I’m a psychologist – here are the 3 things most people get wrong about depression and what you need to know

A PSYCHOLOGIST has uncovered three things people commonly get wrong about depression.

Depression affects millions of Brits every year – and throughout their lives.

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In England alone, three out of ten people are diagnosed with it every week Spirit.

But misconceptions about the condition are still common.

dr julie smith, A psychologist from Hampshire, England, shares educational videos about mental health on social media.

In a TikTok video, she revealed three things people get wrong about the debilitating condition…

1. Depression isn’t just about a bad mood

Some common symptoms of mental illness include feeling depressed, empty, and finding little pleasure in activities that you would normally enjoy.

Therefore, one of the most common misconceptions is that only when you are depressed does you feel down.

But that’s not always the case, said Dr. Julie: “Depression isn’t just about feeling flat and in a bad mood.

“A lot of people don’t realize that it’s normal to feel a lot of anxiety when you’re depressed.”

Spirit said that’s also common.

The charity explained that when you’re going through depression, you may also feel restless and agitated and have trouble eating and sleeping.

In fact, around eight in 100 people in England are diagnosed mixed anxiety and depression every week.

2. Depression can be physical

Depression doesn’t just affect you emotionally.

dr Julie said, “Depression isn’t just mental, it’s physical.”

Sometimes the first thing you notice is a lack of energy, she explained.

But it can go further.

You could also have pain that just doesn’t seem to have a clear cause, said Dr. Julie.

As a result, experts believe that depression can cause you to experience pain differently than other people, and that depression can also cause chronic pain you may be experiencing to become worse.

You might experience:

• muscle pain and joint pain
• back pain
• Headache
• chest pain

According to the NHS, you can also experience:

• move or speak more slowly than usual
• Changes in appetite or weight (usually decreased but sometimes increased)
• constipation
• unexplained pain and discomfort
• lack of energy
• low sex drive (loss of libido)
• Changes in your menstrual cycle
• Sleep disorders – for example, difficulty falling asleep at night or waking up very early in the morning

3. Depression vs Sadness

Finally, Dr. Julie: “Depression and sadness are not the same thing.

“Sadness is just one of the many symptoms of depression.”

It’s normal to feel sadness and it can usually pass in a moment, but depression can be long-term, she explained.

However, when feelings of sadness persist and interfere with your life and normal functioning, it could be a sign that you are depressed.

Common Symptoms of depression include feeling:

• depressed, upset, or tearful
• restless, excited or irritable
• guilty, worthless and down on himself
• empty and deaf
• isolated and unable to connect with other people
• not finding joy in life or in things you normally enjoy
• a sense of unreality
• no confidence or self-esteem
• hopeless and desperate

If you or someone you are with is at risk related to mental health, call 999.