As we continue discussing depression myths, I would like to share another one that I have personally experienced. Many times, people have suggested that I can snap out of my depression. I have been told to just smile. Not once have I been able to just “snap out of my depression”. The myth that we can snap out of depression is hurtful. It cannot be done. There is no snapping out of depression. No amount of smiling can make depression disappear on its own.
Depression symptoms do not disappear just because we want them to disappear. Depression is a health condition. It is not just a mood. Depression has biological and psychological causes. It is diagnosed by medical and mental health professionals. Depression is caused by changes in brain chemistry, neural circuits, and stress hormones. There is medical evidence that depression is real. Imaging shows differences in the brains of individuals who suffer from depression. The biology of depression affects mood, motivation, sleep, and energy. Medical intervention from a psychiatrist is usually needed to combat depression. So, telling a person to snap out of it is ignoring the science behind a depression diagnosis.
Another reason we cannot just snap out of it is that depression symptoms affect motivation and energy. Considering motivation is impacted by the illness, telling a person to snap out of it or try harder, is not going to help. We struggle with motivation and no amount of trying is going to make the depression disappear. When someone is told to snap out of it, the symptoms of depression are being ignored. When I have been told to try harder to be happy, I have shrunk further into my depression. I know I cannot snap out of it. Being told that I can makes me feel like a failure. Even though I understand motivation to not be depressed is not the issue, it hurts to be told that I would not be depressed if I just tried harder to be happy.
Depression is persistent. It is not a passing mood. Those of us who live with depression cannot turn it on and off like a faucet. If we had that ability, we would never turn it on. Believe me, living with depression is not a choice. If we could snap out of it, people would not suffer from long-term bouts of depression. There would be no such thing as recurrence if we could snap out of depression. Depression lasts. Even with treatment, many of us still deal with the symptoms of depression.
Treatment is necessary to help a person live with depression. Recovery is possible, but not without treatment. The fact that recognized treatments such as therapy, medication, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), esketamine, and ECT are effective demonstrates that overcoming depression requires more than just a will to snap out of it. My personal experience is that treatment is a necessary part of my life. I work hard with my mental health team to function with my depression. Most of us with depression find treatment to be necessary. That is where our desire to get better is utilized. We cannot just wish depression away, but we can take the steps to receive the treatments that will help us.
Sometimes we might seem like we are okay. This might give the illusion that we can snap out of our depression. The reality is that depression can ebb and flow. There are times when we can function and times when our struggles our heightened. Just because you see us functioning does not mean we are not dealing with our depression. As I mentioned in Smiles and Appearances, The Masks We Wear: Debunking Common Depression Myths (Part 2) many of us living with depression are adept at wearing masks to hide our depression from others. It is not a matter of snapping out of depression. What often happens is we mask our symptoms. We do not snap out of depression. You just do not see the depression.
The myth that people can snap out of depression dismisses so much about the illness. It is also ignorant. There is medical and psychological research proving that depression is an illness and not choice. There are countless real-life stories that have been shared about living with depression. There is no excuse for someone to tell another person to snap out of depression. It is inconsiderate and hurtful.
The myth that people can snap out of depression is harmful. Being told that we need to just snap out of our depression can cause us to believe we are not trying hard enough to get better. It might make us feel ashamed to seek help. What people living with depression need is compassion and understanding. If we feel understood and supported, we are more likely to reach out for help. We are more likely to follow through on our treatment plans. So, if you know someone who is living with depression, please do not tell them to snap out of it. Please do not tell them that they just need to smile. Your intentions may be good, but you will be causing harm. Instead, ask them how you can help. Listen to the person. Be supportive and understanding.
Come back next week. Monday will a regular post. Thursday 3/19, will be the final post in this series on Debunking Common Depression Myths.
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Great four part series. Very informative for individuals like myself who know a friend who suffers from depression. We all can be better about understanding and helping our friends with their daily battles.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Your friend is lucky to have you as a friend.
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