Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Why Do People Ignore the Signs of Depression?

Today statistics claim that about one in four adult Americans has some form of depression or another.  However one in four adults do not see a doctor to treat the Symptoms of Depression .  Far too many ignore the symptoms and the signs and unfortunately in some cases this can lead to tragic consequences.  Why is it then that so many ignore even the most obvious signs of depression when help is just a doctor's appointment away?Ignoring the signs of depression may be because of the reasons that we mentioned above so lets explore that a little bit further. 

Gender Stigma

Even in our modern, enlightened times men are still sometimes expected to be a particular way when it comes to emotions.  They are often told to "buck up" and that it's just not very masculine to worry about your emotions and feelings.  This means that many men ignore the Symptoms of Depression because they're afraid of what other men might think.  If they are having a hard time coping with feelings of sadness, guilt, low self-esteem, a lack of confidence, and fear, they are usually prone to just swallow these feelings and ignore them.  Unfortunately these signs of depression can become very severe and interfere with a man's performance at work, his relationships at home, and with every other part of his life. 

Social Stigma

Men and women may assume that if they admit to any signs of depression then they will face social stigma from those around them.  This stigma might include anyone at work that comes into contact with their insurance information or friends and family that may hear about their treatment.  They may mistakenly assume that depression is a form of weakness or a character flaw, and if they think this way they often reason that others will think this way as well.  They may have been raised in a home where signs of depression in others were mocked and ridiculed, or were told that psychiatrists were all "quacks" and that anyone that was depressed simply needed to snap out of it.

Afraid of Treatment

Some also ignore the signs of depression for the same reason they ignore the signs of other healthy problems - they're afraid of what the doctor will tell them.  If they ignore the problem, then the problem just doesn't exist, or so they tell themselves.Groups of people sharing their childhood history as a therapy option sometimes scares people suffering with depression away from thinking they have the disease.

Whatever the reasons, it's never a good idea to ignore the signs of depression.  If left unchecked depression can lead to even more serious problems with one's physical health and personal relationships.  Some have even lost their jobs because of the unchecked symptoms.Signs of depression that you are seeing consistently should be taken to a doctor to get the care you need.

 

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