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THIS IS FOR ANYBODY CONCERNED ABOUT THE STIGMA OF BEING TREATED FOR DEPRESSION
I just finished responding to a post in another thread that brought up the unfortunate "stigma" that is associated with depression. Although I think I was pretty in depth in my response, I felt that this was an important enough issue to call attention to with its own thread.
If you look at the sticky threads on the top of this forum, you will notice how many of them emphasize that depression is a disease, a medical issue, with as many biological causes and symptoms as emotional ones. Why is this being broadcasted over and over again to you?
Because of the "stigma".
This stigma comes in many flavors. That depression doesn't exist, that is just laziness, or weakness, or an excuse, or (and this is a big one) that is something to be ashamed of.
But where does this stigma come from? Who is giving a stigma to seeking out help? And why does it feel like such a powerful, overwhelming stigma?
The answer is simple. The stigma largley comes from within the depressed mind itself. Remember, depression is a disease, and therefore is not actually a part of you any more than a tumor is. Clinical depression is a sly and cunning disease, able to actually seem like real part of your personality. It tells you there is no hope, so you believe that there really isn't any. It manipulates memories, perceptions, emotions, and even worse, your own sense of well being.
Consider this (and I used this example before). You and a friend are jogging, and you suddenly take a bad step and break your ankle. You feel the pain, you feel your body reacting to the pain, and you are pretty sure that you have sustained an injury that won't let you get up and jog again. What if your friend didn't believe you and told you to stop being a cry baby and just get up? Who would you listen to? Your own body or your friend?
Before you answer, consider the same scenerio, only this time you think you might be suffering from depression. You feel it, you sense it, and you are suffering. You think about seeking out help, but a friend tell you to "get over it, just ignore it, stop being so weak". Who do you listen to?
And thats where the stigma comes from. A depressed mind is much more likely to feel too much shame in seeking help because of this "stigma". Whereas in the broken ankle situation, your friend's opinion would just be "stupid and wrong" and not a "stigma".
That is why the message of "Depression is a Disease, and needs to be treated" is said over and over. Because the only stigma in seeking help is the one the depression is telling you. Along with feelings of hopelessness and dispair, its got you thinking and believing that there is no way out and that its all your fault for feeling this way.
If you think you might be suffering from depression, recognize that the only stigma in getting help is in your own mind. Don't let things like shame, hopelessness, guilt, and dispair keep you from seeking out help. You do *NOT* need to suffer, it is not a part of you, and it *IS* a disease that can be treated, managed, and cured.
If you are suffering from depression, don't let a false concept of a stigma keep you from getting the help you want, need, and deserve!
I just finished responding to a post in another thread that brought up the unfortunate "stigma" that is associated with depression. Although I think I was pretty in depth in my response, I felt that this was an important enough issue to call attention to with its own thread.
If you look at the sticky threads on the top of this forum, you will notice how many of them emphasize that depression is a disease, a medical issue, with as many biological causes and symptoms as emotional ones. Why is this being broadcasted over and over again to you?
Because of the "stigma".
This stigma comes in many flavors. That depression doesn't exist, that is just laziness, or weakness, or an excuse, or (and this is a big one) that is something to be ashamed of.
But where does this stigma come from? Who is giving a stigma to seeking out help? And why does it feel like such a powerful, overwhelming stigma?
The answer is simple. The stigma largley comes from within the depressed mind itself. Remember, depression is a disease, and therefore is not actually a part of you any more than a tumor is. Clinical depression is a sly and cunning disease, able to actually seem like real part of your personality. It tells you there is no hope, so you believe that there really isn't any. It manipulates memories, perceptions, emotions, and even worse, your own sense of well being.
Consider this (and I used this example before). You and a friend are jogging, and you suddenly take a bad step and break your ankle. You feel the pain, you feel your body reacting to the pain, and you are pretty sure that you have sustained an injury that won't let you get up and jog again. What if your friend didn't believe you and told you to stop being a cry baby and just get up? Who would you listen to? Your own body or your friend?
Before you answer, consider the same scenerio, only this time you think you might be suffering from depression. You feel it, you sense it, and you are suffering. You think about seeking out help, but a friend tell you to "get over it, just ignore it, stop being so weak". Who do you listen to?
And thats where the stigma comes from. A depressed mind is much more likely to feel too much shame in seeking help because of this "stigma". Whereas in the broken ankle situation, your friend's opinion would just be "stupid and wrong" and not a "stigma".
That is why the message of "Depression is a Disease, and needs to be treated" is said over and over. Because the only stigma in seeking help is the one the depression is telling you. Along with feelings of hopelessness and dispair, its got you thinking and believing that there is no way out and that its all your fault for feeling this way.
If you think you might be suffering from depression, recognize that the only stigma in getting help is in your own mind. Don't let things like shame, hopelessness, guilt, and dispair keep you from seeking out help. You do *NOT* need to suffer, it is not a part of you, and it *IS* a disease that can be treated, managed, and cured.
If you are suffering from depression, don't let a false concept of a stigma keep you from getting the help you want, need, and deserve!
Reading a lot of self-help books and whatnot, believe it or not.
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