Myths About Depression

Having a mental illness such as depression can contribute to the development of a substance use disorder – drugs or alcohol can be a way for a person to “self-medicate” to take away the pain that the illness can cause. There are different ways to deal with depression, but it can be hard sometimes to get past the many myths associated with this problem.

Don’t Believe These Myths

To someone who has never experienced depression, it may seem like it is something that you should just be able to “snap out of.” But this is just one of the many myths about this very common problem; here are some others:

You’ll get over it. Depression can arise from a complex combination of biological, psychological, and even social factors. This can make it very difficult to treat, much less “get over” on your own.

Only women get depressed. Women may be more comfortable discussing their depression, but that doesn’t mean men don’t get depressed, too.

It starts with one sad event. A major life event can certainly make you feel sad and depressed, but one of the most frustrating things about depression is that it can start for no reason at all.

It’s not a real illness. Depression is just as real as diabetes or cancer, and it can affect every aspect of your life. Besides taking all of the joy out of life, it can also lead to serious physical problems, such as headaches, muscle aches, digestive problems, and sexual dysfunction.

That’s just the way life is. If you’ve been depressed for years, you may just think that this is the “norm,” and you may even think that this is how everyone goes through life. It can be difficult to imagine life without depression, but you should know that it is possible!

You don’t have to live with depression. The staff at Wasatch Crest in Heber, Utah, can help you to find healthy ways to deal with depression so that you can find out what it’s like to live without it! Call (800) 385-3507 today.