Monday Musings: People with Depression & Anxiety Don’t All Look the Same
We have to stop using images that make it seem that way
Pop quiz time! Which one of these images shows someone who is experiencing depression?
And now, which are experiencing anxiety?
The answers for both are all, none, or some.
Photos like this one are often used when media run or write a story about depression:
But someone who is depressed can also look like this:
In the first image, we’re meant to think she’s depressed with the pose and the lighting. But maybe she just got some bad news or realized she made a mistake at work and needs to take a moment to herself, alone. In the second image, either one of those men could be depressed, but is hiding it as he goes about his day.
It’s the same for anxiety. News stories or articles discussing anxiety will often show someone who is angry and raging, or frightened, when in reality, it could be the person sitting next to you on the bus, who is gazing through the window, outwardly calm but roiling inside.
There is danger in generalizing
As well-meaning as people are when they post stereotypical images, they are misleading. These images can lead to further misunderstandings about mental health and increase the stigma and reluctance of those who need help to ask for it.
For example, let’s talk about a man we’ll call Derek. He feels depressed and listless whenever he’s alone with his thoughts. He stays awake at night, feeling like his life has no meaning, and gets little sleep. He replays all the things he thinks he’s done wrong and he doesn’t know how to fix things. Yet, he gets up every morning and goes to work. He does his work well and gets along with his coworkers. He comes home, helps his kids with their homework, talks to his wife, and then goes to bed for yet another sleepless night. No one knows how Derek feels.
One day while out with a friend, Derek tries to talk about his feelings, but his friend doesn’t take him seriously. After all, Derek was just over at their house the weekend before and had a great time, didn’t he? He just got a raise at work, right? Nah, the friend tells Derek, you’re fine!
Or how about we look at Caitlin, a busy single mom who feels overwhelmed with her life? As she juggles work and home life, she talks to her friends about how she’s feeling and someone says that it sounds like Caitlin is depressed. But Caitlin disagrees. After all, how can she be? People who are depressed stay at home, alone, feeling sad, and don’t get anything done, right? That’s not her!
These are the misconceptions. Mental health issues don’t show up the same in everyone. Some people are great at hiding how they feel. But that’s the worst thing they can do; people who live with mental illnesses need support, not secrecy. And there are those, like Caitlin, who don’t understand that their feelings of depression or anxiety are not normal and they can seek help for them – even if they believe they don’t fit the profile.
Messages need to be broader
When people write about mental health issues, especially the more common ones like depression and anxiety, it’s vital they ensure that everyone is represented, not just those who we feel fit the description we have decided is the right one.
Have you or someone you care about had experience with depression or anxiety? Did you fit society’s profile? What do you think about how the media portrays people who are anxious or depressed? Leave your comments below. Let’s get a conversation going.
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