Common myths and misconceptions about

Depression is a very common mental ailment globally and most often also the most misunderstood and undiagnosed. According to recent statistics, approximately 2/3 of the people committing suicide have been suffering from depression which was not diagnosed or left untreated. Hence, there is a need to educate people about the impact of depression and bust the common misconceptions and myths associated with it.

Demystifying myths and misconceptions associated with depression

Depression is not being "Sad"

While one of the first and main characteristics of depression is the sense of doom and extreme sadness, it is not synonymous with it. Often, sadness is just a passing emotion due to a sudden loss or an upsetting occurrence while depression is a chronic mental ailment. A person under depression can show and feel many other negative emotions other than just sadness like anxiety, gloom, apathy, and a sense of emptiness.

There has to be a personal reason behind the onset of depression

Depression is a mental ailment which may or may not be connected with a personal loss or depressing event. Many a time, depression might occur due to excessive stress, some underlying medical condition, or as a side effect of a prescribed medication. It is not like an allergy which gets triggered. It is a mental condition which grows in severity and needs immediate medical and therapeutic supervision.

A person suffering from depression is mentally challenged and can’t lead a normal life This is a misconception doing rounds since a long time and is completely wrong. This myth is the main reason behind many depressed people isolating themselves from the public and not revealing their issues for fear of being judged.

Depression is a mental condition and doesn’t mean that the person is “mad”. They can lead a normal life with a certain level of support from their family and friends. A therapy and psychiatric counseling can help in identifying their issues and sorting out the ways to tackle them. Unlike a mentally challenged person, a person with depression can lead a completely normal and independent life with some small medical assistance.

It can be controlled and purely depends on how one sees an issue Most of the times, a person suffering from depression is blamed for being overly sensitive and exaggerating things. What one fails to see is that these people don’t have a control over their own emotions and can have an emotional outbreak almost anywhere.

It is not in their hands most of the times and causes the patient more embarrassment than the one who had to witness it. It is very important to be supportive and empathetic than blaming them for their ailment. Blaming can worsen the issue and might trigger suicidal thoughts in such people.

One has to remember: Why would one choose to cry or have an emotional outbreak in a public place?

No, they are definitely NOT seeking attention

A person suffering from depression doesn’t really want public attention. They just want to be left alone and be isolated. You can often hear them wishing to disappear into thin air and just run away from everyone. So the next time a person with depression has an outburst, remember not to say that they are doing it to seek attention.

In conclusion
A person with depression requires a lot of support and understanding from family and friends. It is difficult to understand the suffering of a patient with depression as it is not a physical pain and doesn’t have a common cause and symptoms. However, this makes it all the more important to be empathetic and supportive towards them. (The writer is Head of Quantitative Health at Grow Fit)

By Dr Vinay Bhardwaj