Sadness vs. Depression: How to Tell the Difference

When you're feeling down, it can be hard to tell whether you're just feeling sad or if you're experiencing something more serious, like depression.

Depression is a serious mental health condition that can cause a wide range of symptoms that make it tough to function day-to-day. Sadness, on the other hand, is a natural emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. It's usually triggered by something upsetting or disappointing and generally doesn't last very long.

If you're not sure whether you're experiencing depression or just sadness, it's important to get help. Depression is a treatable condition, but getting started on treatment as soon as possible is important. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the differences between sadness and depression, and we'll explore what happens in the brain during depression. 

Also read: How Do I Talk To Someone About My Depression Or Anxiety?

What Is Depression?

Depression is a mental illness that goes beyond just feeling blue. It's a serious condition that can make it tough to go about your day-to-day life.

The DSM-5 criteria include nine potential symptoms of depression. During the diagnostic process, each symptom's severity is also considered. The nine symptoms are:

• Feeling depressed throughout each day on most or all days

• Lack of interest and enjoyment in activities you used to find pleasurable

• Trouble sleeping, or sleeping too much

• Trouble eating, or overeating, coupled with weight gain or weight loss

• Irritability, restlessness, or agitation

• Extreme fatigue

• Unwarranted or exaggerated feelings of guilt or worthlessness

• Inability to concentrate or make decisions

• Suicidal thoughts or actions, or thinking a lot about death and dying.

If you think you may be suffering from depression, it's important to seek help from a professional. Untreated depression can have serious consequences, so don't hesitate to get the support you need.  

How to Tell the Difference Between Sadness and Depression

It can be difficult to tell the difference between sadness and depression. After all, both of these emotions can make you feel down and unhappy.

But there are some key differences. With sadness, you might feel a sense of loss or emptiness. You might cry easily, or have a hard time enjoying things that used to give you pleasure. But after some time, the emotion subsides. 

With depression, on the other hand, symptoms can be much more severe. You might feel like you're in a dark hole with no way out. You might have trouble sleeping, eating, or concentrating. You might even feel like hurting yourself or harming others. This feeling is also persistent - it just won’t go away. 

Sadness may go away with lifestyle changes and self-care. Depression is also treatable but simple lifestyle changes may not be enough to help you recover. You’ll likely need to take part in therapy. You might also take medication to help treat your symptoms.

If you're not sure whether you're experiencing sadness or depression, it's important to talk to a psychiatrist or therapist. They can help you figure out what's going on and how to get the help you need. 

Also read: Depression Medication: How it Works and the Common Side Effects

How Is Depression Diagnosed?

Let's talk about how depression is diagnosed. It can be tricky because there are no blood tests or X-rays that can give a definitive answer. 

Talk to your psychiatrist if you experience sadness for longer than two weeks. They will take a comprehensive medical history and ask a lot of questions about your symptoms. They'll also ask about your family history, because there may be a genetic component to depression. To diagnose depression or sadness, mental health professionals use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria. You may receive a diagnosis of depression or persistent depressive disorder if you meet the criteria.  

They may also do some tests to rule out other conditions, like an underactive thyroid or anaemia. But ultimately, the diagnosis of depression is based on your symptoms and how they are impacting your life.

What Happens in the Brain During Depression?

When someone is feeling sad, it's usually a response to a specific event or experience. But when someone is experiencing depression, it's a lot more than just feeling down.

So what happens in the brain during depression? Well, several things are going on. For one, the brain stops producing certain important chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. This can lead to feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness.

Another thing that happens is that the brain starts to produce more cortisol, which is a stress hormone. This can lead to negative thoughts and feelings of anxiety and panic.

Thirdly, the hippocampus—the part of the brain responsible for memory— shrinks during depression. This can lead to problems with concentration and memory recall.

Lastly, the amygdala—the part of the brain responsible for emotions—becomes overactive during depression. This can lead to feelings of sadness, anxiety, and guilt.

Does the Duration of Untreated Depression Affect the Outcome?

So you might be wondering: does the duration of untreated depression affect the outcome? The answer is yes, it does.

If depression is left untreated, it can get worse over time. This is partly because the brain changes as depression continues. Leaving depression untreated for a long period may lead to neurodegenerative levels of inflammation in the brain. The hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and emotion, can shrink during long-term depression. That's according to a first-of-its-kind study showing evidence of lasting biological changes in the brain for those suffering from depression for more than a decade. The evidence confirms that depression truly is a biologically based disorder of the brain, and left unchecked, it may run a degenerative course that damages brain tissue in ways similar to other neurodegenerative diseases.

This is why it's so important to get help as soon as possible if you think you might be suffering from depression. The earlier you start treatment, the better the outcome is likely to be.

Also read: How Technology is Changing Mental Health: The Latest Treatments for Depression, 2022 

Conclusion

If you're feeling down, it's important to figure out whether you're just experiencing sadness, or if you might be depressed. Depression is a serious condition that requires treatment, so it's important to get a diagnosis from a professional if you think you might be depressed.

There are a few key differences between sadness and depression. Sadness is usually caused by a specific event, and it doesn't last for more than a few weeks. Depression, on the other hand, can be caused by chemical changes in the brain, and it can last for months or even years. Depression also interferes with your ability to function normally.

If you're not sure whether you're just sad or if you're depressed, the best thing to do is to talk to a mental health professional. They can help you figure out what's going on and get the treatment you need.