Truth, Myths and Facts About Depression

Sadness, feeling down, having a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities - these are symptoms familiar to all of us. But, if they persist and affect our life substantially, it may be depression. 

Causes of depression are not fully understood but are likely to be a complex combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychosocial factors

MYTH: Depression is a character flaw and a sign of weakness.

FACT: Depression has nothing to do with strength of one’s character. It happens due to a complex interplay of biological and environmental risk factors and it is a treatable condition like any other physical illness and with all the attached stigma, seeking help for depression is a sign of courage and not weakness. Don't let anyone tell you other wise. 

MYTH: Depression is just “having one of those days.”

FACT: Depression is more just feeling sad or down in the dumps. The sadness is more persistent and affects your day-to-day activities and it makes it harder for you to function at your normal levels.

MYTH: You can just “snap out” of depression.

FACT: Telling people with depression to just “snap out of it” never helps as depression, like other physical illnesses, takes time to heal (it's like telling someone with migraine to snap out of it without proper medical attention). While treated episodes of depression lasts about three months, untreated depression may last from 6 to 13 months.

MYTH: Depression affects only women.

FACT: Although women are 1.5 to 3 times more likely to get depressed compared to men, men are not immune from it. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), men may experience depression differently than women. While feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and excessive guilt are more common in women, men usually show signs and symptoms of extreme tiredness, irritability, lack of interest in once-pleasurable activities, and difficulty sleeping. In addition, men with depression are more prone for alcohol or drug use. Men may also avoid talking about their depression with relatives or friends and may turn to work as an escape, but ultimately becoming more frustrated, discouraged, and angry. Although suicide attempts are more common in women, more men than women actually die due to this.

MYTH: Depression only affects adults.

FACT:  Depression does affect children and teenagers. The National Comorbidity Study found that 11.7% of the 10,123 surveyed adolescents aged 13-18 met diagnosis of either major depression or dysthymia, a form of chronic low grade depression. In contrast to adults, children and adolescents, when depressed, may experience irritability rather than sadness. While not all teenagers who are moody should be investigated for depression, but if the mood symptoms are persistent and exist with other symptoms suggestive of depression, then it may prudent to rule out depression.

MYTH:  Depression is only for losers or those who feel sorry for themselves.

FACT: Depression is an equal opportunity illness and cuts across nationalities, education level, social status, occupation, race, and culture. 

MYTH: Depression can be diagnosed by a medical test.

FACT: Unfortunately, there is no medical test to diagnose depression like there are for diabetes or other medical conditions. Whereas you can try to self-diagnose depression using some internet-based rating scales, a formal diagnosis should best be left to a professional. This is important because a professional can rule out other psychological or medical conditions that can mimic depression.

MYTH: Depression only responds to medications.

FACT:  Over the last few decades, the trend in print media has been to present depression as a bio-medical disorder rather than an entity caused by a variety of reasons. This in turn has perpetuated a belief that the antidepressants may be the only effective way of treating depression. While antidepressants alone may be more effective in more severe forms of depression, both cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy are effective by themselves in mild or moderate depression.

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Also,  please stop telling people, "it's all in your head". 

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NOTE:  When choosing therapy as a treatment modality for depression is to seek an expert trained in depression-focused therapy as there a lot of other therapies that are not helpful for depression.

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HARPREET S. DUGGAL, MD, FAPA