Overcoming Barriers to Getting Help
If you think you may be depressed, but you're not sure, what's preventing you from finding out? Consider the following common barriers that hold people back from feeling better:
Barrier #1: There is no such thing as depression.
Depression is a medical problem caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. Depression is a disease —just like diabetes. Drugs like insulin can help a person with diabetes live a normal life, and medication for depression can help to treat the disease and ease the misery of depression.
Barrier #2: I don't want to talk to a stranger about my problems.
At first, of course, it feels strange to tell your worries to a perfect stranger. Rest assured, though, that with time your relationship will build and things won't feel so strange. All that you share with your therapist is confidential between the two of you. Therapists must stick to a strict confidentiality policy. If it makes you feel better, spend some time interviewing 2 or 3 counselors and then choose the one that you feel the most comfortable with.
Barrier #3: I can't afford a therapist.
Many therapists accept Medicare, private insurance, and payments from HMOs. If your health plan doesn't cover therapy for depression, many therapists have a sliding scale plan that charges people a rate based on their income.
Barrier #4: Depression is a sign of weakness. I can handle this on my own.
Don't blame yourself if you are experiencing depression. Depression is a medical illness, and you need professional help when dealing with a medical illness. Just as there's no reason to blame yourself for feeling down, there's no reason to feel that it's completely up to you to "fix" the problem.
Barrier #5: I don't believe in taking pills.
Just as people who suffer from diabetes benefit from taking insulin, people who suffer from depression benefit from taking medication to improve their mood. Depression is a medical illness, and sometimes the best way to deal with a medical illness is to take medication.
