Today I present to you 5 Myths & Facts About Depression that will surely change your perspective towards mental illnesses.
Myths vs. Facts About Depression
1.) Myth: It's normal for youth to be moody? They don't suffer from "real" mental disorder, it's not a real depression anyway.
Fact: Depression can affect people of any age or of any race, ethnic, or economic group. Clinical depression is a serious medical condition that affects not only a person's mood, feelings, perceptions, and thoughts but also a person's body.
Research has shown that depression has genetic and biological causes. Brain scans of such patients have shown a decreased activity in some areas of the brain.
2.) Myth: Young people who claim to be depressed are just weak and just need to pull themselves together. It's no different from coming out of the "blues" - a normal part of life.
Fact: Depression is not a weakness, but a serious mental condition. Equating someone's "blues" to true depression is like saying that a common headache is the same as a migraine.
Everyone gets the "blues" or the "blahs" from time to time - usually in reaction to disappointment or a disappointing event - or sometimes in reaction to something as simple as a rainy day. But the blues only last for a day or two.
Whereas Depression, can even last a lifetime, and the illness is much more pervasive and disabling. No one commits suicide because of the blues. It's the chemical imbalance in the brain which is responsible for suicides which can be treated by anti-depressants as suggested by any professional psychiatrist.
People suffering from lifelong depression are no different than someone with a permanent injury or physical handicap.
3.) Myth: Talking about it only makes it worse.
Fact: Talking and sharing internal feelings with a friend may help a friend recognize the need for professional help.
4.)Myth: People who talk about suicide don't commit suicide.
Fact: This is the wrongest belief especially in our Indian society. It is like this "Barking dogs do not bite". But recent research has shown that many people who commit suicide have given warnings to their friends and family which is a strong indication of depression but is neglected by their family members.
5.) Myth: Even if depression is a medical illness, it cannot be treated and will continue lifelong.
Fact: Depression is treatable, and more than 80% of individuals with depressive disorders improve with treatment.
With the continuous advancement in medical science, new antidepressants are discovered which are proving very successful in treating depression.
Electroconvulsive Therapy(ECT) has also shown great results and is provided to persons with severe depression and psychotic symptoms.
