Stereotypes: Happy People Can T Have Depression

     Depression is an illness, that strikes all ages, all races and all genders. It has no

Some people feel that when diagnosed with a mental illness they are being labelled into a category they are seen as mentally ill instead of them having a mental illness unfortunately there are so many negative stereotypes which are pinned with mental illness, according to the labelling theory it’s the thought of a person being labelled mentally ill which can cause you to be ill mentally as a result of its effects described as a self-fulfilling prophecy according to a modified version of this theory. There are assumptions about the negative impact on self-concept, this impact is described in later research about stigma and self-stigma, stigma can have some negative results for self-concept by lowing self-efficacy which can make impaired coping

Stereotypes are a major problem because people may hear the stereotypes of what a depressed person is like and assume they are not depressed because their feelings do not go by the stereotypes they heard. The stereotype that happy people cannot be depressed is all wrong on so many levels. Sometimes showing happiness and using humor is a defense mechanism, and the people who seem happy are really suffering in silence. Some also believe that depression is “dictated by life circumstances” when actually, it can be triggered by inherited genes and traits, brain chemistry, and even hormonal imbalances(Clifton). One should talk to their doctor if they think hormones could be the cause of their depression. Talking about depression with a depressed person is commonly believed to be uncomfortable or embarrassing for the person, and while sometimes this may be the case, it actually may send some relief to the person with depression. The National Institute of Mental Health says “there’s a difference between experiencing sadness for a short period of time and one’s daily life becoming afflicted by the symptoms of [depression] for several months or years”(Clifton) Despite what society says, people with depression are not mentally weak, lazy, or inferior; they may actually be some of the strongest people around having to fight a daily battle in their minds that no one else knows about. The smartest, most hard-working and supportive people

In fact, there still are many attitudes within most societies that view symptoms of mental disorders as threatening which frequently cause stigma towards people with mental health problems. Many stereotypes lead people to believe that people with mental health issues are violent, crazy & unpredictable. Those with mental illnesses are usually inaccurately accused of being downright lazy & weak, however, studies have worked to prove this myth untrue. According to Healthy People.gov, mental health is a state of successful mental functioning, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity. Many would agree that mental health is vital to a productive, healthy

In addition, depression is extremely stigmatized. Depression is often seen as a lack of effort, a cry for attention, or simply laziness. This stigmatization causes a lot of people with depression to ignore the symptoms – some of which include the inability to focus, an unexplainable sadness, or a very large difficulty in doing things, including simply getting out of bed. Another important aspect to note is that most people have felt this way at some point in their lives, perhaps after a traumatic event or simply a stressful day. Those with depression experience it for longer periods of time, and the fact that others have experienced it causes those with depression to believe that their illness is not really there, simply a prolongation of the symptoms of others. Many cultures have different views on depression – some, like Eastern European cultures, tend to believe that depression is not a real thing; others, like Western cultures, actually tend to over diagnose depression – and throughout history, people have had different ideas of the reasons for depression.

However, with changes in society it has come to describe those who suffer from pervasive lowering of mood preventing them from living a normal life. Conditions range from person to person. It may vary from mild, brief occasional dips in a person's mood to a severe lifelong persistence in extensive depressive episodes characterizing a person with intense feelings of self-worthlessness. Overall depression is a very common mental health disorder, however it is still highly misunderstood. This disorder is seen to be “one of the greatest, if not the greatest disease burden of the twenty first century”. (Mulholland.1) As this disorder brings distress to millions of households across the nation, it is frequently misdiagnosed or simply not seen as an issue of concern at all. Leading to “a great deal of suffering and a substantial number of deaths”. (Mulholland.1) Alas, the condition sadly evokes a lot of stigma. The lack of personal experience and knowledge residing with most people causes feelings of superiority in those who the condition does not affect. This causes tears in the social fabric and worsens things for those that do have

Many people completely misunderstand mental disorders and don’t bother trying to correct mistakes made by themselves or others. Depression is no exception. Although it is one of the most common mental disorders categorized in the United States, how is it still such an issue? Although it is so common many people do not recognize the signs in others due to media portrayal, gender stereotypes, and the many misconceptions about this serious mental disorder.

Stereotypes seem to be everywhere especially when it comes to race and gender, but for everyone suffering from a mental illness, they are never one in the same. Some of these stereotypes include falsehoods that people who suffer from mental disorders look different than others. People diagnosed with Schizophrenia are said to look unkempt, as portrayed in video games, TV shows and movies, have the frumpy hair, rumpled clothes, crazy eyes and lack of care for themselves. According to US News, most people who have mental disorders have routines just as anyone else. They get up, shower, eat, and go to work yet have to do so with either their diagnosis, or treatment from a psychiatrist. (Fawcett, 2015)

The negative stigmatization of mental illness does not only affects a person relationship with their friends and family but also affects their ability to maintain a job and find employment. Suffering from mental illness people already have preconceived ideas about you such as that you are violent or incompetent. People that suffer from mental illness are less likely to tell their family, friends or their employer in fear that they will be seen differently, seem less than or fragile. Family and friends provide a support system that will give people a way to combat social isolation that comes with mental illness and gives you a way to fight against the the negative thoughts and feeling that no one will understand you, having someone to talk to when you are feeling down and going through a episode and knowing that you have people rooting for you and won't judge you is the support you need when you are going through a mental health issue.

When most people think of mental illnesses, visions of mental asylums pop into their heads; All the horror movies they've watched flood to their minds, a trial about a mass shooting seeming to come to a close after the suspect is diagnosed with a mental illness, or maybe they think that mental illnesses are just an excuse for people to be 'special'. These are many of the misconceptions that surround the topic of mental illnesses. Are these stereotypes fair and stem from a justifiable source of negativity? Or are these ways of thinking medieval?

If people were to learn about the misconceptions in society about mental illness, they would have a better understanding that many ideas are not true. One misconception is that a mental illness is a sign of weakness (Morin 2). For example, depression is an illness where symptoms perceive as lazy or uneducated. Having a good job and wonderful relationship, but still managing not to get out of bed in the morning and get over yourself will be seen as weak to society. The fact is, mentally ill people are not weak, but strong. The fact that people with these mental health problems are pushing through the worst makes them strong, brave, and a

Mental health—and the stigma that comes along with it—is a very important issue, one of global importance. Shah and Beinecke explain that 450 to 500 million people suffer from mental illnesses (15). Just considering the amount of people who suffer from mental illness is enough to prove that this is a global issue. Despite the large amounts of people who are affected by mental illness, only one third of countries have some sort of program to help (15). This shows the lack of concern for those who suffer from mental illness. Stereotypes affect many people, and those with mental illness are no exception. Everyone has their own preconceived perspectives and notions of mental health, and many of them are uninformed and unjustified. It is up to us to start changing our viewpoints on mental health.

Depression has numerous causes and effects which affect not only the person but the people around them. Depression doesn’t have a specific cause; in most cases it’s different for everyone. It is a common, treatable mental illness that can be experienced at any time in life. It is often described with feeling sad, unhappy, miserable, or “down in the dumps”. Most people have these feelings on occasion. There are several types of depression. These different types of depression describe slight, but often important, diagnostic differences. True clinical depression interferes with mood disorder in everyday life for weeks, months, or even years. Most people think depression affects only one

     Psychological theories of depression focus on the way people think and behave. Some theories emphasize the role irrational though processes. It states that depresses people tend to view themselves, their environment, and the future in a negative light because of errors in thinking. These errors include focusing on the negative aspects of any situation misinterpreting facts in negative ways, and blaming themselves for any misfortune. In another view it is said that people with “depressive” personality traits appear to be more vulnerable than others to actual depression. Examples of depressive personality traits include gloominess, pessimism, introversion, self-criticism, deep feelings of inadequacy, and excessive brooding and worrying. People who regularly behave in dependent, hostile, and impulsive ways appear at greater risk for depression. Psychologists also believe that stressful experiences can trigger depression in people who are predisposed to the illness.

Many people often have stereotypes or stigmas regarding mental illnesses. There is a general public stigma that is overall expressed by people who may not have full knowledge over the importance of mental health. When referring to the stigma, people will usually say that those with mental illnesses are irresponsible, should be cared for, or should be feared and kept out of the direct community. All of these stigmas having to do with mental illnesses are false. Many people with mental illnesses are able to hold stable jobs, graduate from high school and college, and even live as good neighbors in a community. By creating this stigma, people are adding to the everyday challenges that people with mental illnesses are going through. We should aim to educate and stop the prejudice that is brought about by those who are not fully aware of the importance of mental health.