Page 16 - Seniorstoday August-2023 Issue
P. 16
Cover Stories
Myths about Depression
If you suffer from depression or any other mental health illness, know that
you are not alone and there is always someone who will be willing to help
you, writes Vinita Alvares Fernandes
We all feel sad from time to time but ● Inability to concentrate and focus on
that doesn’t mean you are depressed. tasks
Depression is far more complex than that. ● Feeling mixed emotions like sadness,
In spite of being one of the leading diseases hopelessness, anger, irritability,
around the world, depression is widely anxiousness or not feeling at all
misunderstood. ● Loss of appetite or overeating
Many myths and misconceptions exist ● Thoughts of suicide
around depression, I’m here to bust them
which might help you understand this Misconception #1: Depression isn’t a real
complex disease. illness
Just because you can’t physically see a
Signs & symptoms of Depression person suffering from depression does
● Constant sadness not mean it isn’t real. All sickness does
● Loss of interest in things that once not need to be tangible. Depression is a
brought you joy complex mental health disorder that affects
● Low levels of motivation, energy many people all over the world. Due to the
● Fatigue taboos, stigmas and myths surrounding
● Trouble sleeping, insomnia or depression, a lot of people write it off
oversleeping as “not a real illness” which can be
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