Did you know that the World Health Organization considers depression to be the leading cause of disability worldwide?
This might be surprising, but the reality is that something like 1 out of every 15 adults . experiences a major depressive episode each year.
It’s this common, and yet there is still a stigma associated with people who have depression – and with mental illness as a whole. Some people avoid seeking treatment for their depression symptoms in the first place for fear of being judged, while others who are diagnosed feel shamed for choosing to take medicine to help manage it.
“I think we’re talking more openly about mental illness than we used to 10 or 15 years ago, but there’s definitely still a stigma attached,” says psychiatrist Doug McLaughlin, DO.
When it comes to depression and the use of antidepressants as a treatment option, some of those negative perceptions likely come from misunderstandings about what antidepressants do and don’t do.
Here, Dr. McLaughlin sheds some light on common questions and misunderstandings about antidepressants.
Treatment for depression
Treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms. It can range from simple recognition of the disease to medications and, sometimes, admission to a hospital for intensive treatment. Many patients with depression benefit from counseling and behavioral therapy. Regardless, neither counseling nor medications work instantly. It can take up to two weeks to begin to see the beneficial effects of medicine and up to four weeks to see the beneficial effects of counseling.
People with depression have a lower quality of life and a higher risk of suicide than those without depression. Additionally, depressed patients affect the quality of life of those who live and work with them. Recognizing the symptoms of depression and identifying ways to manage and alleviate it can have a profoundly positive impact for the patient and his or her loved ones.