Misconceptions

Boy this has been a rough week.  One of my darkest in a while.  It's nice to see though that there are so many more resources out there for people with depression and anxiety disorders.  I found this through Kaiser Permanente.  https://kphealthylifestyles.org/toolbox/programcomponent.html?page=DepressionLibrary  :

How much do you really know about depression?

People often offer the advice to “snap out of it” or “pull yourself up by the boot­straps.” But the reality of depression is much more complicated. Many of us hold a number of false beliefs about depression—beliefs which may keep us from getting help. Below are some common misconceptions about depression. Take time to read these—you may find you have some mistaken beliefs about depression.

I would know if I were depressed.

It isn’t always obvious when a person is depressed. Many people mislabel depression as boredom, job stress, marital unhappiness, and so on. Men, who often experience more anger and irritability than sadness when they are depressed, may not recog­nize these as symptoms of depression. Similarly, many depressed adolescents insist they’d be fine if their parents and teachers left them alone. And large numbers of depressed people appear in their doctor’s office complaining of a variety of physical symptoms.

If you don’t feel sad, you’re not depressed.

Not everyone who suffers from depression experienc­es a lot of sadness. In fact, some report few, if any, sad periods. Instead, people with depression may feel excessive anxiety, anger, irritability, jealousy, or other negative emotions. Also, some people who suf­fer from depression experience a lack of all emotions, including positive feelings. They may report feeling “flat” or “dead” inside much of the time. Lack of pleasure is often a key sign of depression. Some people, particu­larly depressed adolescents, may complain of boredom, attributing their negative moods to the environment.

If you’re depressed, you feel lousy most of the time.

Symptoms of depression can change from day to day, or even hour to hour. Although many depressed people feel bad most of the time, others may report that at times they feel perfectly fine. However, these people may find their moods are much too variable, inconsistent, and/or intense. They may plunge into despair with no warning or react with anger over mi­nor matters. Early morning is often a difficult time for people who are depressed.

If you can still work or function, you don’t have “clinical depression.”

Being unable to work or perform other functions reflects the most severe level of depression anyone could experience. Many clinically depressed people remain capable of carrying out their daily responsibili­ties, though perhaps at a lower level of efficiency or enjoyment. In fact, non-busy times may be the most difficult. These people generally do “function,” but usually at a great cost to themselves—they suffer a great deal of inner turmoil and pain just to get through each day. Not surprisingly, a depressed person’s closest relationships may also suffer negatively from their symptoms.

If you’re “functioning” in a similar manner, please know you have a right to expect more out of your life.

Medication and psychotherapy are for people who are really “bad off.”

Medication and psychotherapy (talk therapy) can be used to improve the quality of life of anyone touched by depression. Medication and/or psychotherapy can help prevent things from deteriorating to the point where the individual cannot function. Why wait until you hit rock bottom when your life can begin to improve now? If you’re willing to treat physical symp­toms, such as headache or indigestion before they greatly impact your life, why treat depressive symp­toms differently?

Most people choose to be depressed.

Most of people who have been depressed know that at our lowest points we would have gladly done anything to feel better. However, we may see our situ­ations as impossible. Feeling helpless and unable to make changes in our lives can create powerful feel­ings of despair. Such despair often causes depressed individuals to avoid other people, become inactive, and not take initiative in solving their problems. They may appear “lazy” to themselves and to others.

In reality, depressed people don’t want to be de­pressed, but symptoms such as fatigue, lack of moti­vation, and hopelessness may hold them back.

Depression is a sign of weakness.

Many creative, powerful, and famous people through­out history have had to cope with depression. The fact they were able to make significant achievements, despite contending with depression attests to their strength, not their weakness. People who are de­pressed aren’t likely to look at themselves accurately or helpfully, and may become overly concerned with whether they appear to be weak or strong. Because weakness implies a character flaw, this concern interferes with seeking treatment. In actuality, feel­ing better—getting/having relief from the debilitating symptoms of depression—is a sign of how “strong” one is. Many of us would argue strong people are those who own up to personal difficulties rather than denying them, and are willing to admit to themselves when they need help finding solutions to their problems.

I have nothing to be depressed about.

Trying to talk yourself out of depression only adds insult to injury and often results in further stress. Depression can result from a variety of causes, including a wide range of biological, psychologi­cal, and environmental factors. It’s not necessary to have a specific “trigger” event or situation to become depressed. You don’t need to justify your feelings. In fact, a person may become severely depressed at a time when everything seems to be going well. Those depressive symptoms that appear without an identifi­able cause often are biologically based and respond well to treatment, especially medication.