I was diagnosed with depression at a very young age. Growing up I’ve learned that there are misconceptions about depression and many other mental illnesses that create stigmas around those who suffer from the conditions. I’ve also noticed that for some reason it builds the foundation for many of us that can be very harmful. Not all people are the same even if they share the same conditions.
Depression is oftentimes misunderstood. It is actually complex and has different forms that affect people in different ways. Depression is caused by numerous variations including your DNA, genetic make-up, and experiences. It’s not something that should just be rolled into one!
Misconceptions Of Depression
These misconceptions I’m about to share with you are derived from my own personal experiences throughout life. These are my experiences, situations, and opinion.
1. We’re Always Miserable:
Depression isn’t a constant state of misery. We can feel happy and have fun. Depression, for me, comes and goes now. I don’t always feel depressed but there are times when I have ‘episodes’. It comes and goes, sometimes sticking around for longer amounts of time.
2. We Are Seeking Attention:
On the contrary! There’s the possibility that sometimes some people may want attention. More often than not I personally want to be left alone about it. I don’t want attention nor am I seeking some sort of pity. Depression can be a very serious issue so if you feel as though someone dealing with it IS seeking attention it more than likely they need it.
3. We All Experience It The Same:
I can’t stress enough how wrong this is. Of course, there are going to be similarities but every person is different. Some people hole up in their homes with Netflix and ice cream and others are more outgoing and nobody really notices anything is really wrong.
4. Suicide Is On Our Mind:
It is true that depression, as well as, other mental illnesses can lead to thoughts of suicide. However, this does not mean we are constantly contemplating thoughts of suicide. We don’t WANT to die we want the depression to die. It’s a struggle and can envelop a person but it doesn’t mean that suicide is constant.
5. Medication Solves The Problem:
I have tried several different medications throughout the years. Medication doesn’t solve it or make it just disappear. The medication simply seemed to dull the depression for me. It was as if some of the medications masked the depression while others just made me feel numb or empty. Never was the problem solved for me through medication. There is no magic pill that just takes it all away.
6. Kids are too young to be depressed:
It isn’t common in many cultures within America for adults to say things like “What do you have to be depressed about you’re a kid” to children. This is indeed toxic and extremely dangerous behavior as suicide rates among children are increasing. CNN reported back in 2017 that a child under 13 commits suicide every 5 days. Just because a child’s problems may not be as serious as an adult in your eyes, does not mean the emotions they feel are invalid or not overwhelming.
Depression is a serious mental health matter. These misconceptions about depression are simply my own opinion formed through personal experiences throughout my life. As an individual, I experience and deal with my depression in my own way. We are not all the same and that’s what makes us special. Thanks for reading this, happy healing friends!
