What Is the Difference Between Depression and Sadness?

Just as it is common for a person to develop high blood pressure or diabetes, it is not unusual for someone to develop depression, which may be the most widespread psychological disorder. It may appear on its own or alongside many other psychological disorders, such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. There are also many types of depression, including major depressive disorder, postpartum depression, seasonal depression, atypical depression, bipolar depression, and others. Depression negatively affects how you feel, leaving you surrounded by sadness and/or a loss of pleasure and interest in activities you previously enjoyed. It also affects how you think and behave, reducing your effectiveness in social and professional life. Fortunately, however, it is a treatable disorder..

What is the difference between depression and sadness?

Sadness

Not every cloud brings rain, and not every sadness is depression. Feeling sad—or even unhappy—in response to life’s different turning points, including loss, disappointment, and heartbreaking events, is a natural response and part of our innate humanity. The impact of this sadness on the person eases with time or as circumstances improve, and it does not clearly disrupt their ability to function effectively across different areas of life.

Depression

The situation is different, however, when we talk about depression. A person with depression feels as if they have fallen into a bottomless well with smooth walls that are impossible to hold on to, and they lack the energy needed to escape on their own. Depression is a psychological disorder that sharply changes your mood, as well as your view of yourself, your surroundings, and the future ahead. You may be overcome by feelings of low self-worth or unjustified guilt, and your ability to concentrate and make decisions may also be impaired.

These feelings and thoughts may be accompanied by physical and biological symptoms, such as problems with sleep, appetite, sexual desire, and physical energy, as well as pain without an organic cause. Sometimes the situation may worsen to the point that a person with depression thinks about ending their life to escape all this pain. These symptoms continue for more than two weeks and do not ease with time or on their own.

Symptoms of depression

The main symptoms to notice when you suspect that you may have depression are:

• A low mood nearly every day for two weeks.
• Loss of pleasure when taking part in activities that previously brought you happiness.
• Losing or gaining 5% of your body weight when this is not due to following a particular diet.
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, and waking early, nearly every night.
• Physical slowing or agitation nearly every day.
• Feeling exhausted or having low energy nearly every day.
• Low self-confidence, feelings of low self-worth, or guilt.
• Difficulty making decisions, thinking clearly, and/or maintaining concentration.
• Auditory or visual phenomena or delusions—psychotic symptoms.
• Recurring thoughts about death, self-harm, and suicide and/or making plans for them.
• Symptoms become more intense in the early morning hours, especially when waking very early.
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For each symptom, ask yourself whether it applies to you. Then reread the symptoms of depression and rate the intensity of every symptom that applies to you on a scale from 0–10, where 0 means that the symptom is absent and 10 is the most severe level you have experienced.

Finally, read them again to determine how often each symptom occurs during the week.

Ask yourself these questions once every week to see whether the symptoms of depression are improving, worsening, or remaining the same.

Warning: If the symptoms are severe, or if you have suicidal thoughts or psychotic symptoms, it is essential to consult a psychiatrist as soon as possible.

Download the Tatmeen app for online psychological and family consultations from the Apple Store or Google Play. You can also register on the Tatmeen mental health website to access valuable information and practical tools for strengthening your psychological and family well-being.