What is a taboo?
Many people unfortunately see depression as a taboo. "Taboo" is another interesting word that has strayed somewhat from its original meaning. Originally a Polynesian word, it seems to have first come into the light of investigation several hundred years ago by early foreign visitors to Polynesia and the Hawaiian islands. It refers to something set apart for or consecrated to a special use or purpose. A taboo can also be placed on an object, person, place or word that is believed to have inherent power above the ordinary. The breaking of a taboo usually requires extermination of the offender or some sort of ceremonial purification (The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th).
These days, taboo generally refers to a topic or activity that we avoid or prohibit due to social custom. For example, it's generally taboo to walk around naked in public even though this generally does little harm to anyone else. This sort of silent avoidance stifles free and candid discussion with and about the mentally ill.
In such ways we preserve our ignorance of the facts about mental illness. And ignorance preserves mystery and mystery produces myth and myth stifles fact which defines stigma and taboo and encourages ignorance. It’s a vicious circle.
In this way, the mythology of depression is at best harmful and at worst downright dangerous. To remove the stigma and lift the taboo, we must replace myth with fact and ignorance with 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.