Difference Between Sadness and Depression

Depression is generally associated with the condition of being in an extreme state of sadness. But there is more to the condition of depression and it would be wrong to associate depression directly with sadness. There is a world’s difference between the two.

The Difference between Sadness and Depression:

Sadness is said to be an integral part of human life. All of us will and have experienced sadness at some point in time or the other. Depression, however, needn’t be a part of everyone’s life. Depression is more or less like a physical illness which is said to have a number of symptoms that go beyond just being in an unhappy state of mind.

Snap Out of It:

When a person suffers from clinical depression, it would indicate that he doesn’t find a logical reasoning behind the way these dark feelings engulf him. The fact that his family and friends will want him to snap out of it would be impossible for him to comply with. He cannot ‘snap out of it’ any more than a diabetic can force his pancreas to correct its production of insulin. It isn’t a matter that is in his hands anymore.

The Feelings:

Sadness is said to be more like a transient feeling. It passes over each and every person as they try to deal with their own set of troubles. Depression, on the other hand, could last for a number of years.

Life comes to a Standstill:

In the case of a person grappling with sadness, he will feel bad about the situation that he is in currently, but that won’t stop him from moving on with life. In the case of a depressed person, however, there will be feelings of being hopeless and constantly overwhelmed with the life that he’s leading.

The Criteria for Major Depression:

If a person suffers from depressive mood disorders, it would mean that he would have a depressed mood all the time or might be disinterested in taking pleasure from daily activities. This kind of a frame of mind will generally last for two weeks and above in the case of a person inflicted by depression.
When the person’s mood begins to impair his daily life, it can be termed as depression.

Depression and Substance Abuse:

In some cases people might experience depression that is a direct result of alcohol, drugs or other medications. This will not result in a major depressive episode; but will, in fact, only cause for a temporary lull in their lives.

Bereavement and Depression:

When bereavement gets associated with depression, it could end up displaying symptoms which are displayed for longer than a 2 month period. This period will be marked by feelings of being constantly preoccupied with self-worthlessness, suicidal tendencies, psychomotor retardation, functional impairment and psychotic symptoms.
If all of these tips do not help you in distinguishing clearly between depression and sadness, and if you do doubt the existence of either in a friend or a family member, it would be advisable to take medical help and get evaluations done by a professional at the earliest.