Biggest depression myths

1. Biggest Depression Myths
With the right treatment plan and support, major
depression symptoms can be reduced. Don't let
these myths get in the way of recovery.
Even if you've never experienced major
depression, you probably know someone who
has. It's one of the most common mental health
problems in the country. In any given year,
almost 7 percent of Americans will have an
episode of major depression.
The good news is that with the right combination
of therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes,
major depression can be treated. But with myths
about depression being as common as the
condition itself, it can be hard to take the first
step toward treatment. Although up to 80
percent of people with major depression respond
to treatment within six weeks, many don’t get
the help they need.
Whether you’re dealing with depression or know
someone who is, separating myths from facts
can help you get and give the support that’s
needed.
Common Myths About Major Depression

2. Myth No. 1: Major depression is a sign of
weakness.
Fact: Depression has nothing to do with
weakness. It's a brain disorder, and it may be
caused by a combination of genes, brain
chemicals, and personal life experiences. "The
myth that someone with depression can just
‘suck it up’ and pull out of it is very harmful,"
says David Schilling, MD, an associate professor
of psychiatry at Loyola University Health System
in Maywood, Ill. People with depression are
vulnerable to this myth because depression
distorts their judgment. They may already be
struggling with symptoms of guilt and
hopelessness.
Myth No. 2: Depression lasts forever.
Fact: Depression doesn't have to be long-term,
but thinking this way can make feeling depressed
even more overwhelming. “This myth can make
people avoid treatment because they think they’ll
be on medication forever," Dr. Schilling says. The
truth, though, is that "many people with mild to
moderate episodes of major depression will be
able to stop taking medication," he says. "Many
will never have another episode of depression."
Myth No. 3: Depression is a normal reaction in
life.

3. Fact: Feeling down isn’t the same as having
depression. The idea that it’s normal for someone
who is old, sick, or stressed to be depressed is a
myth. Even when life circumstances trigger the
condition, major depression is still a disease that
needs and responds to treatment. "Anyone who
has symptoms of depression every day for more
than two weeks or symptoms that interfere with
the ability to enjoy life should be treated,"
Schilling says.
“Although it’s not a normal part of aging,
depression is often missed in older people,” he
says. "Failure to diagnose and treat depression
can make other illnesses worse."
Myth No. 4: Antidepressants aren’t safe.
Fact: Research has shown that antidepressants
can be an important component of depression
treatment, especially when combined with
psychotherapy. The myth about these drugs
being unsafe may stem from warnings placed on
labels in 2003 by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) about the potential danger
of antidepressants to young people. “But the
warnings only apply to people with depression
who are age 25 and under," Schilling says.

4. The FDA warnings came after data showed that
about 1 percent of young people taking
antidepressants had increased suicidal thoughts.
However, in the year after the warnings, while
antidepressant prescriptions fell by more than a
fifth among young adults, suicide attempts by
psychotropic drug overdose rose by about 34
percent among youth, according to a 2014
Harvard Medical School study.
Another study, published in the Journal of
American Medical Association in 2014, showed
that what has indeed been found to increase
suicidal thoughts in young adults is a higher-
than-average dose of antidepressants. (In the
same study, a higher dose didn’t increase the risk
for suicidal thoughts for people ages 25 to 64.)
"What we know is that for people over 25,
treatment that includes antidepressants can
help," Schilling says. "For younger people, no
treatment at all is much more likely to result in
suicide than treatment with a lower dose of an
antidepressant."
Myth 5: Depression isn’t dangerous.
Fact: Two-thirds of all suicides in the United
States are directly linked to depression. In young
people, depression is the number one risk factor
for suicide. The negatives of depression extend

5. beyond suicide. Depression is the leading cause
of disability in people aged 15 to 44. It also
accounts for about $12 billion in lost workdays
every year.
Talking About Major Depression
Major depression is common, and it can be
debilitating. Learning the facts and talking about
the condition can prevent depression myths from
interfering with treatment and support.
If you have major depression, take these steps
to help you get the treatment and support you
need:
Tell friends and family when you're struggling.
Talking about how you feel is much better than
isolating yourself. Always tell someone if you
have thoughts of suicide.
Depression affects your judgment and your
mood. Make it a habit to discuss important
decisions with friends and family members.
Depression can make you feel helpless. Don't be
afraid to ask for help. For example, ask friends
and family to help you get to treatment and stay
active.
If someone tells you that you should "just be
more positive," politely explain that treatment for
depression takes time.

6. If you know people with depression, use these
tips to be more supportive and help speed their
recovery:
Offer lots of encouragement. Don’t let them
isolate themselves.
Ask them if they need help often.
Ask them to confide in you if they have any
thoughts of suicide.
Ask them to go for a walk or invite them to go
out often.
Remind them that treatment takes time.
"Some people might believe that depression
treatment doesn’t work," Schilling says. “But the
truth is that sticking with treatment — which
may include medication, talk therapy, and
healthy lifestyle changes — does work for most
people with major depression.” That’s why it’s
important to not let myths about major
depression get in the way.
Last Updated: 07/21/2014
This section created and produced exclusively by the editorial staff of
EverydayHealth.com. © 2015 EverydayHealth.com; all rights reserved.
By Chris Iliades, MD
Medically reviewed by Niya Jones MD, MPH