I’ve had some experience – mild, and not long-lasting – with depression. Chances are, you have, too.
The more I read, the more I’m inclined to believe that there’s lots of undiagnosed depression among seniors. It’s an important topic I plan to pursue on this blog in the weeks ahead.
As a start, I wanted to share these “myths and facts” about depression, from an excellent recent slide show from WebMD (one of my favorite online resources). I’ve recapped the bullet points here, but encourage you to click on the link to the slideshow that appears below. It provides helpful explanations and additional information.
- Myth: Hard Work Beats Depression
- Myth: It’s Not a Real Illness
- Fact: Men Fly Under the Radar
- Myth: Depression Is Just Self-Pity
- Fact: Anyone Can Get Depressed
- Myth: Help Means Drugs for Life
- Myth: Depressed People Cry a Lot
- Fact: Family History Is Not Destiny
- Myth: Depression Is Part of Aging
- Fact: Depression Imitates Dementia
- Myth: Talking Makes Things Worse
- Fact: Positive Thinking May Help
- Myth: Teens Are Unhappy by Nature
- Fact: Exercise Is Good Medicine
- Myth: Depression Is Tough to Treat
- Fact: It’s Not Always Depression
- Fact: Hope for Better Days Is Real
Here’s the link: WebMD Depression Myths and Facts