What's the Difference Between Sadness and Depression?

A common question that many people have is how do I know if I am depressed or just sad? People often use the terms interchangeably, but there is a big difference between sadness and depression. This article will explain the difference between sadness and depressed feelings, and what you can do about either one.

Sadness goes by many names-feeling down, the blues, a low mood. Sadness is a normal reaction to a loss, disappointment, problems, or other difficult situations. Feeling sad from time to time is just another part of being human. In these cases, feelings of sadness go away quickly and you can go about your daily life. Sadness may feel unpleasant but it is temporary and there’s often an intuitive feeling of “this will pass.” However, if left untreated it can develop into depression which feels like “this will never end.”

If you are feeling sad there are various things you can do to cope. First of all, just let yourself be sad! Unexpressed feelings don't go away, but rather manifest themselves in harmful ways. What would it be like if you allowed yourself to be sad? It's helpful to remind yourself that nothing lasts forever and these sad feelings will end. It could be helpful to tell yourself "I'm sad..for now" as a reminder that all feelings are temporary. Practice self-compassion and ask yourself what you need. The answer may be that you need to talk to a friend, get some fresh air, or do something creative like journal or draw. Perhaps you need comfort and that could look like reading your favorite book from childhood, watching your favorite movie, or making your favorite meal. Make sure that you attend to your basic needs and get enough sleep, eat regularly, and drink water.

While everyone experiences feelings of sadness from time to time, depression is a different situation. Depression is a mental health condition that is more severe and lasts longer than sadness. It doesn't go away on its own. When someone is depressed their functioning is affected. Their depression might interfere with work, recreation, and relationships. People who experience depression may feel worthless or hopeless. They may feel unreasonable guilt. Some people may experience depression as anger or irritability. It may be hard to concentrate or make decisions. Most people lose interest in things that they used to enjoy and may isolate themselves from others. There are also physical signs of depression, such as problems with sleep, appetite and energy and unexplainable aches or pains. Some might stop caring about personal hygiene. Some may even experience difficult thoughts about death or ending their life.

It's important to note that depression is not always marked by extreme displays of emotion. Some people with severe depression may become emotionally unresponsive—appearing “numb” or “beyond tears.” They may not feel anything at all. This lack of emotion can be just as painful as prolonged sadness, anxiety, or anger. Often times people have learned how to mask their depression and appear cheerful in public. It’s very harmful to tell someone with depression they “seem fine” or “don’t look depressed.” Remember, just because someone isn’t crying all the time doesn’t mean they aren’t suffering.

Depression isn't caused by one particular trigger There are a number of factors that can play a role in causing depression. Some of the risk factors for depression include: A family history of mental illness, substance use, a history of other mental health conditions, a weak social support system, experiencing a trauma, chronic health conditions, poor self-esteem, stressful life events, brain chemistry, and adverse childhood events.

There are a number of treatments for depression. There are anti depressants such as SSRIs and SNRIs. Talk therapy is a common treatment for depression. There are many types of therapy that can be used but Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a popular option. This is a type of therapy that teaches you how to challenge distorted thoughts. In CBT you learn how to catch negative thoughts, examine them, and if they are false replace them with more helpful and balanced thoughts. When you are depressed your brain often lies to you and CBT helps you to take your power back and challenge harmful and false patterns of thinking.

In addition, making lifestyle improvements can help reduce depression. It may sound overly simplistic but focusing on your foundations-drinking water, getting movement, eating regular meals, getting good sleep-make a big difference in mood regulation. These changes don’t have to be drastic like going to the gym every day. They can be small like taking a short walk or drinking one cup more of water. Small steps add up and will make a difference. Research shows that a combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle choices seems to make the most impact in depression treatment.

Depression is an isolating illness and yet we are all built for connection. It is very important to reach out to supportive people when we are depressed even if it’s difficult to do so or we feel like a burden. Connecting and speaking to people face to face is crucial for our mental health. Even though the internet has replaced many in-person interactions, human connection is something that we need on a daily basis.

Reaching out to others can be challenging with depression but taking small steps can make it easier over time. One way to start is to attend group therapy or a depression support group where you can discuss the things you are going through. These kinds of groups facilitate connection because they bring together people who deal with similar feelings and struggles where they can confide in one another.

In summary, sadness is an emotional state that everyone experiences from time to time. It is an emotion that arises out of a difficult event. But when sadness is persistent, it becomes depression. It is very important to distinguish between the two. When feeling sad remind yourself that it will pass. Try labeling your emotion and saying "I'm feeling sad...for now" to remind yourself that you won't always feel this way. Be kind to yourself and give yourself what you need. Connect with loved ones or do something that brings you comfort. Seek out a support group if you don’t have the connection you want. If you're experiencing the depressive symptoms above you should seek help from a doctor or therapist. Get help immediately if you are having suicidal thoughts. Depression is highly treatable and things CAN get better.

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