Several misconceptions are there surrounding depression. But people living with depression can tell you that this mental ailment comes in different types and sometimes looks little different than what you have known over the years. Due to these stereotypes, people, who haven’t experienced depression, don’t completely know about this mental disorder. Want to know what people get wrong about depression? Here are a few things we have found:
Myth-1: You are unable to be happy.
Many people consider depression the opposite condition of happiness. This is not right. Depressed people also can have moments of pleasure and happiness. Their experiences rely highly on the extent of their condition, what has caused it to grow and how properly it has been medicated or managed. Some depressives live with misery and lack of interest, whereas others can break that with good days or studious work. So, it’s not sensible to think that depressives can’t experience happiness and joy in their lives.
Myth-2: It’s just extra sadness.
Depression cannot be solved with some ice cream and a big cry. Otherwise, that would make the depressives’ lives quite easier. However, sadly, depression is not a sad feeling. It’s an individual disorder. Sadness is a passing emotional condition, while depression is a severe emotional state in which mental conditions themselves are entrenched, warped, and accompanied by other chronic symptoms. The main part of depression that differentiates it is endurance. Its feelings can’t be increased and impact everything from stress levels to concentration to your capacity to your interest in hobbies. Depressives do feel sad, but sadness is just a part of this disorder, not the entire emotional state.
Myth-3: It’s easy to ignore.
Along with sadness, depression can also reveal itself physically. For example, depressives may suffer from appetite and sleep disturbance, low libido, poor memory, difficulty concentrating, lethargy, or low energy. Sometimes these symptoms are misunderstood with other ailments and individuals suffer from undiagnosed and thereby untreated depression for many years. Not being well-diagnosed can be annoying and people who live with the disorder may end up visiting doctors before getting the suitable help finally they require.
Myth-4: Medication is the only treatment option.
There is more to dealing with depression than taking medication. Not everybody wants to take medications to handle their illness and some people don’t get medications. Several treatment options are there, which incorporate lifestyle changes, talk therapy, and more.
Myth-5: It’s mainly young people’s issue.
If a young person appears to get much media attention regarding depression, it’s likely because we are the well-educated generation who knows about mental disorders and how to accept and treat them. Depression not just appears in people between 25 and 44 but also shows up in kids. It even shows up in people over 65 also. Depression is not some type of young people’s state that disappears ASAP you have actual duties to worry about; it can affect any people at any time.
So, these are what people get wrong about depression. And making misconceptions about depression is essentially not cool at all.