Depression Awareness: The Myths

Depression will strike everyone at one point in their life. It is a natural reaction to hardships and trauma we face everyday. Many myths and legends that are traded about the disease mislead you into forming bad opinions. By dispelling the myths, you take the first step word understanding. This in turn shows the way to prevention and possibly even cure.

Myth 1

The blues and depression are not one in the same. The blues are short term and not even considered mild depression. Depression is long term and or can be repetitive. The two do share some common links. Allowing yourself to prolong the blues can lead to mild depression. Untreated mild depression can lead to major depression and related disorders. Being proactive with both the blues and depression can lead to cure.

Myth 2

Depression is not a weakness. Depression is not a personality flaw. The disease has these false beliefs attached to it. The truth is depression is an illness. It has many causes and caught early enough, it can be handled or cured. Left alone it can manifest into a major disorder in any number of ways.

Myth 3

Depression is not a psychosis. There are psychosis disorders that can evolve from depression. Throughout history, depression has been depicted as a psychotic break of sorts. This is mainly due to the fact since depression was misunderstood or misdiagnosed it was allowed to progress into a greater disorder. Some of the disorders were misinterpreted as a form of psychosis. An example of a depression related disorder that was misinterpreted is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). It was first thought to be a form of schizophrenia. A person afflicted with this disorder actually will perform conflicting actions as if by different personalities. Instead, it has been found that the cause is root in depression clouding the mind. This is a simplified explanation of one part of BPD condition. I do have to point out there are two other schools of thought on BPD. There is a school that does not recognize BPD as a genuine disorder. On the flip side, there is a third school of thought that when a diagnosis is unclear just labels the condition as a result of BPD. Both of the schools are judges by the main faction as irresponsible toward respecting the disorder.

Myth 4

Stress is not a form or depression. Stress can lead to depression. I have been asked about the stress-depression relationship in every forum or lecture I have been in. It is important to practice stress reduction. The pace and demands of our society make it difficult, but it can be done. Ease up on the stress and you take positive action to preventing depression. I truly believe managing stress should be a standard subject taught in the middle years of schooling for kids. If not then, before graduation and moving on to college or the work force full time. Teaching stress management in the formative years will offer children a step up in life.