Sadness vs. Depression

 

When faced with stress, social pressures, financial troubles, academic challenges, domestic instability, or other daily struggles, it is completely normal for individuals to experience steeping emotional lows. Sadness is something that all individuals grapple with at some point in their lives. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), sadness is “an emotional state of unhappiness, ranging in intensity from mild to extreme” (“American Psychological Association”). Whether it is a result of stress, negative experiences, or hormonal imbalances, feeling downhearted is a completely normal emotional response to life’s challenges. However, it is important to distinguish between the sadness experienced by everyday people and clinical depression.

 

“Feeling sad is an integral part of depression, but they are not the same. Knowing and understanding the differences can help a person recognize when to seek treatment” (Fitzgerald).

 

Although sadness can sometimes feel overbearing, it usually passes with time. It is often relieved through communication or crying, and it is typically associated with a specific cause. Even so, this is not always the case. As per the APA dictionary, depression is “a negative affective state, ranging from unhappiness and discontent to an extreme feeling of sadness, pessimism, and despondency, that interferes with daily life” (“Depression”). Depression is the dominant symptom involved with clinically diagnosed depressive disorders. Unlike the sadness experienced by most individuals, depression lasts for more than a few weeks, and it has overpowering effects on the person’s life. In order for someone to be diagnosed with a depressive disorder, he or she must meet certain criteria.

 

Diagnosis

 

When people use the term “clinical depression” they are typically referring to Major Depressive Disorder. Major Depressive Disorder is “a mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness and other symptoms” (“Major Depressive Disorder”). It is generally characterized by “significantly depressed moods, feelings of worthlessness, and diminished interest or pleasure in most activities” (“Unit 13”). With respect to the diagnostic criteria stated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the individual must display at least five of the following symptoms over a minimum of two weeks in order to be diagnosed with this disorder (American Psychiatric Association; Truschel). At least one of the five symptoms must either be (1) depressed mood most of the day or (2) loss of interest or pleasure in activities.

 

The symptoms include the following:

1. Depressed mood most of the day

2. Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in activities most of the day

3. Significant weight loss or gain when not dieting, or a significant decrease or increase in appetite

4. Insomnia or sleeping too much

5. Physical agitation or lethargy

6. Fatigue or loss of energy

7. Feeling worthless, or excessive or inappropriate guilt

8. Problems in thinking, concentrating, or making decisions

9. Recurrent thoughts of death and suicide

 

Please speak with a doctor if you think you fulfill these criteria.

 

Treatment/Self-Help (“Depression Treatment”)

• Lifestyle changes

• Exercise (especially aerobic)

• Social support

• Nutrition

• Sleep

• Stress reduction

• Psychotherapy/communication

• Individual and group therapies

• Medication

• TMS

• Alternatives

• Vitamins

• Supplements

• Relaxation techniques (yoga, meditation, breathing techniques)

• Acupuncture Statistics (picture)

 

Types of Depressive Disorders

• Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

• Major Depressive Disorder, Single and Recurrent Episodes

• Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

• Substance/Medication-Induced Depressive Disorder

• Depressive Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition

• Other Specified Depressive Disorder

• Unspecified Depressive Disorder