Are you hesitant to talk to a doctor about your depression?

Do you sometimes feel tired of everything, not wanting to do anything, and feeling very depressed and sad? When you feel like that, do you seek treatment for it? Or, do you not even think about it? In fact, you are not the only one who suffers like this. There are a lot of people who suffer from this kind of mental stress, or what we call `(Depression)`, but do not seek treatment for it. The consequences of this can be very serious. It can be personal suffering, not being able to do your job properly, family life being disrupted, other illnesses developing, and in some extreme cases, even thinking about ending your life.

So why are we so afraid to ask for help? Why do we hold back so much? Sometimes it's hard to ask people who don't come for treatment why. Because they don't come to see us. But eventually, when they finally make up their mind and come to see a doctor, they tell us why they were afraid to come in the first place and why they held back.

What are the reasons that hold us back from seeking treatment?

If you're feeling sad and stressed and you're trying to cope on your own, see if any of the reasons below apply to you. If so, follow these tips to get rid of that misconception and get the help you need.

Let's look at the main misconceptions about this and what answers can be given to them.

Is it really dangerous to not get treatment?

Yes. Waiting for "it will get better with time" is very harmful. Simply put, untreated depression can get worse. The longer you wait to start treatment, the harder it is to control it, and the more likely it is to recur after treatment is stopped.

Not only that, it is now well established that untreated stress can lead to the development of other serious illnesses or the worsening of existing illnesses.

• Heart disease: There is a strong link between stress and heart disease.
• Other diseases: Research also shows that there are links with conditions such as obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer.

So what to do: Don't let your sadness control your life. Be sure to talk to your doctor. If you're having trouble thinking about getting treatment for a mental illness, remember that getting treatment can also help you avoid serious conditions like heart disease.

Fear of medication and other alternatives

"I'm afraid to take medication, I'm afraid I'll get addicted to it." This is a major reason why many people are afraid of seeking treatment. Some people think, "I don't want to take medication for the rest of my life."

It is true that antidepressants are very effective. However, when we talk about treatment, we do not always mean medication. Nowadays, there are other effective treatments as well as medication. That is, psychotherapy.

What is psychotherapy?

Simply put, this is a talking therapy. For example, a very popular treatment method called `(Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy - CBT)`. This involves:

• Paying attention to your present.
• Looking at your feelings, thoughts, and behavior patterns and helping you understand how they affect your life.
• Through that, it helps improve the quality of your life and reduce stress.

This treatment method can be as effective as medication in the short term. Sometimes the results last longer than medication.

So what to do: See a psychiatrist (counselor, psychiatrist) as well as your family doctor. Even if you need medication, it probably won't be for life. Don't base your decisions on what other people say about medication. Everyone responds differently to medication.

How to get rid of shyness and fear?

"I'm embarrassed to talk about this"

Many people don't seek help for their mental health problems because they are embarrassed or afraid of being ostracized. But the truth is, depression is nothing to be ashamed of. It's a common medical condition that needs treatment, just like diabetes or high cholesterol.

And this is a very common condition. So your doctor has probably heard the things you ask him a hundred thousand times before. Nothing you say is new to him.

So what to do: Remember, everyone goes through this at some point in their life. Your doctor will not tell anyone else what you say. It's confidential. If you're still embarrassed to talk to your doctor, consider looking into other mental health services where you can get help.

"I'm afraid to talk about sad things"

Some people are afraid to seek treatment because they think they'll have to dig up all the painful things in their minds. They think, "Oh, I can't bring those things up again."

True, sometimes you have to talk about those painful experiences in order to heal. But, a good therapist will never force you. He knows how difficult it is to talk about your feelings with a stranger. He will gently guide you through the process. He will never push you to a level that you are not comfortable with.

So what to do: Find a therapist you can feel comfortable talking to. Ask them questions as much as they ask you. Ask them how the treatment is going. Even if it's painful, it's up to you to decide.

Depression, mental health, doctor, treatment, sadness