Mood Disorders

Myths and Realities

Myth: Depression is just a feeling; you can snap out of it if you try hard enough.

Reality: Depression is caused by an imbalance of chemicals that you have little control over.

Myth: Depression only occurs when something bad happens.

Reality: Depression can happen at any time, good or bad.

Myth: Post partum depression is an excuse women use for being bad mothers.

Reality: Pregnancy causes changes in hormones and chemicals and it can result in depression.

Myth: There's nothing you can do to treat depression.\

Reality: It can be treated by therapy and medications including antidepressants.

Myth: Antidepressants and lithium can help anyone with a mood disorder.

Reality: Lithium does not always work for everyone and giving someone who suffers from manic-depression antidepressants can make their condition worse.

Myth: There are no outward signs of depression.

Reality: There are several symptoms including headaches, insomnia, and significant weight changes.

Myth: Having mania is fun.

Reality: Mania can make you reckless, agitated, and can cause migraines. Some people also become sexually explicit and compulsively shop.

Myth: No one hallucinates while suffering from a mood disorder.

Reality: Hallucinations can occur during mania, particularly when they are prescribed certain medicine.

Myth: Everyone who has bipolar disorder experiences the disorder in the same way.

Reality: People who are bipolar have varying degrees of it; the experience is rarely the same.

Myth: Only people suffering from depression are suicidal.

Reality: Many other people have suicidal thoughts that are not depressed, although they most likely have a mental health disorder.