Busting Popular Myths About Depression

This video from Big Think deals with some of the common myths surrounding depression.

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Dr. Patricia Deldin from the University of Michigan Depression Center explains exactly what depression is and what it isn’t. Deldin shares that depression is an invisible illness that is very complex. Those who suffer from depression will experience symptoms such as feelings of sadness and numbness, an inability to feel pleasure, and in most cases, a profound feeling of worthlessness.

Depression is extremely common and one in four women, and one in five to six men will experience depression at some point in their lives. Many people believe that depression will go away on its own, but depression is likely to get worse over time and often needs to be treated with medication.

Deldin suggests that anyone suffering from depression implements lifestyle changes to improve their sleep quality, including exercising for at least 30 minutes a day. She also advises people to broaden their social engagement sand not to isolate themselves from friends and family.

MORE: Researchers identify factors of deep brain stimulation outcomes for Parkinson’s patients.

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