6 Ways To Tell The Difference Between Sadness And Depression

People sometimes believe that the difference between sadness and depression is one of degree — as if people who are just feeling sad measure a one on the "feelings that are hard to deal with" scale, while depressed people hover around somewhere between a seven and a 10. But the reality is much more complex; the differences between sadness and depression aren't so much a matter of "seriousness" of feeling as they are a combination of issues relating to duration, symptoms and bodily impact. Sadness is part of the normal spectrum of human emotion, and it's important to feel free to experience it at appropriate times (like when David Bowie died, for instance, or when you get dumped). Depression is a different beast entirely: it is a mental illness that doesn't follow any "normal" emotional rules.

One of the most important distinctions between sadness and full-blown depression is the broadness of its effects on the body and mind. For a full diagnostic description of the characteristics of depression, we should check out its definition in the DSM-IV, the text used as the basis for diagnosis of conditions around the world. Among medical professionals, depression is called Major Depressive Disorder, and it comes with a combination of nine different symptoms, ranging from weight loss to fatigue. To qualify, you must have experienced as least five of them, and must experience them every day for a sustained period of time. We'll get into the nitty-gritty in this list, but one thing to take away from this is that depression is a far more of an overarching experience than sadness.
So if you're wondering if you're depressed or just a bit bummed, here are six questions to ask yourself.

1. Can You Still Enjoy Things You Like?

Sadness: Being seriously bummed can be terrible, but even if you're sad, you're still able to enjoy things like pie, Gilmore Girls marathons or other stuff you loved in the period before your sadness hit. It may take a bit of persuasion, but you do get into it in the end.

Depression: One of the most important aspects of depression is the experience of anhedonia, or a lack of interest or enjoyment in things and activities you once got a lot of pleasure from. If you absolutely loved kickball/writing/graffitiing haunted buildings at night, and now you can't seem to get through the fog of sadness to feel excited about them again (in fact, they likely seem pointless), you're probably experiencing depression.

2. Are Your Emotions About A Specific Event Or Thing?

Sadness: This is an interesting one, because there's not a distinct line — you may just feel sad for reasons you can't put your finger on. However, often sadness is specific in its cause: the death of a relative, an upheaval or change, homesickness, a friend's illness, you name it.
Depression: Let's be clear here: depressive episodes can still be triggered by specific events. (Scientific American did an entire report in 2013 on studies examining what precisely these triggers are, and how they work in the depressive brain.) But the depressed person is uniquely primed to react badly to a negative event, and after it occurs, they often experience a deeper, more general feeling of depression and misery that lasts beyond "normal" boundaries. Plus, depression can turn up for no apparent reason at all.

3. Are You Maintaining Normal Eating And Sleeping Routines?

Sadness: You may be badly upset after a break-up or when experiencing the blues in general, but on the whole, you're still able to maintain your desire to eat breakfast, work out if you want, or get to sleep roughly as planned.
Depression: This is one of the DSM-IV definitions. Depression is often associated with serious disruption of normal eating patterns, sleeping patterns, or both. You may become an insomniac, or sleep all day and not want to get out of bed. Eating disruptions are often a manifestation of the "everything is pointless" thinking of depression; what's the point of making a healthy dinner, or indeed eating at all?

4. Do You Experience Variations In Your Low Mood?

Sadness: The blues are not a life sentence (even though many classic jazz songs may tell us otherwise). And there's room in them for alleviation; you have periods where you don't feel sad at all, like while you're doing something distracting, for instance.
Depression: In moderate depression, low mood is fairly consistent throughout the day, though you may get bright spots sometimes. In severe depression, the depressive episode is constant, daily and seemingly unrelenting.

5. Do You Experience Self-Punishing Or Extremely Self-Critical Thoughts?

Sadness: While you might feel responsible and a bit sucky for something bad you did, you often don't experience any permanent sense of worthlessness or guilt.

Depression: Depression has its own special host of accompanying thought patterns, some of which are particularly strange. One of its most distinctive features is that your thoughts often become incredibly self-punishing; it's difficult to see yourself as anything except rotten, bad, worthless and to blame for everything. Seeking help for depression is always important, but it is especially pressing if you're dealing with this symptom.

6. Have You Had Self-Harming Thoughts?

Sadness: Suicidal ideation is not typically associated with normal levels of non-depressive sadness.
Depression: Severe depressives may sometimes take the self-punishing thoughts mentioned in the previous item to higher levels — as described in the DSM, those struggling with severe depression may have "[t]houghts of death or suicide, or [have a] suicide plan."If you have experienced any suicidal or self-harming thoughts, seek help from a helpline, a friend or family member you trust, or a mental health professional immediately. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline any time at 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK); you can find phone and chat support at the American Society for Suicide Prevention website; and you can find resources to help keep yourself safe right now at websites like The HopeLine. You shouldn't feel like you have to deal with any of these symptoms alone, but if you're struggling with thoughts of hurting yourself, know that there are many people who will listen to your feelings without judgment and just want to help you.
As the Help Guide Suicide Help page says: "Remember that while it may seem as if these suicidal thoughts and feelings will never end, this is never a permanent condition. You WILL feel better again."

Professional help is a great first step for dealing with depression — but know that you don't need to fit the professional criteria for depression in order to see a therapist, or even just talk to someone about how you're feeling; there's no need to suffer through your sadness on your own just because you don't feel that you're clinically depressed. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has a list of online resources for depression that anyone can use, and know that mental health professionals won't turn you away just because you don't have specific symptoms.
  Millions of people around the world experience depression at one point or another in their lives.
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) note that depression is one of the most common mental health illnesses in the United States.
Sadness is an integral part of depression, but it is not the same thing. It is important to know and understand the differences because confusing them can lead to inappropriate treatment.

Contents of this article:

1. What is sadness?
2. What is depression?
3. Treatment for depression

What is sadness?

Sadness may be linked to a specific trigger.

Sadness is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences at some time. A number of events can leave people feeling sad or unhappy, such as the loss or absence of a loved one, divorce, loss of job or income, financial trouble, issues at home, or social anxiety.
Failing an exam, not getting a job, or other disappointing events can also trigger sadness.
However, a person who is sad can usually find some relief from crying, venting, or talking out frustrations. This is because sadness is more likely to be linked to a specific trigger.
Sadness usually passes with time. If it does not pass, or if the person becomes unable to function normally, this could be a sign of depression. If symptoms worsen or last longer than 2 weeks, the person should talk to their doctor.

What is depression?

Depression is a mental disorder that affects every part of a person's feelings and perception. It affects behaviors and attitudes and can affect people of any gender or age.
In 2015, around 16.1 million people aged 18 years or above in the U.S. had experienced at least one major depressive episode in the last year. This represented 6.7 percent of all American adults.
Symptoms include feelings of discouragement, sadness, hopelessness, a lack of motivation, and a loss of interest in activities that are normally enjoyable. In severe cases, the person may think about or attempt suicide.
The person may no longer feel like spending time with family or friends. They may stop pursuing their hobbies and feel unable to go to work or school.
Daily habits may change unexpectedly and without reason. A person with depression may find it difficult to continue doing the things they normally enjoy.
If these feelings of doubt last more than 2 weeks, a healthcare professional may diagnose the person with major depressive disorder (MDD).
Signs and symptoms of MDD include:

• Daily depressed mood with noticeable signs of hopelessness, sadness, and loss of interest
• Daily loss of interest in normal activities for an extended amount of time
• Significant weight loss or gain without trying - there may be a 5 percent change in body weight
• Insomnia, sleeplessness, or increased amounts of sleep that affect normal schedules
• Tiredness and low energy
• Feelings of worthlessness, excessiveness, or guilt on a daily basis
• Inability to concentrate or make decisions
• Recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts or plans

A person who experiences any five of these symptoms for more than 2 weeks is considered to have a more serious problem than 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 disability.
Unlike sadness, depression can leave a person struggling to express their feelings. If the person tries to release the stress, the overpowering feelings and negative thoughts can prevent them from building themselves up again.

Treatment for depression

Depression may be treated with medication or psychotherapy.

If a person has symptoms of depression for longer than 2 weeks, they should seek professional help. A physician can help to determine the level of help needed by the individual.
Following diagnosis, possible treatments include medication, counseling, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Medications

Medications include a type of antidepressant known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These work by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger that helps to affect mood and social behavior. Examples of SSRIs include citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, and sertraline.
According to the Mayo Clinic, these drugs can ease the symptoms of depression, although they do carry a risk of adverse side effects.
For example, when people first use antidepressants, there is a risk that their symptoms will worsen before getting better. Family members should monitor the patient closely and seek medical attention if they are concerned.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have expressed concern that some SSRIs can cause serious side effects in younger people and birth defects if taken during pregnancy. As a result of this, the drugs carry a black box warning, which is an important notice on the leaflet outlining the possible dangers of the drugs.
When prescribing such drugs, physicians must carefully balance the pros and cons of use. 

Psychotherapy and counseling

Psychotherapy involves talking to a trained professional. This can help to uncover the issues underlying the condition.
It may be used on its own or along with antidepressants. A therapist can help to identify problem areas, teach coping mechanisms, and educate a patient about their condition.
A person with severe depression may be admitted to the hospital if they are in immediate danger or if they are unable to take care of themselves.
Outpatient facilities can help with long-term care.