“Explaining My Depression to My Mother” by Sabrina Benaim is very powerful in its own right.
But in it, her mother points out some of the most common misconceptions about depression, and I'd like to point out three of them here.
Myth #1: Depression is caused by a single event or a series of traumatic events.
Depression is more than just sleeping too much.
Most people believe that depression is caused by traumatic events, such as the death of a loved one, a job loss, or a national tragedy. The truth is, depression can come out of nowhere. So if you think your friend or loved one is simply in a persistent bad mood, think again. They may be suffering from depression.
Myth #2: People with depression are just sad.
Anxious duty.
Most people who have never experienced depression think that depression is just unbearable sadness. In reality, depression is a complex combination of emotional and physical changes. People who suffer from depression are certainly sad, but they can also feel anxious, worried, apathetic, and nervous.
Myth #3: You can get out of it.
It's not that you don't want to have fun, but that you plan to have fun.
A feature of depression is that it is a medical condition that affects brain chemicals. It is first and foremost related to environmental or biological factors. Sabrina's mother seems to think that if she only does what makes her daughter happy, she will be happy too. But that's not the case. Depression is a biological disease that leaks into your condition.
Think about it this way. If you have a cold, can you “get well quickly”?
no? that's right.
Mom doesn't understand.
These are just three of the misconceptions about depression. If you know someone who is struggling with depression, watch the video below to learn the best way to talk to them.
Sabrina Benaim – Explaining my depression to my mother
This article was originally published on November 24, 2015.
