10 Harmful Myths About Depression

Disclaimer: Not medical or professional advice. Always seek the advice of your physician.

Myths #1. Depression and Sadness are The Same Things

Although the constant feeling of sadness is often a symptom of depression, there’s an important difference between these two conditions. Sadness is more temporary. Sorrow is a feeling of profound sadness that builds on life experience and strong memories. Like other emotions, sad feelings come and go. At the same time, depression is a chronic condition. People with depression usually say that all their positive feelings fade away, and they vividly experience only negative emotions. People suffering from depression may feel empty, numb, anxious, and stressed. Daily routine or maintaining relationships become more difficult with each passing day.

Myths #2. Depression is a Sign of Stupidity or Laziness

This misinterpretation is one of the main reasons why so many people choose to experience depression in silence. It would be much better if they could immediately seek the help they need. We need to understand that no one wants to be depressed. Nobody dreams about depression. It is a mental disorder that affects a person in biological, psychological, and social aspects. However, it is vital not to discriminate against people with depression. Moreover, a depressed person who makes a daily effort to handle it deserves great respect.

Myths #3. Stress Causes Depression

Life events cannot take full responsibility for a person's depression. The loss of a loved one, divorce, and other similar things can make an emotionally sensitive person feel sad, lonely, and empty for a long period. However, those who are truly depressed grieve and get angry for much longer. Deep grief for what was lost does not go away within a few weeks or months. And even if it disappears for a while, it keeps coming back with a new round of depression. When diagnosing depression, doctors pay attention to recurring and frequent despair moments as they are one of the key symptoms.

Myths #4. Depression is not a Real Disease

While the symptoms of depression are difficult to determine and recognize in the overall context, depression is still a serious condition. Moreover, there is no panacea or one-size-fits-all treatment for this disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic, people with depression really have physical differences in the structure of their brains. Their neurotransmitters are damaged in a very specific order. Besides, they also show signs of hormonal imbalance, which determines their condition.

Like many other diseases, depression affects all aspects of life. It has an impact on a person's mood, thoughts, physical condition, and level of comfort.

Myths #5. It's All in Your Head

Emotional symptoms are often perceived as the main characteristic of depression. In fact, this is not the case. Many people with depression complain about physical problems. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), depression can take the form of fatigue, insomnia, change in appetite, chronic muscle pain, and chest pain. While supporting the idea of depression being exclusively a disorder of consciousness, we ignore existing physical signs. However, it is important to take them into account during the diagnosis and treatment.

Myths #6. Real Men Don't Get Depressed

Just because women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression, men shouldn't suffer in silence. In fact, the number of middle-aged white men who commit suicide is growing every year. It can be assumed that most of them were indeed depressed.

The signs of depression can vary between men and women. In most cases, it is difficult to spot the symptoms and detect depression in men. They fear being seen as weak and insecure. For this reason, they do not usually talk about the difficulties they experience. As a result, they can’t receive the help that is needed. Men are desperate to avoid treatment and worsen their condition with alcohol or drugs instead. That is why the suicide rate keeps rising.

Myths #7. Depression is Hereditary

We will not deny that there is a real genetic predisposition to depression. However, the risk for healthy people is about 10-15%. Old research suggests that the most common cause of depression lies in genetics. However new studies cast doubt on this statement. People who have a family history of depression might be more aware of some of the symptoms. Which means they are more prepared to visit a doctor if something goes wrong.

Myths #8. Only Antidepressants Will Make you Feel Better

It’s important to keep in mind that symptoms of depression can vary from person to person. This type of disease cannot be cured by one drug. And the patient won’t recover from depression overnight. Antidepressant medication is a common treatment, but that's not the only option. Many people suffering from depression choose psychotherapy or a combination of methods to solve their problems.

Besides, those who choose pharmacological treatment must be ready that the progress doesn't occur quickly. After all, the body needs time to adapt to changes. Therefore, it will take at least six weeks before you get the desired effect. It should be noted that sometimes it requires trying several drugs to find the right one.

Myths #9. You Will Have to Take Medications all Your Life

Depression treatment is closely linked to the existing symptoms. Some people use short-term medication to cope with the most critical moments and to find the strength to start psychotherapy. Others establish a defined regime and follow a course of medication, while a part of people does not take meds at all.

Modern psychotherapy can offer quite effective treatment for depression. It is estimated that 40 percent of people with depression had benefited greatly from psychotherapy rather than medication. Experienced doctors try different types of treatment for their patients to provide the most suitable option.

Myths #10. The More you Talk about it, The Worse it Gets

Everyone who experiences depression doesn't want to discuss it. The person isn't willing to share his feelings or describe the reasons for this condition. But the main problem is that depression cannot disappear by itself. Unfortunately, it is not like a runny nose. We should not only eliminate the stigma associated with mental disorders but also have to talk about it. It is important not to worsen the situation and avoid endless discussions concerning the negative aspects of what is happening. You need to find the right person to talk to — someone who will change the subject to support you.

Apart from talking, you can express yourself through drawing, sculpting, art forging, dancing. You can choose absolutely everything as long as it gives you the right feeling. We are not talking about courses or group sessions. Even if you manage to paint a piece of paper with black color - congratulations, you have taken a step in the right direction. We want to remind you again that depression is an extremely serious problem that can lead to death in many cases. Therefore, you should take advantage of all possible kinds of support on time.