Depression affects millions of people worldwide, yet it’s often misunderstood and surrounded by misconceptions. This article aims to shed light on some of the most common myths about depression and provide insights into its causes, symptoms, and available interventions. By dispelling these myths, we hope to promote a better understanding of this mental health condition and encourage those who are suffering to seek help.
Myth 1: Depression Is Just Sadness
Reality: Depression is much more than just feeling sad. While sadness is a normal emotion that everyone experiences from time to time, depression is a persistent and often debilitating mental health disorder. It involves a cluster of symptoms that can affect a person’s ability to function in their daily life.
Common Symptoms of Depression
Persistent sadness or low mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
Fatigue and low energy
Changes in appetite or weight
Sleep disturbances
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Thoughts of death or suicide
Myth 2: Depression Is a Sign of Weakness
Reality: Depression is not a sign of weakness or a character flaw. It is a medical condition with biological, psychological, and environmental factors contributing to its development. Anyone can experience depression, regardless of their strength or resilience.
Myth 3: Depression Is Always Triggered by a Specific Event
Reality: While specific life events or stressors can contribute to the onset of depression, it can also arise without an obvious cause. Genetic predisposition, chemical imbalances in the brain, and other factors play a significant role in the development of depression.
Myth 4: People with Depression Can “Snap Out of It”
Reality: Depression is not a choice, and individuals cannot simply “snap out of it.” It is a disorder that requires treatment, which may include therapy, medication, or a combination of both.
Myth 5: Medication Is the Only Treatment for Depression
Reality: While medication can be an effective treatment for some individuals with depression, it is not the only option. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)1,2 and mindfulness-based approaches3, can also be highly effective. Lifestyle changes, including exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management, can complement these treatments.
Myth 6: Depression Is a Permanent Condition
Reality: Depression is treatable, and many people recover with appropriate treatment and support. Early intervention is key to improving outcomes. It’s important to reach out to a mental health professional if you or someone you know is struggling with depression.
Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. By dispelling common myths and understanding the realities of depression, we can create a more compassionate and supportive society for those who are affected. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of depression, remember that help is available, and recovery is possible. Reach out to GP or mental health professional to begin the journey toward healing and well-being. You are not alone in this struggle, and there is hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Author: Linh Nguyen, Bach Psychology (hons)
Linh is a provisional psychologist at M1 Psychology. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Hons), and she is currently in the final stages of completing her Postgraduate Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology.
To make an appointment with Linh Nguyen try Online Booking. Alternatively, you can call M1 Psychology Loganholme on (07) 3067 9129
References
- Cuijpers, P., Berking, M., Andersson, G., Quigley, L., Kleiboer, A., & Dobson, K. S. (2013). A meta-analysis of cognitive-behavioural therapy for adult depression, alone and in comparison with other treatments. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 58(7), 376-385. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21069
- Oud, M., De Winter, L., Vermeulen-Smit, E., Bodden, D., Nauta, M., Stone, L., … & Stikkelbroek, Y. (2019). Effectiveness of CBT for children and adolescents with depression: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis. European Psychiatry, 57, 33-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.12.008
- Bai, Z., Luo, S., Zhang, L., Wu, S., & Chi, I. (2020). Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to reduce depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 260, 728-737.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.09.040
Vietnamese translation of this article:
Tr?m C?m: Hi?u L?m và S? Th?t
Tr?m c?m ?nh h??ng ??n hàng tri?u ng??i trên toàn th? gi?i nh?ng nó th??ng b? hi?u l?m và b? bao quanh b?i nh?ng quan ni?m sai l?m. Bài vi?t này nh?m m?c ?ích làm sáng t? m?t s? l?m t??ng ph? bi?n nh?t v? tr?m c?m và cung c?p cái nhìn sâu h?n v? nguyên nhân, tri?u ch?ng và các ph??ng pháp tr? li?u hiên có. B?ng cách xóa tan nh?ng l?m t??ng này, chúng tôi hy v?ng s? nâng cao s? hi?u bi?t v? v?n ?? tâm lý này và khuy?n khích nh?ng ng??i ?ang ?au kh? tìm ki?m s? giúp ??.
L?m t??ng 1: Tr?m c?m ch? là n?i bu?n
Th?c t?: Tr?m c?m không ch? là c?m giác bu?n bã. Trong khi n?i bu?n là m?t c?m xúc bình th??ng mà ai c?ng th?nh tho?ng tr?i qua thì tr?m c?m là m?t ch?ng r?i lo?n s?c kh?e tâm th?n dai d?ng và th??ng gây suy nh??c. Nó liên quan ??n m?t lo?t các tri?u ch?ng có th? ?nh h??ng ??n kh? n?ng ho?t ??ng c?a m?t ng??i trong cu?c s?ng hàng ngày.
Các tri?u ch?ng th??ng g?p c?a tr?m c?m:
N?i bu?n dai d?ng ho?c tâm tr?ng th?p
M?t h?ng thú ho?c ni?m vui trong các ho?t ??ng
M?t m?i và n?ng l??ng th?p
Thay ??i kh?u v? ho?c cân n?ng
R?i lo?n gi?c ng?
C?m giác vô d?ng/vô giá tr? ho?c t?i l?i quá m?c
Khó t?p trung ho?c ??a ra quy?t ??nh
Ý ngh? v? cái ch?t ho?c t? t?
L?m t??ng 2: Tr?m c?m là d?u hi?u c?a s? y?u ?u?i
Th?c t?: Tr?m c?m không ph?i là d?u hi?u c?a s? y?u ?u?i hay khuy?t ?i?m v? tính cách. ?ó là m?t tình tr?ng v?i các y?u t? sinh h?c, tâm lý và môi tr??ng góp ph?n vào s? phát tri?n c?a nó. B?t c? ai c?ng có th? b? tr?m c?m.
L?m t??ng 3: Tr?m c?m luôn luôn b? gây ra b?i m?t s? ki?n c? th?
Th?c t?: M?c dù các s? ki?n c? th? trong cu?c s?ng ho?c các y?u t? gây c?ng th?ng có th? góp ph?n gây ra tr?m c?m, tr?m c?m c?ng có th? phát sinh mà không có m?t nguyên nhân rõ ràng. Khuynh h??ng di truy?n, s? m?t cân b?ng hóa h?c trong não và các y?u t? khác ?óng m?t vai trò quan tr?ng trong s? phát tri?n c?a tr?m c?m.
L?m t??ng 4: Nh?ng ng??i b? tr?m c?m có th? “t? không tr?m c?m n?a”
Th?c t?: Tr?m c?m không ph?i là m?t s? l?a ch?n và các cá nhân không th? ??n gi?n “t? bi?n mình bình th??ng”. ?ó là m?t ch?ng r?i lo?n c?n ???c ?i?u tr?, có th? bao g?m tr? li?u tâm lý, dùng thu?c ho?c k?t h?p c? hai.
L?m t??ng 5: Thu?c là ph??ng pháp ?i?u tr? duy nh?t cho b?nh tr?m c?m
Th?c t?: M?c dù thu?c có th? là ph??ng pháp ?i?u tr? hi?u qu? cho m?t s? ng??i b? tr?m c?m, ?ó không ph?i là l?a ch?n duy nh?t. Tr? li?u tâm lý, ch?ng h?n nh? li?u pháp nh?n th?c-hành vi (Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT)1,2 và các ph??ng d?a trên chánh ni?m3, c?ng có th? có hi?u qu? cao. Thay ??i l?i s?ng, bao g?m t?p th? d?c, ch? ?? ?n u?ng cân b?ng và ki?m soát c?ng th?ng, có th? b? sung cho các ph??ng pháp ?i?u tr? này.
L?m t??ng 6: Tr?m c?m là m?t tình tr?ng v?nh vi?n
Th?c t?: Nhi?u ng??i s? v??t qua tr?m c?m n?u ???c ?i?u tr? và h? tr? thích h?p. Can thi?p s?m là chìa khóa ?? c?i thi?n k?t qu?. ?i?u quan tr?ng là liên h? v?i bác s? ?a khoa và chuyên gia s?c kh?e tâm lý n?u b?n ho?c ai ?ó b?n bi?t ?ang ph?i ??i m?t v?i ch?ng tr?m c?m.
Tr?m c?m là m?t tình tr?ng s?c kh?e tâm th?n nghiêm tr?ng ?nh h??ng ??n hàng tri?u ng??i trên toàn th? gi?i. B?ng cách xóa b? nh?ng quan ni?m sai l?m ph? bi?n và hi?u rõ th?c t? c?a b?nh tr?m c?m, chúng ta có th? t?o ra m?t xã h?i nhân ái và h? tr? h?n cho nh?ng ng??i b? ?nh h??ng. N?u b?n ho?c ai ?ó b?n bi?t ?ang g?p ph?i các tri?u ch?ng tr?m c?m, hãy nh? r?ng luôn có s? tr? giúp và b?n có th? ph?c h?i. Hãy liên h? v?i bác s? ?a khoa ho?c chuyên gia s?c kh?e tâm lý ?? b?t ??u hành trình h??ng t?i s? ch?a lành và an l?c. B?n không ??n ??c trong cu?c ??u tranh này và v?n còn hy v?ng cho m?t ngày mai t??i sáng h?n.