Difference between sadness and depression

Sadness

Sadness is a normal human emotion that every single person will experience at stressful or somber times.

A number of life events can leave people feeling sad or unhappy. The loss or absence of a loved one, divorce, loss of job or income, financial trouble, or issues at home can all affect mood in a negative way.

Failing an exam, not getting a job, or experiencing other disappointing events can also trigger sadness.

However, a person experiencing sadness can usually find some relief from crying, venting, or talking out frustrations. More often than not, sadness has links to a specific trigger.

Sadness usually passes with time. If it does not pass, or if the person becomes unable to resume normal function, this could be a sign of depression.

If a low mood gets worse or lasts longer than 2 weeks, the person should talk to their doctor.

Depression

Depression is a mental disorder that has an overpowering effect on many parts of a person’s life. It can occur in people of any gender or age and alters behaviors and attitudes.

Depression colors all aspects of our lives, making everything less enjoyable, less interesting, less important, less lovable, and less worthwhile. Depression saps our energy, motivation, and ability to experience joy, pleasure, excitement, anticipation, satisfaction, connection, and meaning. All your thresholds tend to be lower. You’re more impatient, quicker to anger and get frustrated, quicker to break down, and it takes you longer to bounce back from everything.

Symptoms include:

• feelings of discouragement
• sadness
• hopelessness
• a lack of motivation
• a loss of interest in activities that the individual once found enjoyable

In severe cases, the person may think about or attempt suicide. They may no longer feel like spending time with family or friends and might stop pursuing their hobbies or feel unable to attend work or school.

If these feelings of doubt last longer than 2 weeks, a healthcare professional may diagnose the person with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Symptoms of MDD include:

1. A daily depressed mood that lasts for most of the day, nearly every day, with noticeable signs of hopelessness and sadness
2. A loss of interest in normal activities for an extended amount of time
3. Significant and unintentional weight loss or gain
4. Insomnia, sleeplessness, or increased amounts of sleep that affect normal schedules
5. Tiredness and low energy
6. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt on a daily basis
7. Inability to concentrate or make decisions
8. Loss of interest in sex.
9. Loss of appetite with excessive loss of weight 
10. Slowed activity and speech.
11. Recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts or plans

A doctor would consider a person who experiences any five of these symptoms for longer than 2 weeks to have a medical problem rather than a prolonged experience of sadness.

For a diagnosis of MDD, the doctor should link the symptoms only to depression and not to another medical diagnosis, such as substance abuse or an underlying condition.

Sometimes, though, it is possible for sadness to deepen, and this may be a sign that you are suffering from a form of depression. If you feel as though you are increasingly sad, and feel like your sadness is difficult to explain then you must visit a doctor. 

Unlike sadness, depression can leave a person struggling to get through their day. But remember, sadness is just one element of depression.