20 Of The Most Misunderstood Things About Depression According To Reddit

The word 'depression' and the condition have existed for a while now. The earliest accounts of it appeared in the second millennium BCE in Mesopotamia.

Nowadays, almost everyone has encountered the word 'depression.' It's a common term that is part of everyone's vocabulary.

While it was largely ignored in the past, it has now become a major concern in many environments, such as schools and workplaces. Today, people are advocating for better conditions in these places to help individuals avoid developing this condition.

Despite how often it is discussed in today's conversations, there are still many misunderstandings surrounding it. People have a vague conception of what it is, but some commonly known facts about it are not accurate.

This may be the result of miseducation or long-standing beliefs, and understandably, not everyone is a medical professional who has studied depression or someone who has experienced it. Still, much like cancer and other illnesses, it's a serious condition that needs to be understood properly.

On Reddit, user RainbowStormi asked, "What are the most misunderstood things about depression?" and Redditors delivered. Surprisingly, some of these answers have already been long debunked; however, they continue to persist like a nasty rash.

Here are some of the top ones.

1. It's not just sadness because of one thing that happened to you. It's a feeling that envelops your entire being and doesn't let go.

Skinnydipandhike

2. Depression doesn't just worsen because of something specific. Sometimes, there's simply no reason for it to get worse, but it does.

ThatPyro612

3. Some people have it all: a great job, great friends, a great family, and yet they can still be depressed.

sonstone

4. Just getting out of bed in the morning can be the most exhausting thing in the world.

icewater101_

5. It's not that people don't want to tell their loved ones; it's that it's not easy to talk about or explain.

theflowersteeth

6. When your mind is swimming in misery, it can be easy to forget other things in your memory.

HiKennyDesign

7. Every action you take to force yourself to go through life can be incredibly draining.

Decent-Check-277

8. You can be exceptionally good at what you do, but that doesn't necessarily mean your mind is in a good place.

IonlyPlayAOE3

9. Sometimes, a person may want to ask for help but feels unable to do so.

Back2Bach

10. Asking a depressed person to snap out of it is like asking a paralyzed person to just get up and walk.

Quityurgriping

11. "Sunlight can help improve a bad mood, but it won't fix underfiring neurotransmitters."

shiveringsongs

12. People who say it's all in your head need to get a reality check.

antisocial-potato-

13. Depression isn't just about feeling 'sad.'

Hattkake

14. If it were just sadness, then it would be much easier to deal with.

s-vasiliki

15. Your own body literally fights against whatever sliver of will you have.

pwnagraphic

16. Depression isn't just black and white; there are varying degrees to it.

fargmania

17. Even acknowledging that you have depression is a journey in and of itself, so no, it's not just a character trait.

Ramen_Beef_Baby

18. No matter what medications or treatments people undergo, it's not something that can be cured.

TheBrassDancer

19. It doesn't just go away after we graduate high school or get a job.

Guilty_Pie986

20. They're not there just to pull a person out of the dark pit they're in.

NathanBBHH

Depression is a serious illness that many people endure every day. Not experiencing it does not give you a pass to avoid learning about it or to continue believing misconceptions surrounding it.

Misunderstandings about depression perpetuate the stigma surrounding it, making it even harder for those who are experiencing it. If you want to help, educating yourself is one of the best things you can do.