Mood Disorders
Myths and Realities
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.