What's the Difference Between Sadness and Depression?

In everyday conversations, sadness and depression are often used interchangeably, but it's crucial to recognize that they represent distinct emotional states. Although they share similarities, comprehending the difference between sadness and depression is essential for both individuals experiencing these emotions and those seeking to support them.

Sadness is a natural human emotion. Sadness is usually triggered by a difficult, challenging, or disappointing experience. It’s typically a reaction to life events. Some examples of life events that can lead to sadness include you lost your job, you lost a loved one in your life, or you’re going through a breakup. Typically, these feelings of sadness come and go. The sadness may lead you to isolate yourself or stay at home for a few days, but it will likely dissipate over time.  When you’ve gotten over the loss or disappointment, your sadness ends.

Depression is an abnormal emotional state. It’s a mental illness that affects our thinking, emotions, behaviors, and perceptions in chronic ways. When someone is depressed, that person will feel sad about everything. Depression does not necessarily require a difficult loss or change in circumstance as a trigger. More importantly, depression often occurs in the absence of any such triggers.

Depression impacts all aspects of your life. It makes your life less interesting, less important, less enjoyable, and less worthwhile. Depression negatively impacts your motivation, your energy, and your ability to experience pleasure, excitement, joy, satisfaction, and meaning. Depression tends to make you more frustrated, more impatient, and quicker to react. In addition, it also takes you longer to bounce back from most things.

To better understand the symptoms of depression, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders, the DSM-5 outlines the criteria for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.

Five or more of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure.

1. A depressed mood nearly all of the time.

2. Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all activities most of the time.

3. Significant changes in weight or appetite nearly every day.

4. Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.

5. Feeling slowed down in your movements or restless nearly every day.

6. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.

7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt nearly every day.

8. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness nearly every day.

9. Reoccurring thoughts of death or suicide.

If you or someone you care about is experiencing symptoms of depression, it's crucial to seek help from a qualified mental health professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Depression is a prevalent mental illness and can be managed effectively with psychotherapy and for some people medication and psychotherapy.

If you’re looking for help with your depression, please contact me to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.