Depression is one of the most recognizable words in the world right now. It is rather peculiar since you can consider this as technical and medical jargon. However, everyone seems to be talking about it while having their opinions weighed against it. For example, some people believe that it does not exist, and it is all in the mind like many other psychological illnesses. As most of us now know though, these issues exist, and they are wreaking havoc in many people’s lives.
You may know now that depression is a type of psychological disorder, an entire array of various issues that affect the mind. However, its effects encompass more than the mind, as there are also symptoms that show up physically, as this page says. With depression, you will observe those who are suffering from it losing weight and having no energy at all. They can also be referred to as lacking the will to live since most of them would have suicidal tendencies as well.
Even though lots of people are talking about it already, there are still many misconceptions about this particular disorder. The misinformation comes from those who may have never experienced having it or only have second-hand experience. Observations from such individuals or groups are not automatically dismissed due to their lack of professional knowledge. However, this lack of knowledge and understanding makes their opinions weaker than others.
Common Misconceptions
1. Depression Only Affects A Specific Group of People
Probably one of the more enduring beliefs regarding this condition is that it will only target a specific group of people. This notion can be easily disproved by looking at those who have it. People who are suffering from this disorder are from all walks of life. As with many other diseases, it will not choose anyone because of their race, color, religion, or status in life. If you have depression, there will be an underlying reason for it but not all those aspects.
2. Can Only Be Developed Through Grief Or Trauma
Many individuals also confuse this mental health issue with common experiences in human life: grief and trauma. Trauma can have a whole host of other issues that come with it, and depression is also included sometimes. However, they do not always follow one or the other since they can exist without each other. Meanwhile, there are times that mental health issues happen because there are issues inside the brain that you need to diagnose. On the other hand, grief is due to a valid reason like loss, and it can transform into depression if it goes on for too long.
3. Trendy Thing That Young People Pretend To Have These Days
We can consider this as one of the more harmful opinions regarding mental health problems in the modern world. Many people (especially those in the older generation) think that these concerns only existed in the modern world as they did not have them during their time. However, there is evidence showing that they did, but the knowledge was not as widespread during that time. Now, many people are becoming more aware that these are serious issues, and it is great for the betterment of everyone.
4. Depression Is Contagious
It is another problematic notion to say that depression is contagious. For the record, it is not like COVID that you can get through physical interaction with another person. However, there are cases wherein a person who does not have the condition will experience sympathy with those who do have it. Some experts call it transference, but it is not like an infection. Once you can relate to someone, it becomes a good way for them to open up about their experience.
5. You Cannot Cure Depression
It might seem impossible to cure this mental health problem, given that there are so many complications with it. However, it is possible now through the wonders of science and therapy. Many experts believe that a combination of the right drug and effective therapy leads to long-term recovery. According to Genesight, though, it is possible to experience some sort of withdrawal after stopping the medication. It is something that you will experience, especially if you have been taking medications for a long time.
Stopping It Entirely
As for the withdrawal, there are many reasons why it can happen. For one, we are all creatures of habit, and we do not like having anything changed in what we are already used to doing. However, there are times when we already need to stop, and it can happen with our medications. Our psychiatrists might see that we are already on the road to recovery and slowing down medication is already possible.
However, it is different from stopping altogether, and you can think of it as jumping off a cliff without a parachute. You will crash, and it will not be a good sight for anyone involved. If you have stopped taking the meds and experience depressive symptoms, then it is time to go back to your psychiatrist. They can give you additional or new medicines to manage the effects. Learn more on how they do it here: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-a-psychiatrist-treats_b_6244256.
It will take time before you can fully recover from something like depression. There are many ways to cope, and it will depend on you on how you can manage it. A psychiatrist and psychologist are there to guide you through the way, but you need to help yourself as well. It is going to be a long journey, but you can get through it all through proper management of your mind and body.
*collaborative post
