Depression Myths We Need To Stop Believing

Posted on September 15, 2014

In recent weeks, the global conversation surrounding death by suicide has taken center stage, and now more than ever, we're acknowledging the effects of undiagnosed, untreated and mistreated depression on those rising numbers. Approximately two out of three people who commit suicide suffer from major depression first. In the past, we have spent more time focusing on suicide than on this dominant root cause. And that's finally changing.

Depression and sadness are one and the same.

While an overwhelming sense of sadness is often a symptom of depression, it is not synonymous with it. Sadness is fleeting and temporary. Sadness is catalyzed by upsetting life experiences and powerful memories, but it comes and goes - it is not constant. Depression, on the other hand, is a chronic condition. The deep sadness depressed people feel doesn't fade on its own, and sadness is far from the only negative emotion they experience. People with depression can feel empty, apathetic, anxious and tense in ways that make going about their daily lives incredibly arduous and painful.

It's a sign of mental weakness.

This stigma is one of the main reasons why so many people elect to suffer in silence rather than seek the help they need. However, no one chooses to develop depression. It is a complex mental disorder that affects a person biologically, psychologically and socially, and does not discriminate. If anything, there is great resilience in the person that feels truly debilitated by this condition but makes an effort to work through it on a daily basis.

It's all in your head.

Emotional symptoms are often thought of as the main characteristics associated with depression, but it doesn't stop there. Many people with depression find themselves coping with ailments all over their bodies. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression can manifest as fatigue, insomnia, unusual changes in appetite, chronic muscle aches and chest pains. By promoting the idea that depression is only mental, we overlook these physical signs of the more serious issue at hand.

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Category(s):Adoption / Reunion Issues, Depression

Source material from Huffington Post