Top 10 Most Common Myths About Depression
Countless myths that circulate from person to person can lead to misunderstandings about what a depressed person is going through. Unsurprisingly, depression is one of the most common mental disorders, hence it's not uncommon for people to experience invalidation due to these common myths. If you want to understand the struggles a depressed person is undergoing, perhaps it may be best to look it at another way. This list counters 10 most common myths regarding depression.Whenever depression is mentioned in a conversation, sadness and the blues are usually the first things that come to mind for many people. However, depression can manifest itself with multiple symptoms, including a lack of motivation, anger, apathy, or even poor personal hygiene. It's not uncommon to see people rush to the conclusion that they're "depressed" after a short period of sadness.
Depression is frequently associated with traumatic experiences such as losing a loved one, losing a job, or failing at something to which you put serious commitment. Chemical or hormonal imbalances in the brain and body, and environmental factors are also reasons why people often get depressed. Remember that depression comes from a plethora of causes, most of which are complex and hard to understand. Some people can get depressed without a reason and wonder why.
People can be depressed due to just being in a bad mental state. It has nothing to do with reasoning.
You can meet your own expectations and goals, have a stable income and job, supportive family and friends, and a neat-looking house, yet still wonder why you are the same sad person. Environmental factors can still affect you regardless of your status, socio-economic background, or supportive groups. Even a rich person can still wake up and feel moody throughout the day.
Depression and laziness may have similarities, but laziness is also a major factor that contributes to the mental disorder itself. You can choose to be lazy, but depression is typically accompanied by other symptoms that may be harder to control without medication or professional help. Laziness may last for a few days, but the symptoms of depression are often consistent and can seriously impact how you live.
Good things can also happen to people who have depression from time to time. The difference is that they may not react much due to apathy, and their positive reactions might be very temporary. There are days when their minds are a little clearer and they experience joy on occasion, but it's often less evident.
The statement that depression can determine a person's strength is a common myth. Regardless of who you are, how many accomplishments you have, or how strong (literally or figuratively) you are, depression can still affect anybody. It is a sickness, a mental sickness that can be treated, but it isn't a weakness itself.
Probably one of the most harmful misconceptions because it discourages victims from trying to get help.
The word "cured" is often thrown around for most mental issues such as depression. While the intentions behind it are good, this is false. Depression cannot be "cured," but there are plenty of ways to treat it. It's not uncommon for people to conclude that they are cured of depression when symptoms start to dissipate. However, depression can relapse later, which can be improved with appropriate treatments.
Telling a person to "snap out of it" doesn't usually help their mental state. They may temporarily "snap out of it," but it doesn't entirely snap the person out of depression. If you claim that you have "snapped" out of depression, you probably were just going through a bad mood. After all, you cannot snap out of a chemical or hormonal imbalance.
Antidepressants are usually effective for most people, but they aren't the only option available. Some people avoid medication because it is accompanied by various side effects such as disrupting sleep or weight, or they may become too dependent on it. Therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, can work wonders for people with mental disorders and can be as effective as antidepressants.
Sometimes a psychologist or a therapist may not be an option for some people as they can cost a lot of money. Overall, therapy is usually hit or miss, as some are better equipped for dealing with trauma and other specific mental disorders. It's not uncommon to hear people advise seeking a therapist or psychiatrist, but they aren't for everyone.
The Newcomers
Similar to experiencing sadness, depression consists of multiple varying symptoms and everyone's experience can be different. Just because someone is experiencing a depressive episode does not mean it applies to everyone. This also applies to the severity of the depression.
When I was younger, I thought I couldn't have "clinical depression" because I always felt depressed due to my terrible life. I thought it's only called depression if it's caused by a chemical imbalance or something weird or dysfunctional. But the truth is that if you have the symptoms of depression, you are considered to have depression, even if the reason for those symptoms is that your life is terrible.
The theory that depression is caused by low serotonin was recently rejected as unsupported by a major review of all studies on the subject. Many people still believe this and think depression is caused by a chemical imbalance. There is no evidence of this.