The Myths and Facts About Depression

There are many myths and misconceptions about depression. One of the problems faced by mental health practitioners is that the word "depression" is applied to so many experiences that the real meaning of the condition gets lost. Everyone had bad moods and times of sadness but that’s all many people know about clinical depression-bad moods and times of feeling "blue".

There’s a general misperception that depression isn’t really a mental illness. However, it's a very serious medical problem that affects the body as well as the mind. There are genetic and biological causes for depression and those who suffer it endure a much higher level of stress hormones than healthy individuals without the condition. Patients with depression also register lower activity in some parts of their brains. Depression is a very real disease and can be just as harmful as purely physical maladies.

Contrary to the myth, depression isn't incurable, something you just have to live with. More than 80 percent of those treated show improvement and that percentage is steadily rising as pharmaceutical companies discover new treatments. It's not a normal part of life, comparable to "the blues". The brain has very real physical changes in a patient with depression. Comparing depression to the blues is like saying that bubonic plague is no worse than a cold.

Many people think they can beat depression if they just tough it out but that’s a myth, too. It can't be ignored or wished away because depression wreaks real chemical changes in the body that can’t be willed away. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness but a real indication of strength. People who have depression aren’t just feeling sorry for themselves or wallowing in their misery, they’re physically as well as mentally ill. It can strike anyone of any age, rich or poor, young or old. J.P. Morgan, Michelangelo, Teddy Roosevelt, Barbara Bush and Stephen Hawking are just a few more prominent public figures than have suffered the disease.

It is not a normal part of growing older and it doesn’t affect just women. Depression doesn't discriminate; it attacks children, teens, seniors, men and women of all ages and socioeconomic stages. Neither is it inevitably inherited, though it does tend to run in families. If there is depression in your family, you have a distinct advantage of having been alerted to a possible problem. If you begin to exhibit any symptoms of depression, you’ll know that you should seek help immediately.