According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, approximately 40 million adults are currently dealing with an anxiety disorder, and an additional 14.8 million people 18 and older have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. This helps shed light on the fact that both of these medical conditions are extremely prevalent. In fact, it’s estimated that 26.2 percent of American adults have a diagnosable mental disorder. Therefore, it’s important to debunk the myths that surround these very real conditions so that people can get the assistance that they need.
Five Common Myths about Depression
- Depression Only Impacts Women – This myth takes its basis from the fact that women are much more likely than men to admit to dealing with issues such as depression and anxiety, but there’s still a very high quantity of men who suffer from these mental health conditions. With this in mind, it’s vital not to get bogged down by inaccurate gender stereotypes.
- Depression Can’t Actually be Properly Treated – Although many people believe this myth, depression is actually one of the most easily treated mental disorders. It’s also not always necessary for people to take medication in order to improve their mental health. Therefore, if you’re currently dealing with feelings of depression, you should strongly consider signing up for counseling and making any applicable lifestyle changes.
- People Who Think They’re Depressed Simply Have the Blues – Clinical depression is a serious medical condition that can have an extremely negative impact on your entire life. Due to this, you need to recognize the fact that being depressed for more than just a couple of weeks is an indicator that you’re battling something much more intense than simply having the blues. Sadly, people who allow themselves to buy into this myth often end up suffering in silence for an extended period of time.
- People Who Say They’re Depressed are Just Weak – There is absolutely no correlation between feelings of depression and the strength of your personal character. Therefore, battling with a mental disorder should be viewed as being equally serious as medical conditions such as diabetes, and you need to seek out assistance to make things better.
- A Medical Test can Diagnose Depression – There is currently no medical or biological testing that can be used to determine if someone is clinically depressed. Instead, you need to disclose all of your symptoms to a health professional so that they can provide you with the proper diagnosis.
There are also several common myths about anxiety disorders, and many of them are extremely similar to the misconceptions about depression. For example, people with anxiety are often believed to be simply worrywarts. However, anxiety is a very real illness, and if you’re suffering from this condition, you will need therapy and possibly medication to properly treat it.
Although these mental disorders can seem very daunting, you can receive assistance from a local counselor. For example, people who live in New York can easily turn to a NYC therapist who is specially trained to deal with your specific condition. If you need help getting started in New York City, you can contact us toll-free at 888-441-0015 to find the location closest to you.