7 Depression Myths You Need to Stop Believing NOW!

We get so many mixed messages about depression it can be difficult to separate what’s real from what’s bogus. When it comes to depression, however, believing the following myths can keep you mired in sadness, hopelessness, and despair and can prevent you from getting the help you need.

Myth #1: Antidepressants are the only cure for depression.

Fact: Since Prozac hit the market in 1987, antidepressant use among Americans has skyrocketed by 400% and over 1 in 10 Americans are currently popping a pill to try to ease their depression. But it isn’t always working. In fact, a 2014 study from researchers in the UK found that over 50% of depressed patients still experienced symptoms after being treated with antidepressants. And about one-third of people still felt blue after trying four different antidepressants.

Antidepressants should never be the first and only treatment for major depressive disorder. There are many natural ways to overcome symptoms, including nutritional supplements, neurofeedback, physical exercise, nutrition, ANT therapy (questioning negative thoughts), practicing gratitude and appreciation, surrounding yourself with people who provide positive bonding, and finding your purpose and passion.

Myth #2: Depression is something you can will yourself to snap out of.

Fact: The notion that you can shake off depression the way you might shake off feeling down after losing a point in tennis is flat-out wrong. You can’t will yourself to stop feeling depressed the same way you can’t will yourself to stop having diabetes, heart disease, or nearsightedness. Believing that you should be able to get over it through willpower alone sets you up to feel like a failure, which will only make depressive symptoms worse.

Myth #3: Men don’t get depressed.

Fact: Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression, but according to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 6 million men suffer from the condition each year. Mood disorders like depression may be overlooked in men in part due to a lack of willingness to talk about their feelings as openly as women. In addition, males don’t always display the symptoms we typically associate with depression, such as sadness, fatigue, or hopelessness. Men are more apt to exhibit anger, aggression, and irritability or to engage in reckless behavior, such as substance abuse.

Myth #4: Depression is all in your head.

Fact: Depression is not an imaginary illness, but it is in your head—in your brain. Brain imaging studies using a technology called SPECT show that people with depression tend to have abnormal activity in an area of the brain called the limbic system. Brain scans reveal that when there is too much activity in the limbic system, it is often correlated with a tendency toward negativity, chronic guilt, crying spells, and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. In a SPECT study of more than 15,000 patients, researchers at Amen Clinics noted a significant correlation between increased activity in this brain region and self-reporting of symptoms of depression.

Myth #5: Sad events are the only cause of depression.

Fact: Stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one, marital problems, family dysfunction, financial difficulties, or health problems may lead to feelings of unhappiness, but they don’t always trigger depression. Many other things in life are associated with an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms. A family history of mood disorders, early childhood trauma, physical ailments, and substance abuse can increase the risk of developing depression. In addition, mild traumatic brain injuries are a major cause of depression that ruins people’s lives, but very few people knew about it… because only a handful of psychiatrists ever look at the brains of their patients. 

Myth #6: People who are successful don’t get depression.

Fact: Depression doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone—even people who are highly accomplished in their field. Doctors, professional athletes, and even major celebrities can struggle with the condition. Think of people like Kate Spade or Anthony Bourdain, who seemed to have it all but took their own lives. People who appear to have so much often think they don’t have a right to feel depressed. But no amount of material wealth or external validation can heal the emptiness you feel inside or balance abnormal brain activity. Treating the depression is the only way out of the darkness.

Myth #7. The same depression treatment works for everyone.

Fact: Based on brain imaging research, it is very clear that giving everyone with depression the same one-size-fits-all-treatment plan will never work. Antidepressants, for example, may help some people but can make others worse. This is because brain scans reveal that there are 7 types of depression, and each type has its own treatment needs. In addition, each person may have other factors contributing to their condition—such as hormonal dysfunction, gut imbalances, head injury, a poor diet—that need to be addressed. Finding a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs is the key to overcoming your symptoms.

Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.