With the tragic loss of Robin Williams to apparent suicide, a worldwide discussion about the effects of depression has begun. Untreated depression is the leading cause of suicide in the US, and suicide claims 34,000 lives in this country every year. Far too often those who would benefit from treatment don’t get it due to lack of knowledge and misconceptions about the illness. Below are five of the most common myths about depression, with links to resources for more information.
1. Depression is synonymous with sadness.
Many of Robin Williams’ acquaintances interviewed since his death have noted that they never saw him unhappy, yet he suffered from severe depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), many of those suffering from depression do feel overwhelming sadness, but many don’t feel any specific emotion at all. A better description would be a feeling of emptiness and apathy. And since anxiety often accompanies depression, many feel a constant state of tension that persists for no apparent reason.
2. Depression is a sign of mental weakness.
Part of the stigma surrounding depression is that others will see it as a sign of weakness. Yet we don’t accuse someone suffering from heart disease or MS of being weak; we rightly acknowledge those as illnesses that affect a wide range of people. Depression is also an illness—more specifically, it’s a complex medical disorder that has biological, psychological and social dimensions. Plenty of otherwise “strong” people suffer from severe depression, and the consequences of not treating it are just as real and tragic as those of other debilitating diseases. An illness that affects the chemistry of the brain and nervous system is no less an illness than one that affects any other part of the body.
3. Depression is always situational.
While depression often does have a situational trigger like the loss of a loved one or divorce, the underlying condition does not need any particular event to surface. Depression is typically diagnosed when someone suffers from prolonged episodes (at least two weeks) of hopelessness, emptiness and lethargy that have no apparent cause. These periods can manifest inexplicably, even when life events seem generally positive. (This is another reason why depression and sadness are not synonymous.)
4. Depression symptoms are all in your head.
While it’s true that many depression symptoms are of the nature we normally associate with the “head” (dark emotion, tension, etc.), the condition frequently manifests all over the body. Common depression symptoms include indigestion, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, and general fatigue. Some patients also complain of persistent muscle aches.
5. If you are diagnosed with depression, you’ll be on antidepressants the rest of your life.
The ubiquity of antidepressant commercials and media coverage has had a backlash effect. Many people are fearful of being put on an antidepressant, even if they may benefit from one, because they think once you’re “hooked” you’ll never be able to stop. The reality is that not everyone benefits from antidepressants – by some estimates nearly 40% of those prescribed one will experience no benefits. Some people respond better to forms of psychotherapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or a combination of medication and therapy. Even someone who gets good results from an antidepressant can, with medical supervision, eventually taper off the med in many cases.
The bottom line: depression is a treatable illness. When left untreated, its effects can be devastating.
For more information, visit the NIMH, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Mental Health America, or this list of resources at WebMD.
You can find David DiSalvo on Twitter @neuronarrative and at his website The Daily Brain. His latest book is Brain Changer: How Harnessing Your Brain’s Power To Adapt Can Change Your Life.
