Trigger warning: this article discusses clinical depression.
Sadness and depression are two terms that are often used interchangeably. While they might sound similar, there is a huge distinction between sadness and depression. Oftentimes, many people mention that they were going through “a depressive phase” or that they “were depressed the other day”. These claims tend to defy what depression really means – not to mention that they also undermine the intensity of depression. Overall, depression and sadness are obviously linked to some extent, but many are completely oblivious to that link, thinking that sadness is depression itself and vice versa. For many people, that link has disappeared and both words have merged together to have one supposed meaning.
What is really meant by sadness?
Sadness is a normal human emotion that every person is bound to experience throughout their life. Like happiness, wrath, or even timidness, sadness is an integral emotion that complements us since we are literal humans that should experience sadness from time to time. After the passing of a loved one, you might want to lock yourself away and cry as much as you can. However, eventually, you will probably move passed that intense feeling and accept the fate. Sadness is usually your reaction to an obnoxious or dissatisfying incident that has occurred. This means that sadness is a typical response to a certain event that happened. Sadness can occasionally alter your mood and worsen it, but you are prone to resuscitate or recover from the melancholic phase – not “depressive” phase. Usually, sadness does not drastically impact our lives, thus you might be feeling low for a day whilst getting over it the other.
What is meant by depression?
Depression is, by all means, a mental disorder that affects a plethora of aspects of our lives. It is a very complex disorder that distorts cognition, behavior, and mood. According to the DSM-5, symptoms of depression include a “depressed mood most of the day nearly every day,” which means that a person diagnosed with depression appears to be empty, hopeless, and tearful. Additionally, people with depression can lose interest in things that they used to find enjoyable. They can feel utterly guilty and angry for no specific reason. However, people with depression can perform their everyday tasks, go to work, and be productive while the feeling of emptiness lingers in their head. A very relevant aspect of getting diagnosed with depression is to experience specific symptoms for at least two weeks. The symptoms include feelings of worthlessness or guilt, apathy, diffusely falling asleep, or disruptive thoughts. The list is non-exhaustive, meaning that there are other major symptoms, too. It is common that many people would look at the symptoms and relate to them as we all tend to experience them to some extent at some point throughout our lives. To actually fall under depression, the aforementioned symptoms would immensely disrupt the life of a person and not just occur occasionally.
Comparing Sadness and Depression
Now that both terminologies have been defined, significant differences need to be pointed out. If only a mental health activist can scream the following phrases through a megaphone, they would have committed an outstanding action. Sadness is just an emotion. Depression is a mental illness. Sadness can last for a day or two. Depression can last for months or even years. Sadness makes a temporary change to your mood. Depression can alter your life as a whole. Sadness is a usual reaction to an unpleasant situation. Depression is a general state of emptiness. These comparisons clearly show the substantial difference between sadness and depression. The over usage of the term depression to describe sheer sadness just undermines the intensity of depression and how harmful it can be.