Sadness Vs. Depression: What You Need To Know
/Sadness is a normal response for when you are feeling upset, in pain, or disappointed. But, have you ever experienced this same sadness for weeks?
Sadness or depression is nothing to be ashamed of. However, it is important to distinguish if this sadness is fleeting or if it will escalate to a diagnosable depression. Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Sadness may be part of depression, but it is not the same thing. Without any comfort, sadness can develop into depression.
Knowing the difference between sadness and depression will help you see whether or not you need to seek help for an improved mood.
Sadness
Sadness is an emotion that makes us human. Tragic or stressful times can make the tears roll down for anyone. It is easy to be in a negative mood when you experience the loss of a loved one or job, divorce, issues at home, and more.
Yet sadness can normally go away once you vent to someone or cry. This is an emotion which normally follows a specific trigger that makes you upset. Time can be the best way to heal from sadness.
However, if you feel sad for longer than two weeks, then it’s possible that you are experiencing something more serious.
Depression
No matter what your age or gender is, depression can happen to anyone. Clinical depression is a serious mental disorder that can take over a person’s life. Not only does depression include sadness, but also feelings of hopelessness, discouragement, lack of motivation, or having no interest in doing things you used to enjoy.
Unlike sadness, depression does not always come with a specific trigger. This persistent sadness may exist for reasons beyond your control like if genetics played a part in it or a miscommunication between the chemical messengers of the brain. Or, it can develop for unconscious psychological reasons. As an example, part of depression is a lowering of self-esteem. People who suffer from self-punitive thoughts are prone to depression.
If feelings of sorrow last longer than two weeks, you may be diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Symptoms include any five of the following-
A depressed mood every day with noticeable signs of hopelessness
Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
Significant weight loss or weight gain
Sleeplessness or sleeping too much
Low energy
Feeling worthless every day
Inability to concentrate or make decisions
Reoccurring thoughts of death or suicide
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, seek help immediately.
Treatment for Depression
Luckily, there is hope when you are struggling with depression. There are a number of treatment options to turn your negative moods into positive ones. For example, there are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that increase the feel-good chemicals in the brain like serotonin. Examples of medications include Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. Your doctor will give you a better idea of what medication will work best for you.
Another option for treatment of depression is psychodynamic therapy which can explore the origin and content of the depressive thoughts, thereby relieving the person of the depression. If the depression is too debilitating, the combination of therapy and medication can be helpful and, in many cases, the person is, in the end, able to wind down from the medication.
There are also lifestyle changes you can make like getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and looking to your friends and family for support.
Coping with Sadness
Sadness may be fleeting, but you should still try to seek comfort. While sadness is not pleasant, allow yourself to feel sad instead of forcing your feelings away. Cry if you need to as you may find relief when the tears stop.
Call a friend or family member to better process your feelings. If you are sad because of a need to change something in your life, feel free to do so and consider what the first step in that change process should be.
Are you still feeling persistent sadness? Speak to a therapist by contacting me today to schedule your first appointment.