Depression – The Truth vs. The Myths

Intro Depression can affect 1 in 6 people at some point in their lives. With this many people affected by the condition, folk remedies and half truths are bound to show up at some point. For example, you may have heard that working to occupy your mind instead of dwelling on whatever the situation may be that has you down in the dumps will help. Another idea that's floating around is that if your depression is severe enough, then you may be at risk for something more serious if you don’t get help. We at ThirdAge have put together a slideshow that will go through the differences between fact and fiction when it comes to depression.

Myth: It’s Not Really an Illness False! Depression is a serious medical condition, and is the top cause of disability of adults in America. Yet, people still confuse it with ordinary sadness. But evidence can be shown in brain scans that people with depression have abnormal brain activity. Typically, brain chemicals that carry signals between nerves will show that they are out of balance in a depressed person’s scans. So, yes depression is a real disease.

Fact: Men Need To Be Extra Careful Because men in general are less likely to talk about their feelings, they are more than likely than women to be unaware that they are actually depressed. To make the situation even worse, when men are depressed they don’t appear to be sad or blue. Instead, men can be irritable, angry, or even restless. If they allow the problem to go unchecked, they may just blow up on others. And men who suffer from depression are more prone to using drugs and alcohol. This only promotes even more reckless behavior.

Myth: Depression is Just an Excuse Our society admires people with high willpower and mental “toughness,” and we are quick to label anyone who doesn't show the aforementioned traits as a whiner or wimp. But people with clinical depression are not lazy and they don’t feel sorry for themselves. They are also unable to “will” the depression away either. Because depression is a medical illness, that means it is a health problem related to your brain. And like most illnesses, it will only go away for good if treated appropriately.

Fact: Anyone is Capable of Becoming Depressed It doesn’t matter who you are or what type of person you are. Anyone is capable of developing depression. The illness has been shown to be twice as likely to occur in women. Fortunately, women are more than likely to get help than men are. Depression most often occurs for the first time in people in their late teens to early 20’s. Challenging personal experiences can trigger depression but the illness can also just develop out of the blue.

Fact: Depression Doesn’t Show Up Overnight Depression symptoms typically come on gradually. This makes identifying the problem more difficult than diagnosing sudden-onset illnesses like colds and the flu. A common scenario is that you have a bad day, then you go into a funk and you start skipping work or school and even social functions. One type of depression called dysthymia can last for years. When this happens, your relationships -- both personal and professional -- can be impacted. If you can relate to any of the mentioned traits, be sure to consult with your doctor. You will more than likely feel some sort of relief within about 4 to 6 weeks of treatment.

Myth: Help Means Taking Drugs For Life No it does not. And Prozac isn’t the only anti-depressant on the market that works either. In fact, for many people, talking things out with someone like a therapist is the best approach. Discuss your situation with your doctor and iron out a strategy. Whether you decide to use prescriptions, see a therapist, or a combination of both, as long as you are doing what you can to tackle the problem you are on the right track.

Myth: Depressed People Cry All the Time False! Some people do cry when they’re depressed, but then there are those who don’t cry at all. Instead, they tend not to show any emotion at all. Instead, they feel that they are worthless. Even if a person's symptoms are not dramatic, if they go untreated they will interfere with the quality of the life.

Fact: Just Because It Runs in the Family Doesn’t Mean You’ll Get It You may be at a higher risk if depression does run in your family, but it’s not a guarantee that you will get it. Be sure to keep an eye out for early symptoms and seek treatment as soon as you can. Whether you reduce stress, get more exercise, go for counseling, or take prescription medications, get help before depression takes over your life.

Myth: Depression is a Part of Aging As people grow older, they are often able to avoid depression even though they’ve gone through hardships. But when the disease does hit at a later stage in life, it can easily be overlooked. Vague symptoms, aches and pains, food that doesn’t taste good anymore, or changes in sleeping patterns can all be chalked up to aging. It's important to keep a wary eye on behavioral changes in seniors because they may in fact be depressed. Medical conditions are also potential triggers for depression in older people as well.

Fact: Depression is Just Like Dementia Depression can be the root cause of memory loss in older adults. In most cases, caregivers and medical professionals misdiagnose the problem as dementia, or another memory losing condition. Once depression is diagnosed, treatment is readily available. Psychotherapy is a good option for older adults who can’t or won’t take medications.

Myth: Talking Only Makes Things Worse There’s no denying that one of the best treatments for overcoming depression is speaking with a professional about it. In the past, the mentality was just to keep your feelings all bottled up and not talk about them with anyone. We now know that different types of psychotherapy can help treat depression by addressing negative thought patterns, relationship troubles, and other negative feelings you may be having. The first and most important step is to speak to a health professional and go from there.

Fact: Positive Thinking Can Help The mentality of focusing on the positive has become even more popular these days. The term is now called CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). So instead of focusing and talking about the negatives, try to switch your mind set to a more optimistic one. People learn new ways of thinking and behaving all the time. When you combine CBT with other positive reinforcements or even medication, you can be sure that your bout with depression may soon be resolved.

Myth: Teens are Naturally Not Happy Teens are definitely a pain every now and then. They can be moody, argumentative, and even tempted to join the “dark side” and do some bad deeds. But if you notice that your teen is suffering from prolonged bouts of sadness or irritability, then something may be wrong. If the symptoms last for more than two weeks, then that could be a sign of depression. Other signs can include the following: constantly sad or irritable (even around friends), not having any fun during activities, and a drop grades. If you notice any of these signs, get in touch with a health professional.

Fact: Get Out There and Exercise Multiple studies show that moderate to intense workouts improve the symptoms of depression. If you are feeling down, hit the gym, go for a run, or do anything that will get your heart rate going! You will see that if you do this over an extended period of time, your symptoms will decrease dramatically, maybe even to the point where you are no longer considered depressed. When in doubt, work it out.

Myth: Depression is Tough to Treat Not necessarily so. The reality is that people who take action to treat their depression will in most situations succeed. In a study by the National Institute of Mental Health, 70% of people became symptom free through medications, but not always with the first drug prescribed. Other studies show combining medications with talk therapy is a more effective way fully defeating depression. Again, don’t forget to exercise and think happy thoughts.

Fact: It’s Not Always Depression Sometimes, sadness and disappointment can be overbearing in a person's life. But, in some situations, these feelings are not necessarily clinical depression. Grief is a common and natural occurrence especially after a loved one passes on, or when a person loses a job or goes through a divorce. However, if the sadness persists over a long period of time, then it may be time to consult with a medical professional.

Fact: Hang on to Hope Depressed people tend to think there’s no hope for improving their lives. But that isn’t true. That mentality is merely a part of the illness. If you are able to get treatment and, along with positive thinking, some exercise, you will be on the right track to recovery. As your depression begins to go away, you will notice an increase in appetite and better sleep. A therapist may even be able to equip you with the skills to cope better with the stresses that you are dealing with in your life.