Depression is something a lot of people in this world have. It affects far more than you might imagine and all the while is very misunderstood.

Depression is a serious mood disorder that causes severe symptoms in regards to how you feel, think, and so forth. It affects how you handle your daily activities and is never exactly the same for any two people. What depression might be for you might not be how it is for someone else. There are quite a few different forms and each one differs from the next be it in a big way or only slightly.

There are a lot of misconceptions and myths surrounding depression and working through those will really allow everyone to gain a better understanding. Below I am going to go over some of those myths and why they are exactly that. Whether you are someone with depression or know someone with depression, knowing these things is important.

7 Myths About Depression We Need to Shut Down:

1. You wouldn’t be depressed if you were stronger.

Depression isn’t something that makes you ‘not strong.’ Actually, those who manage to continue on despite their depression are some of the strongest I have ever known. Strength has nothing to do with it. Even the strongest people can be affected by depression.

2. If you can get out of bed, you’re not depressed.

Depression doesn’t always keep you in bed. Sometimes you have good days and sometimes you have bad days. Just because you are able to function doesn’t mean you are not depressed. It just doesn’t work like that.

3. Depression is all in your head.

Depression is not all in your head. It has physical symptoms as well. Depression can be crippling in more ways than I can explain. It cannot be summed up in any easy way.

4. You’re selfish for being depressed.

Having depression is not something you can control in the ways some people think you can. You are not selfish for having depression. You are not doing anything wrong just because you need a little help doesn’t mean you aren’t still a normal person. Selfish is not a word I would use in regards to those with depression, ever.

5. Depression is something you can just snap out of.

Depression is not something that you can snap out of. Depression is not a switch that can be turned on or off. It is a mental illness and it has to be treated through whatever means are necessary.

6. You can’t be depressed without reason.

Depression is not something that has to have a reason behind it. Sometimes we feel depressed without knowing why. It is not as simple as many think it is.

7. You shouldn’t be depressed because other people have it worse than you.

Depression is not something that makes you worse off or better off than someone else. Just because someone else might have it worse in their life doesn’t mean your emotions don’t matter. Other people’s problems don’t make yours invalid.

Image via The Complete Creative