Depression Overview
Myths & Facts About Depression Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. - WHO
Lisa John 9/30/2021
Overview Depression is a common illness worldwide, with an estimated 3.8% of the population affected, including 5.0% among adults and 5.7% among adults older than 60 years (1). Approximately 280 million people in the word have depression (1). Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life. Especially when recurrent and with moderate or severe intensity, depression may become a serious health condition. It can cause the affected person to suffer greatly and function poorly at work, at school and in the family. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide. Over 700 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds. 1.0
Introduction
There are many misconceptions and myths about depression that can deter people from seeking treatment. Read on to find out the real facts about depression. There is a high prevalence of depression in the United States and around the world. About 300 million individuals around the world experience depression and estimates suggest that about 15% of the adult population will experience depression at some point in their lifetime. There are many myths about depression that exist today, despite the fact that depression facts and statistics are readily available. It is important to distinguish between myths and facts about depression, as common myths about depression tend to increase stigma and prejudice surrounding the mental health disorder. This stigma may prevent some individuals from seeking treatment for their symptoms of depression. The only way to address this problem is to combat depression myths with facts and increase general understanding of the condition. 2.0
Symptoms of Depression
Depression can be mild to severe, based on the symptoms of a person. In some cases, depression can make someone feel completely incapable to work in major areas of his life and develops the feelings of despair and vulnerability. Depression, lasting undiagnosed, can affect a person for a very long time, as the symptoms are not recognizable easily in the person. Signs and symptoms may also vary as per the age, temperament and reoccurrence of incidences. It is essential to understand one may notice a few of the symptoms on different occasions but it essentially doesn’t mean they have depressed. In the same way, not every individual experiences depression or symptoms of depression. To clinically get diagnosed, two to three symptoms should be preset in an individual for at least two weeks. These are some common symptoms that a depressed person may experience. Physical Symptoms:
Significant change in Body Weight Sleep Disorders Churning gut Unexplainable body aches
Chronic fatigue or feeling tired all time Loss of appetite and weakness
Different Thoughts that comes to a depressed person’s mind: · · · · · · · ·
Self-criticism or felling worthlessness. Accusing the people around. Existential Crisis - Life has no meaning Lack of concentration and memory loss Self-harming habits or thoughts of suicide Feeling demotivated Feelings of hopelessness Negative thinking
Behaviour that indicate Depression: · · · · · ·
Isolation Crying on small issues Social Withdrawal Lack of focus and interest in daily life activities Depending on sedatives and alcohol Psychomotor disorders- slow movements and agitations
Emotions that indicate Depression: Mood swings Persistent Sadness Feeling guilty without any reason
Feeling overwhelmed all time Constant irritability 3.0
12 Common Myths About Depression 1) Myth: Depression isn’t a real illness
Fact: Depression is an actual illness with very real symptoms and impact. Depression is not just a temporary bout of sadness, but an actual mental illness. Myths stating that depression is not a real illness contend that depression is just a simple case of the blues. However, depression is a multifaceted condition that is caused by a combination of biological, environmental and social factors. Depression is a mood disorder that impacts a person’s thoughts, emotions and actions. Depression causes a significant amount of distress and impairment in an individual’s day-to-day functioning, leading to a considerable amount of emotional, social, academic and occupational difficulties. Depression may require long-term treatment and is not always easy to overcome.
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Myth: Depression only affects women
Fact: Depression impacts both sexes. The misconception that depression only affects women suggests that depression in men is non-existent, which is untrue. Men may not be as likely to admit or report it due to social pressures. Social and cultural norms make it difficult for men to show vulnerability, discuss their feelings or reach out for help. Some men fear that admitting depression will make them appear weak or less masculine. Thus, men are not as likely to identify their symptoms, discuss their struggles or access treatment.
Depression in men also presents differently, as men tend to display angry, irritable and aggressive symptoms. Men are also more likely to engage in risky behaviors and can potentially go on to develop substance use disorders. These factors can make it challenging to diagnose depression in men. More than 6 million men in America experience depression each year. Depression can have significant consequences for men, as they are more likely to commit suicide than women. The suicide rate among men is nearly four times higher than the rate for females. 3) Myth: Depression and sadness are the same Fact: There are important distinctions between depression and sadness. When comparing depression vs. sadness, it is important to take into account duration and resolution of symptoms. Feelings of sadness do not last as long as a depressive episode, which can potentially persist for weeks, months or even years. Feelings of sadness tend to resolve on their own, especially with the passage of time and support of family and friends, while depression does not go away on its own. Individuals who are sad only experience feelings of sadness, while those with depression tend to experience several other emotions, including anxiety, emptiness and hopelessness.
4) Myth: If your parents have depression, you will too Fact: Not everyone with a family history of depression develops the condition. While it is true that depression has a genetic component, it does not necessarily mean that children are destined to develop and experience depression like their parents. Yes, depression is genetic, but heredity appears to impact a person’s risk and susceptibility more than the actual development of the condition. While it is practical to be aware of family history, it is not sensible to dwell on it. Focusing on factors that lower the risk of depression, such as avoiding substance use and practicing self-care, is a better use of time and energy.
5) Myth: Antidepressants will change your personality Fact: Antidepressants target brain chemicals that have no impact on personality. While antidepressants do impact the chemicals in a person’s brain, they have no impact on personality. Antidepressants target specific chemicals linked to depression and do not alter the brain chemistry that is linked to personality. In fact, many people who take antidepressants report the medication helps them feel more like themselves. 6) Myth: You’ll need medication the rest of your life Fact: Although antidepressants can be used long-term, they do not need to be taken for the rest of your life. While antidepressants are often used in long-term depression treatment, these medications do not always need to be taken for the rest of a person’s life. There are many depression treatment options that vary depending on the severity of a person’s depression. The length of time a person is prescribed antidepressants is dependent on their individualized treatment plan and the acuteness of their depression.
In conjunction with medication, psychotherapy may be prescribed as another course of treatment for depression. Therapy can educate and help equip a person with coping mechanisms to manage depressive symptoms. Acquiring new coping skills may potentially lessen the need for medication. However, in other instances, taking antidepressants in conjunction with therapy may be clinically recommended. Either way, there is no evidence to support the claim that you will need medication for the rest of your life.
7) Myth: Talking about depression makes it worse Fact: Talking about depression can help lessen symptoms. Talking about depression is encouraged to help a person to overcome symptoms. People who suffer from depression can feel like a burden to others, and silence often perpetuates the negative stigma of mental health conditions. Talking about depression with friends, family members, or mental health practitioners can help people struggling with depression feel they are not alone. 8) Myth: Depression is only brought on by a traumatic event Fact: While depression can be brought on by a traumatic event, it usually results from other causes. The exact cause of depression is unknown, but it is thought to be a combination of biological, genetic and environmental factors. While traumatic events can trigger depression, they are not the only risk factors. Depression can also occur without cause, even when things seem to be going well in a person’s life. If a traumatic event occurs to someone already dealing with depression, it will likely intensify their symptoms.
9) Myth: Depression will go away on its own Fact: Symptoms of depression rarely improve without professional treatment. Treatment is necessary in order to address symptoms of depression. It is very rare that depression will go away on its own without intervention. Without obtaining treatment, depression can persist for months or even years, or can potentially lead to self-harming behaviors or suicide.
Depression treatments are effective and allow a person to return to their normal daily functioning. It can also teach people valuable coping skills to help them manage symptoms and other stressors. 10) Myth: Depression is a sign of weakness Fact: Depression has nothing to do with a person’s character. Depression is a mental health condition that stems from a chemical imbalance and not from a defect in character. A person does not choose to become depressed. Depression is only viewed as a weakness due to the stigma that society has placed on it, and has nothing to do with a person’s mental, emotional or physical strength. 11) Myth: It’s all in your head Fact: Depression is a legitimate mental health condition. Depression is a real mental health disorder stemming from biological, emotional and environmental factors. There are many physical symptoms of depression, including disrupted sleeping patterns, fatigue, aches and pains. Someone who is depressed isn’t simply imagining their symptoms and cannot quickly resolve them.
12) Myth: You can just snap out of it Fact: Depression needs to be addressed with professional care. Getting help for depression is critical to avoid negative consequences. Treatment can allow a person to restore happiness, recapture their lives and return to normal levels of functioning. Depression is beyond a person’s control and directed by larger biological, psychological and social factors. Developing depression is not a choice, and, often, mental health treatment is the only way to pull oneself out of it.
With quality care, depression is treatable. It all starts with a call. If you or a loved one is living with cooccurring depression and substance use disorder, reach out to The Recovery Village today to discuss treatment options. 4.0
When Counseling for Depression Is Necessary
We can feel multiple emotions in a day, varying from happiness to sadness, anger to disgust. And it is something very natural to feel those emotions in a day to day life. But what if you feel one emotion is overpowering the other emotions, and more often it is 1. A feeling of intense sadness, 2. Hopelessness, 3. Anxiety, 4. Fatigue, 5. Loss of interest in activities, 6. Changes in sleep and appetite. 7. Suicidal thoughts.
If these feelings are persistent for two weeks for more with little or no let-up, depression is diagnosed. Depression is not just an emotional state but it is a condition impacting mind and body simultaneously impacting your social life and professional life. A negative event or a build of negative emotions or stress could lead to depression and sometimes it is more to do with biological condition, not having control of the level of chemicals in their brain that is contributing to the depressive symptoms.
Depression is a condition, and something not to be ashamed of, it is curable, you just need to seek help. The first step towards dealing with depression is to recognize the feelings of persistent sadness, that is impacting your work and relationships and you see yourself struggling in your life as a result of feeling hopelessness, worthlessness. When you notice these changes take help from, mental health professionals, to get diagnosed. Severe depression is treated with psychotherapy used by the counselors along with the medications. Mild and moderate depression can be cured with counseling. Many doubts derive when we think of how counseling will help and how effective it is. To clear some of them, giving an idea of what you can expect from a counseling session.
• A counselor will help you identify the negative depressive thinking pattern so that you can engage less in these patterns and think more realistically. • A counselor can help you to identify unhealthy methods of trying to deal with your symptoms such as isolation or use of drugs or alcohol and help you to make positive changes in these areas. • A counselor will help to identify the healthy activities that will help you keep your mood positive. • Depression impacts a person’s focus and concentration makes it difficult to see problems realistically, lowers energy levels, and is so overwhelming in itself that other things are often ignored. A counselor can help you to effectively use problem-solving thinking during this difficult time. • A counselor can help you identify your warning signs of depression so that you can recognize them earlier in the future, and help you to put a health plan in place that can decrease the chance of another depressive episode. • A counselor can help teach some more positive, healthy methods of handling negative thoughts, emotions, and stressors.
If you have a will to get recover surely online counseling is the best option for you, it not only helps you identify certain triggers and the ways to handle it but also helps you become more self-sufficient to handle situations in a healthier way. If you need help with the depression BetterLYF is always there for you. 5.0
Conclusion
Depending on the severity and pattern of depressive episodes over time, health-care providers may offer psychological treatments such as behavioural activation, cognitive behavioural therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy, and/or antidepressant medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Different medications are used for bipolar disorder. Health-care providers should keep in mind the possible adverse effects associated with antidepressant medication, the ability to deliver either intervention (in terms of expertise, and/or treatment availability), and individual preferences. Different psychological treatment formats for consideration include individual and/or group face-to-face psychological treatments delivered by professionals and supervised lay therapists. Antidepressants are not the first line of treatment for mild depression. They should not be used for treating depression in children and are not the first line of treatment in adolescents, among whom they should be used with extra caution. References: Updated on 02/26/20 |By Megan Hull | Reviewed By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS | therecoveryvillage.com | 12 Common Myths About Depression | Retrieved on 30.09.2021 https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/depression/related/depression-myths/ Betterlyf | betterlyf.com| When Counseling for Depression Is Necessary| Retrieved on 30.09.2021 https://www.betterlyf.com/articles/depression/when-counseling-for-depression-is-necessary/ 13 September 2021| who.int | Depression | Retrieved on 30.09.2021 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression 2 Aug 2021 | What is Depression and How Can Depression Counselling Helps?| lifewellnessjoy.weebly.com | Retrieved on 30.09.2021 https://lifewellnessjoy.weebly.com/blog/what-is-depression-and-how-can-depression-counselling-helps