Dear friends,
Today I decided to talk about a subject that I thought needed to be discussed: the difference between sadness and depression. I hear a lot of people nowadays throw around the word "depressed" instead of "sad" and sometimes vice versa. The differences may be subtle to some, but the two are definitely not the same. People should educate themselves about the differences between sadness and depression to increase general mental health awareness and empathy for those who happen to suffer from depression (which happens to be 1 in 4 adults in America). All in all, I hope this blog helps those who don't know much about mental health gain some new knowledge and perspectives about sadness and depression.
First, let's talk about depression. According to the DSM 5, several characteristics must be met by an individual before he/she is diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), otherwise known as "Clinical Depression". They are as follows.
At least 5 of the following symptoms must be present for at least a 2 week period. At least one of the symptoms must be (a) depressed mood or (b) loss of interest/pleasure
depressed mood most of the day for almost all days
extreme loss of pleasure or interest in activities, work, etc.
significant weight loss or weight gain
appetite changes
insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
psychomotor changes, i.e. moving or talking slowly, restlessness
fatigue and/or loss of energy
deep feelings of worthlessness or guilt
loss of concentration and/or ability to make decisions
suicidal thoughts, ideation, or attempts
The symptoms must also:
cause significant impairment or distress
not be due to substance abuse or medications
not be explained by another medical condition
not be associated with an episode of mania
Depression is not just a spur of the moment feeling or even a feeling that's experienced for a few days. In a way, depression is a deeper, chronic version of sadness. It's also a recognized mental illness that has been affecting people's mental health for centuries. Also, keep in mind that although sadness has a reason for an occurrence, sometimes a person can experience depression for no reason. This is due to the biological nature of depression and the imbalance of chemicals in the brain (i.e. low serotonin, a neurochemical linked to depression). Unfortunately, due to the complexity of mental illness, treatment for depression is available, but there is not yet a "cure-all" in the form of medication. Instead, different therapeutic techniques, self-care, individualized treatment plans, medication, and more combined can lead to the patient's goal of remission.
On a personal note, I have been battling depression since my middle school years; however, I was not formally diagnosed until the end of 8th-grade. At the time, I was diagnosed with MDD and Dysthymia (which is now Persistent Depressive Disorder). People diagnosed with both of these depressive disorders at the same time can experience what is known as "double-depression", which is suffering with less severe long-term depression and more severe short term episodic depression. Luckily, I've been pretty good these past few years with few bouts of depression. But during my worst depressive episodes, I literally could not get out of bed. I could easily sleep for 18 hours a day and go a day without food, no problem. This next part is kind of gross---lol---, but I would actually lose count of how many days went past with me not washing my hair. In retrospect, I now realize that some of my early warning signs of going into a depressive episode are oversleeping, losing my appetite, disregarding my appearance, etc. If you are close to someone who suffers from depression, pay attention to patterns and individual warning signs, because everyone exhibits symptoms of depression differently. I always like to think of mental illness on a spectrum. I don't know...I think it helps with the conceptualization of mental illness.
Anyways, let's talk a little bit about sadness now. The main difference between depression and sadness is that sadness is NOT a mental illness. Sadness is a normal human emotion that everyone will feel at some point in their lifetime. In most cases, depression will only affect those individuals who possess a certain vulnerability for depression and experience a catalyst that fuels the illness. Emotions are part of the human experience, and whether we like it or not, sadness is one of those emotions we just kind of have to learn how to deal with. By learning more about sadness and what to expect, you can be more prepared to deal with your own emotions when things go downhill.
Usually, sadness is felt after a stressor presents itself, whether that be a failed test, getting fired from your job, losing a friend, or another upsetting event. However, unlike depression, sadness is a temporary feeling. It comes to visit for coffee whereas depression visits for the whole meal. Either way, being sad is not fun for anyone, but dealing with your feelings in the right way can make the experience a whole lot better. Even framing your perspectives around the "concept of sadness" can help. Might as well be a glass half full person instead of a glass half empty one.
On the other hand, one way I like to think of sadness is as a release. One of my favorite artists, Lykke Li, has a song titled Sadness is a Blessing, and I think that kind of encompasses a little bit of what I mean. Without sadness, we would not know the wonders of feeling happy. What would we have to compare? To truly appreciate life in its entirety, you have to experience all that life has to offer---including sadness. Also, having a positive outlook (like the ones above) on sadness actually helps me feel better when I'm feeling sad. To change the way you live, you have to change the way you think. And if you make yourself perceive the experience of sadness to be one of growth, maturity, insight, etc. then you'll feel better in a different way the next time you're sad. Instead of focusing on the negatives, it'll help you hone in on the positives of life, even when things aren't so positive.
Until next time.
xoxo,
Allie <3
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