necessarily mean you have depression. We all have our ups and downs, and everyone has their bad days and feels “the blues” at some point or other. These feelings are a perfectly normal part of what makes us human. While we can all benefit from knowing how to cope with such feelings, they should not be confused with clinical depression.
Clinical depression occurs over a period of months and does not abate or, if the depression does lift, it quickly returns again. For the person who has it, depression feels like a never-ending shadow under which they live their entire lives. This is why telling someone who’s depressed to “just cheer up” is unhelpful and insensitive. Someone who has depression can’t… That’s the problem!
So, while you should be careful not to confuse a few down days as a sign of something worse, if those down days occur frequently, or if they turn into weeks and months, you need to recognize that you might have a problem with depression. Don’t keep dismissing long periods of depression as occasional bad moods.
If you’re not sure how serious your feelings are, talk with your doctor first – some forms of depression or brought about by chemical imbalances or other health issues – and consider seeking the opinion of a mental health professional who specializes in providing depression counseling services.
And if you’re worried that someone you know is depressed, try finding out more about what clinical depression is in the first place. Talk to others who have depressed loved ones and find out what strategies work for showing the depressed person that they are loved and respected and that help is available.
Depression Is NOT a Sign of Weakness
Another all-too-common misconception about depression is that it is a sign of weakness or some character flaw. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Depression can affect anyone, regardless of their personality. Many strong and capable people deal with depression. In fact, many people manage to struggle with their depression and still work, raise children, and maintain daily responsibilities and relationships. For a depressed person, life is a herculean task.
Unfortunately, this myth can be a particularly damaging one, as it leads many people with depression to feel embarrassed or ashamed and therefore less likely or willing to face their affliction and get the help they need.
This same myth also leads friends and loved ones of those who are depressed to become overprotective and treat the individual struggling with depression as fragile, disabled, or incapable of dealing with the world around them. This is not only the wrong thing to do, it is the exact opposite of what’s needed.
While you need to be aware and sensitive to their feelings, there’s no wheelchair-ramp equivalent for those suffering from depression. In other words, no special treatment is necessary. In fact, treating someone with depression differently may make them feel ostracized and can even make their depression worse.
If someone you know is clinically depressed, gently suggest medical intervention to help treat their depression, involve them in social activities, and help them to live life with fervor. They need to be engaged in life, not shielded from it. And, if you’re experiencing depression, don’t allow others to become overprotective of you.
Once you recognize that there is a problem, it needs to be dealt with and not avoided.
Clinical Depression Is NOT a Form of Psychosis
Depression is not a form of psychosis.
A psychosis is a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality.
While depression is a very serious issue, to throw depression in the same category as something like schizophrenia is an insult to anyone who has ever dealt with depression. Depression is common and treatable, and having depression doesn’t make one crazy, weird, or insane.
Stress and Depression Are NOT the Same
Many people also confuse stress with depression. While feeling stressed can definitely make you feel depressed, as we’ve discussed “feeling depressed” and having depression are not the same.
Likewise, while stress can help lead to depression, and depression can cause a great deal of stress, the two are not synonymous.
That having been said, if you’re suffering from depression you should identify stress factors in your life and eliminate as many of them as possible. A licensed counselor or therapist who helps people overcome anxiety, stress, and depression can help.
Just Because Someone in Your Family Had Depression Doesn’t Mean You Will Too
A lot of people believe depression runs in the family. This myth has been bolstered by the copious amounts of research showing some genetic markers may make an individual more susceptible to depression.
However, even if genetics may cause a person to be more likely to experience depression doesn’t mean it’s an inherited condition or that just because someone in your family once had depression you’re going to have it as well. Nor does it mean your children will suffer from depression just because you are.
Depression can be triggered by many things, and you needn’t be concerned about any pre-disposition you or your children may have unless you see signs of depression. And, even then, worrying is not the answer, becoming informed and getting help is.
One thing about clinical depression that’s not a myth is that depression will not just go away on its own. Even if the symptoms lessen or seem to disappear, without professional treatment they will return.
Depression is more common than you might think. Unfortunately, so are the myths that keep people from getting the help and treatment they need.
If you suspect you or a loved one are suffering from depression, there’s no reason to feel embarrassed or confused. Get informed, talk to your physician, and seek the help of mental health professionals who specialize in treating people with depression. Clinical depression is a serious condition, but with professional help it can be overcome and you can move forward again in life with confidence and optimism.