Last October, World Mental Health Day was celebrated, this year with the theme “Mental Health for All.” You, like us, know that there is no health without mental health. So much so that mental illnesses such as depression are among the leading causes of ill health and disability worldwide.

At RethinkDepression, we want to contribute to this special annual event, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and the need for it to be accessible to everyone. We’re doing this by addressing, in collaboration with psychiatrist Luis Gutiérrez Rojas from the San Cecilio Clinical Hospital in Granada, the main myths that still exist surrounding depression. These myths contribute to trivializing and stigmatizing the illness, thus hindering, in many cases, the search for professional help. Discover them and confront them!

False Myths or Beliefs about Depression 

1. Depression is synonymous with sadness

Sadness and depression should not be confused or considered synonymous. Sadness is a feeling, a normal emotion that is part of life. We will all experience it at some point, but that doesn’t mean we have depression.

Depression is an illness that significantly interferes with the lives of those who suffer from it. Although sadness can be a characteristic sign of depression, “there are also depressions without sadness in which other symptoms such as apathy and listlessness predominate,” as Dr. Gutiérrez Rojas explains. In his opinion, “it is important to keep this in mind so that these cases can be properly diagnosed,” since some people experience sadness and others do not.

2. Depression, the negative emotional reaction to adverse life situations

Just like sadness, worry and dejection can overwhelm us when faced with various situations. According to psychiatrist Gutiérrez Rojas, “when faced with an external stressor such as a breakup, job loss, or financial problems, it’s normal to react that way.” And no, we’re not talking about depression.

However, in some cases, external circumstances such as stress can influence the onset of depression, while at other times the illness can appear without any clear trigger. To differentiate when we might be dealing with depression, it is essential to “consider the duration and intensity of the symptoms (4 or more). If someone has experienced intense depressive symptoms for more than 15 days that also interfere with their social, family, and work life, making it difficult or impossible to lead a normal life, then it is possible that it is depression and they should seek medical attention.”

3. Depression is a mood disorder

Depression is not just a mood disorder, but a multifaceted illness with affective symptoms (sadness, anxiety, irritability, low mood, hopelessness, etc.), cognitive symptoms (difficulties with attention, concentration, memory, and planning), and somatic symptoms (fatigue, changes in appetite and weight, sleep disturbances, headaches, stomach problems, etc.). “Sometimes what predominates are unexplained somatic symptoms, which have no organic cause, such as stomach aches, paresthesia (a painless tingling or numb sensation in the hands, legs, feet, arms, etc.), headaches, breathing difficulties, and tachycardia, which mask the depression.”

Around 60% of depressions occur with associated anxiety, and anxiety is closely related to unexplained somatic symptoms.

It is important to understand the wide variety of symptoms that can occur in depression, beyond apathy and sadness. While these are the main symptoms that Spaniards associate with the illness, as reflected in the  Lundbeck Study “What do Spaniards know about depression?” , symptoms such as difficulty with attention, concentration, planning, and memory should no longer be considered the great unknowns of depression, given their importance in achieving a full recovery from the illness.

4. Depression is the result of your personal weakness, fragility of character, or lack of willpower.

In the words of Dr. Gutiérrez Rojas, “attributing depression to a weak character or lack of willpower is a major myth.” This false belief, or misconception, is widespread in our society and makes those who suffer from the illness “guilty” or responsible for it. Thus, according to the Lundbeck Study we mentioned earlier, up to 60% of the Spanish population associates depression with an unstable personality and 49% with a weak character. Nothing could be further from the truth, since depression is an illness whose origins involve both biological and environmental factors.

“People with depression can’t do their part not because they don’t want to, as many people believe, but because the illness prevents them from doing so. And this situation generates more anxiety in the patient. This inability stems from the illness itself,” explains this specialist.

5. Depression can be faked

Believe it or not, half of Spaniards think this way. Often dismissed and trivialized as a genuine illness, the term “depression” is used daily, both to describe the serious and debilitating mental illness that is depression and to refer to the negative, everyday emotional reactions of daily life, which have even been medicalized in many cases.

Depression causes great suffering. The myth about the widespread use of “sick leave due to depression” must be dispelled. According to Luis Gutiérrez Rojas, “both primary care physicians and psychiatrists are professionals who use objective criteria for diagnosing depression and processing sick leave when necessary.”

Furthermore, “trivializing the illness means that many people do not receive treatment, which multiplies the risk of fatal consequences, the worst being suicide. The main risk factor for suicide is depression. And suicide is a reality in our society, with 10 suicides occurring every day, 3,500 a year in Spain.”

It’s important to remember that depression is the most common mental disorder in Spain. If one in four people in Western countries will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives—with depression being the most prevalent—this means that 25% of the population will need help.

6. Depression is for life.

Another piece of fake news or myth is that depression, when properly diagnosed and treated, can be cured. This requires individualized, comprehensive, and evidence-based treatment, with the active involvement of the patient in making decisions about their illness.

“Many people with a depressive episode recover, stop treatment, and do not relapse. Those who started at a very young age and have a strong family history may experience recurrent depression, but with proper follow-up and treatment, we can make the illness a chronic condition that will require treatment, but we prevent or mitigate relapses,” says Dr. Gutiérrez Rojas.

7. Depression does not require treatment or medical attention

No two cases of depression are the same, and a medical professional will need to assess each situation to determine its severity. However, depression requires medical attention and, in most cases, treatment, which may include psychoeducation, psychotherapy, and medication.

“Currently, there are two seemingly contradictory situations,” says Luis G. Rojas. “On the one hand, general malaise caused by life events is treated pharmacologically when it is not necessary, and on the other hand, many cases of severe depression go untreated when treatment is essential.”

The challenge, as this professional points out, is to diagnose depression correctly and individualize the necessary treatment without “medicalizing” normal life situations.

8. Depression is a normal condition in old age

Anyone can experience depression at any time, but older adults are more likely to develop it. Given that life expectancy is increasing, statistically speaking, cases of depression will rise in this population group. “Often, older adults don’t receive the necessary care for their depression; they lack a diagnosis and treatment, as if their other physical illnesses somehow justified their depression. This lack of treatment is quite stigmatizing.” It’s important to remember that old age and depression are not synonymous.

9. Depression is a disease specific to Western countries and our time

Depression is a reality worldwide, across all cultures and countries, although it is true that in developed countries the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of the illness are superior to that in developing countries. What can vary is the way the illness manifests itself due to cultural factors.

“For example, in Latin countries like ours there is a greater emotional expression; it is more typical to express the discomfort one feels, while in Asian countries it is frowned upon to express emotion and the illness is more likely to manifest itself through isolation, mutism, and introversion,” explains the psychiatrist from the  San Cecilio Clinical Hospital in Granada  and also a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Granada.

Depression is not unique to our time; it’s just that it has more visibility now, and the focus is on improving people’s quality of life by concentrating on prevention and awareness campaigns.

We hope this information helps you better understand depression and identify the main myths, misconceptions, and misinformation surrounding the illness so you can combat them. Mental health for all!

Source:  www.rethinkdepression.es