What is a taboo?
Many people unfortunately see depression as a taboo. Like stigma taboo is an interesting word. It has become distanced from its original meaning. The word originates from Tonga and New Zealand. The word had the following meaning in the native culture:
"Something that was put to one side or devoted to a special use or a special purpose. A religious significance. It was prohibited to use the word for ordinary purposes. It was reserved for a special person or group of people, such as priests. (A modern example is the Roman Catholic Communion, where only the priest drinks the wine, which is taboo for the public)".
However, today taboo is often used to refer to a subject or activity which you avoid or prohibit as a result of society's norms.
Depression "embarrassing"?
An example of a taboo is the fact that many people see suffering from depression as being "embarrassing". This means that we do not talk about depression. This leads to ignorance.
Ignorance keeps the mystery alive. And the mystery creates myths, which choke facts and create stigmas and taboos. It creates a vicious spiral of denial and ignorance and ultimately leads to a refusal to accept the illness. This is a terrible consequence, because it means the illness will not be treated.
Stigmas and taboos relating to depression are therefore harmful. In the worst case, they are also dangerous. To get rid of the stigma and taboos, the myths must be replaced by facts and the ignorance must be replaced by understanding. This is what DepNet is all about.
The modern mythology of depression
Amongst the enduring myths about depression are:
- Antidepressants are addictive. They are not. They are also not habit-forming. In some cases, it is necessary to scale down the dose slowly in order to avoid sudden changes in the chemistry of the brain and the symptoms that this can cause.
- Antidepressants change a person's normal behaviour. In reality, the medicine changes the depressive behaviour and allows the person's normal personality to re-emerge from the dark.
- Happiness pills make you happier. Antidepressants are not "happiness pills", as some journalists suggest. If you were not particularly interesting, sociable or self-confident before the depression, treatment with antidepressants will not make you more interesting, sociable or self-confident.
- The "happiness pill personality". This myth was invented by journalists in need of an eye-catching headline to attract readers. Depression is an illness which pushes aside and chokes your real personality. Depresssion is not a part of your personality. However, dysthymia (chronic depression) can extend over such a long period that it can seem like a part of your personality even though it isn't. Remember that!
Are people who suffer from depression lazy?
A survey in the USA has shown that over half of those asked believed that people who suffer from depression are lazy.
We know that depression often leads to a lack of motivation and tiredness, a reluctance to co-operate and low productivity. But the survey shows how easy it is to see the symptoms and draw the wrong conclusions.
Are people who suffer from depression on the way to "the loony bin"?
Another common attitude is that depression is the first step on the way to the loony bin. This is pure fantasy.
We would certainly admit someone if we are concerned that they are seriously thinking about committing suicide. And if you are suffering from depression which cannot be cured using normal treatment methods, you may be admitted. While you are in hospital, you will receive special treatment. But in no way can this be described as a "loony bin". This attitude may originate from the manic phases of bipolar depression, but these people are also not "loonies".
We can only reiterate what we said earlier:
- Mythology represses the facts and chokes the truth.
- Mythology satisfies ignorance and provides fertile soil for prejudice.
Mythology is often difficult to fight because it gives a nice, simple explanation for things which can be complex and difficult to understand.