Depression is surrounded by a myriad of stupid myths. Many people completely misunderstand what depression really is. The perception of this condition as something far-fetched, attempts at self-medication and self-correction can lead to very negative results.
Depressed man crying
Tears are a natural reaction of a person to any events, and not always traumatic, because there are tears of joy. With the help of tears, feelings are released, for example, aggression and sadness. Scientists have proven that when a person cries, physical pain is relieved.
Depression, representing as an exceptionally depressed state, is usually associated with constant tears. Many people imagine a depressive episode as the moment when the patient, curled up, sobs days and nights. Of course, such situations also happen, in depressed patients really increased sensitivity, while lowering mood and physical activity. However, not every case of depression equals tears.
There are many forms of depression. For example, there is the so-called “dry” depression, when a person, experiencing very difficult feelings and feeling close to tears, can not cry in any way. This worsens the general condition. However, a person suffering from depression for some time is often afraid to show his true feelings, emotions, his state of mind. This fear can be caused by thoughts and beliefs, the idea of this mental illness in the surrounding world, and many other factors. In the vast majority of cases, depressive disorder hides behind a mask of indifference or even a smile. Often, even the immediate environment of a sick person simply does not realize that he needs help.
They say depression always leads to suicide
During the period of an outbreak of a depressive episode, the most gloomy, most difficult thoughts conquer the patient's head. They become obsessive, even haunted by images in a dream. A person cannot shrug them off, and if it does, then thoughts find a way out through sensations. They can manifest themselves not only on the emotional plane, but also on the physical. This is one of the reasons why the physical state of health suffers so often with depression, there are any organic disorders in the body. However, depressive thoughts about committing suicide are characteristic of a very small number of patients.
According to statistics, only a small percentage of people with depression have ever tried to do something with themselves. Moreover, the vast majority of these attempts were not serious, they are equated with parasuicide (demonstrativeness). Usually, attempts are being made to take one's life with people who are experiencing a very difficult depressive period and starting a course of treatment. Therefore, so often in the first stages of therapy for depression, the patient is left under the supervision of doctors, since it is at this time in the first month that the risk increases that a person will somehow harm himself on a physical level. However, it is completely untrue to assume that every depressed patient is dominated and in general there are thoughts of suicide. And not every person who committed suicide suffered from depression.
"Go to work, run and dance, everything will pass"
In the modern world, it seems that people with depression have a lot of free time. "It's all out of boredom." And this again is a delusion. A huge number of people with such a diagnosis before they are covered by a negative state, lead an active lifestyle, have a prestigious job, their time is scheduled literally in minutes. Advising a patient to work with depression is to cause a person even more negative feelings and thoughts, provoke a sense of shame, and form a feeling of inferiority. With depression, there is a sharp breakdown, you have to do everything with great effort, your arms and legs seem terribly heavy, you don’t want to speak, and there may be a complete mess in your head of thoughts, ideas and images. In such a state, even simple work for a person can be difficult.
Running, dancing, yoga and other physical activities are not able to cure depression. They can save from sadness and sadness, but not to get rid of the disease. Patients with depressive disorder are prescribed minimal physical activity, walks in the fresh air, enjoyable activities, but all this is not a panacea and the basis of treatment. On the contrary, excessive physical (or mental) stress during the course of a depressive episode can aggravate the condition.
"I'm sad for five minutes, I'm depressed"
Sadness and sadness are very mild and rapidly passing conditions when compared with clinical depression. The doctor, preparing to diagnose a person, is surely interested in how long the patient is depressed, how long he is not interested in the events of the outside world, his favorite activities and hobbies, work, people around. Depression can be suspected only if negative well-being constantly haunts at least 14 consecutive days. But even with such a combination of circumstances, one cannot immediately make a diagnosis.
Depression is a persistent and prolonged state, for which a feeling of sadness is typical, but it may not dominate other painful sensations. Trying to diagnose a depressive disorder in yourself, if the mood is bad for a couple of days, this is an absurd mistake.