Despite affecting roughly 18% of people at one time or another, depression is perhaps the least well-understood condition among psychological disorders, especially among the lay population. Depression is often thought of as “just bad mood,” or as some sort of an emotional tantrum by the sufferer, eliciting suggestions like “shrug it off” or “pick yourself up and get on with life.”
It is curious how, in the case of a physical illness, nobody would expect you to just “walk it off.” Adequate treatment and rest would be considered essential for recuperation; however, the need for these are not as obvious for most people in the case of a mental illness like depression.
To help separate facts from fiction, let us look at a few common misconceptions about depression:
- It is just a case of the blues – While all of us go through periods of low mood now and then, depression is far more serious, with a complex array of contributing factors, with far-reaching implications on the sufferer’s quality of life, relationships, and work.
- Depression happens to the idle – This is a cruel myth. Deep and debilitating changes in the sufferer’s brain chemistry can make it near-impossible for him or her to find motivation to work or engage in their hobbies. Forcing patients to throw themselves in activity is both misguided and harmful.
- Depression is temporary – When depression occurs due to the loss of a loved one, it might be temporary after a period of grief and mourning. But this does not happen all the time. Depression can also occur due to other reasons, in which case it can persist for a very long time when untreated, with crippling consequences.
- Only women get depressed – This is another common misconception. Men are just as likely to get depressed as women, although they may have much more covert coping mechanisms, because of acculturation and persisting social stigma on men expressing vulnerability. Men are far less likely to seek help, and are more likely to choose maladaptive coping mechanisms such as temper tantrums and substance abuse.
- Medication is the only solution – This myth prevents a lot of people from seeking the help they need, because of a fear of lifelong medication. Not all types of depression require medication, and even then, not permanently. In milder forms, depression responds well to dialog-based therapy.
- Only a specific age group suffers from depression – Nothing could be farther from the truth. Depression can happen to anyone, at any stage in life. Childhood depression is often difficult to diagnose, while teenage depression masks itself as indolence and irritability. Post-partum depression is common among women who have just given birth, and the difficult transitions of age can cause depression among seniors too.
Depression is a serious medical illness with severely adverse effects on the life of a sufferer and his loved ones. If someone you know is displaying signs of depression, it is important to share any help he/she might need.
