Many mental disorders are oftentimes misrepresented in the media as malicious or as a chosen quirk. Depression happens to be one of those disorders. Depression is misrepresented in the media as just a bad day or when someone is feeling particularly down. In reality, depression is daily negative thoughts, which interfere with your ability to function daily. Depression affects 3.8% of the general population, or about 280 million people.
Firstly, it is important to recognize and understand what depression is. Depression is a mood disorder, which is a category of mental disorders, that can cause persistent negative thoughts, decreased energy, an increase in purposeless activity, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, and thoughts of self-harm and suicide. Depression is very serious, and in some cases, depending on severity, can lead to suicide or attempted suicide. It is also important to note that anyone can develop depression at any age. Depression has a 50% hereditary rate, and the other 50% is due to environmental/psychological factors.
Many people often get depression mixed up with just having a bad day, and the phrase “I feel so depressed” gets tossed around with ease. Being depressed and having a bad day are two completely different things. Depression interferes with your everyday ability to function. People with Depression sometimes feel as if they are in a constant battle with themselves, which does not compare to someone just having a bad day.
A standard representation of depression in the media (movies, social media, etc) is often an edgy person, constantly weeping (publicly too), pushes others away, and wants to be alone. This is incorrect. Most of the time, you wouldn’t even be able to tell if someone has depression. This is called masking. Sometimes people with depression will mask their emotional suffering and exhaustion by smiling and interacting normally socially. This can wear the person down more, but it is also a way for them to hide their suffering.
A common misconception about depression represented in the media is that people with depression can’t feel happiness. People with depression can feel happiness and have good days, as well as manage their condition. Depression is treatable.
The reality of living with depression is not easy. It is not a “bad day” that you can shake off; it is not a state of uncontrollable tears. At the core of depression is just another person, and once you get down to see the person behind the disorder, you see that they’re just like you and me: Their disorder does not define them, or confine them.
