It's worrying how often issues relating to mental health are overlooked in schools all around the world. And for many people it's still a taboo topic. We all talk about our physical well-being openly, but once it's an issue related to your mental health, the attitude is often, "wooaaahhh", don't talk about that! Depression is more common than AIDS, cancer and diabetes combined. So why do people have a problem talking about it? There are many misconceptions about depression that need to be addressed, and here are some of them.
1. "Depression isn't real; it's all in your head, it's just you being lazy."
Depression is an illness like any other you have; one of the problems is you often can't see the physical effects of it. Depression can be triggered by a traumatic event in someone's life, or it can just come out of nowhere. It's important to know that depression is not a sign of weakness, and it isn't something you can just "fight off". Talking to someone can really help, and sometimes counselling can be a step in the right direction.
2. "Depression will go away by itself, you can just wait it out."
Depression often doesn't go away by itself. It's a medical condition that needs to be treated in some way, shape or form. Imagine if you broke your leg and you were told that you can just "wait it out", that it will heal itself. You wouldn't accept that, and rightly so. Sharing how you're feeling with someone you trust can really help you feel less isolated, and then you can both come up with a plan of action together.
3. "Depression is just about being sad."
Depression does make you feel sad and often very hopeless, but there are other symptoms of it too that should be taken seriously. Feeling overwhelmed by stress and worry, and isolated from the people in your life is a common sign that somebody might be depressed. People often lose interest in their hobbies and friends. You can also suffer from insomnia and a lack of appetite. The symptoms are usually different for everyone.
4. "You can only get depression if something bad happens to you."
Depression is sometimes triggered by a traumatic event in your life, like an illness or the death of a loved one, but it can also come out of nowhere. Sometimes depression isn't down to any one event, and that can make it even harder for people to understand. It's essential to remember that for every person depression is different, but it is equally important for people to get help.
5. "You can tell when someone is depressed."
A lot of people suffering from depression are good at hiding it; they often don't want to "burden" people with their problems. If you're worried about someone you know, just try talking to them and listening to them. Try and be an understanding friend to them, and encourage them to talk to an adult they trust about it.
6. "Talking about depression makes it worse."
A lot of people think that if you talk to someone who's suffering from depression, that they'll get overwhelmed and it'll make them feel worse. If you're worried about someone, showing them that you care can sometimes help them to feel less hopeless. Try to understand what they're going through and that will help them.
If any of these issues are effecting you, please contact your nearest Samaritan's branch.
