What is the difference between normal sadness or grieving and depression?
Depression is one of the common illnesses faced by people today. Uncontrollable sadness can often lead to clinical depression. Sadness and depression are often interesting but are differentiated by a thin line that shall be clarified today.
In the article below we are going to briefly discuss the two most confused terms as one - Sadness and Depression! Stay pertained to get the clear cut brief about this.
DSM - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - DSM V, Volume V got disclosed by the - 'American Psychiatric Association in May.' Psychologists, clinical depression experts, and psychiatrists used the DSM to diagnose and further treat patients having depressive episodes or similar symptoms. The DSM V had various diagnostic categories that segregate the symptoms for depression and sadness in the manual. According to the DSM V - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Volume V, if somebody is falling under the category of having sadness symptoms for more than 2 weeks, then it's considered to be called having a major depressive illness. As per the manual, in case of sadness, the loss of somebody or painful feelings can be compensated by the loving memories of them that keep them alive and go forward in life as a part of them still exists even after they have gone. But the manual contradicted this statement while explaining depression. In depression, there is nothing available outside that could compensate for the painful memories or feelings. You grow each day with the lack of worth and increasing emptiness. The pain you feel becomes intolerance leading to self violation activities.
What is Sadness?
Sadness is a painful experience with a definite period of beginning and ending time. It arouses the loss of something valuable or dearest to your heart. An individual hits through various stages in the process of coping up with sadness - they are denial, outrage, bargaining, depression, and admittance. The waves of sadness might get healed with time. It shall also go away sooner than expected. Your sudden breakup, loss of a job, death of a loved one, or any chronic illness, accident, etc might lead to sadness. Sadness might also end up starting from months to years although the period is going to be different for different people. Sadness is grief and is considered to be a temporary situation that goes away with time.
What is Depression?
Depression is a long-term illness and is triggered due to extremely unbearable sadness. It doesn't have a defined period of beginning and end. It can be seasonal yet lasts for a long time. Depression is a major level of mood disorder that might arouse due to carried reasons like anguish, anger, and sadness. Depression can harshly backstab your mental health as well as your physical health. With depression, you might feel a big disruption in your daily life activities. You might end up losing your interest in finding the things you once loved doing. Depression can attack anybody, anytime, and is not biased based on the age factor. For youngsters to old-aged people, anybody can come under the trap of depression.
Are sadness and depression the same or different from each other?
Talking about sadness and depression, they do share a lot of things in common. Generally, a recurring sadness that is not ending triggers long-term clinical depression. You should educate yourself enough regarding the common things and differences between these two such that you won't be facing the issue of when to seek outside professional assistance. In both of these states, deep sadness is the one common factor that further leads to grumpiness, anger, and not being able to move forward due to past traumatic events. Losing periods of sleep and eating disorders and overstress are the common symptoms. Although in depression, you get to an extreme level where handling your emotion or pain becomes next to impossible. In depression, you might end up harming yourself through a blade, cutter, etc, or even lead to suicidal attempts. In sadness, you know the difference between self-harming and mourning due to a loss. While going through grief or sadness, a person is more focused on the external events and the loss that happened in their life. While in a depression state, a person looks more inward and feels worthless, hopeless and isn't necessarily due to any external circumstance only.
Symptoms of Sadness
- Impoverished sleeping condition
- Sorrow, anguish, suffering
- Delighted and unhappy memories
- Hardship while doing activities
- Poor energy level
- Eating disorders
- Shameful guilty feelings
- Low concentration power
Symptoms of Depression
- Madness
- Loneliness
- Turmoil in life
- Feeling of worthlessness
- Feeling exhausted
- Excessive embarrassment
- Underestimating yourself
- Suicidal impressions
- Poor self-esteem and confidence
- Hopelessness
- Feeling helpless
- Separating yourself from society
Pursuing help at the right time
Any patient going through deep sadness or depression might not be in a state to go all by himself and seek professional help. Being a family member, always keep a tab on your loved ones, and their behaviors. If you find something off, then instead of keeping quiet, prefer talking to that individual. Family's love and support are beyond any sort of professional guidance. Moreover, politely explain to the patient about going out for professional help and take him there. Schedule his meeting with a psychiatrist, or a mental health counselor so that he can come out of that situation as soon as possible.
Key Takeaways
Sadness and depression are the two most often confused terms altogether. But, in reality, they are different and a thin line separates them. Sadness is the natural response to multiple events happening around us while depression can be something serious that needs immediate attention. In case, you feel that you are having the symptoms of depression, then I would suggest you not wait and get yourself treated as soon as possible. This way, after taking the proper guidance you will be able to
heal in the best way possible and will further get the confidence and strength to fight against all the odds life shows you.
References
https://www.pyramidhealthcarepa.com/grief-vs-depression/amp/