Mood disorders
By Greg Piscitello
Myth: Depression is just a feeling; you can snap out of it if you try hard enough.
Truth: Depression is not something you can just snap out of, if a person exhibits symptoms for more than two weeks they should see a doctor so they can be treated
Myth: Depression only occurs when bad things happen.
Truth: There are many causes of depression. Some are genetics, chemical imbalances, and tragedy/emotional abuse.
Myth: Post partum depression is an excuse women use for being bad mothers.
Truth: It is a form of depression that occurs after birth and effects 10% of women.
Myth: There is nothing you can do to treat depression.
Truth: Depression can be treated with drugs such as Prozac.
Myth: Antidepressants and lithium can help anybody with a mood disorder.
Truth: Lithium is very effective for those it works for, but not everyone responds to lithium.
Myth: having mania is fun.
Truth: Mania can ruin many peoples lives causing them to overspend and drive themselves into debt.
Myth: there is no outward signs of depression.
Truth: There are many outward signs of depression such as shifts in behavior, violent behaviors, drop in grades, and withdrawal from friends.
Myth: no one hallucinates while suffering from a mood disorder.
Truth: Some mood disorders such as Mania have symptoms that include hallucinations.
Myth: Everyone who has bipolar disorder experiences the disorder in the same way.
Truth: There are two types of Bipolar disorder, Bipolar I and Bipolar II. Bipolar I has long periods of mania and short periods of depression in between. Bipolar II has long periods of depression with short periods of mania in between.
Myth: Only people suffering from depression are suicidal.
Truth: People with Bipolar disorder can be suicidal after a period of mania when they put themselves in difficult decisions.