Am I Sad? Or Am I Depressed? - The Differences and Next Steps
Have you ever compared sadness and depression? Or maybe you were unsure if you were sad or depressed at a certain time. Sadness and depression can look alike but can also be very different. It is important to know what you are experiencing to get the support you might need.
We can feel a change in emotions when we have changes in our day that can affect different parts of our life, whether it be social changes, work chances, or life-style changes. Some changes or events can be:
Facing rejection
Issues at home
Disappointing events
Grief
Financial Issues
Loss of a friendship, job, partner, or something else
What’s the Difference?
Sadness and depression may present in different ways for different people. When negative or sad things happen you may feel down, tired, feel like you have no energy, or have crying spells.
However when the symptoms last for two or more weeks and start to impair your daily functioning that can be a sign that it isn’t sadness but rather depression.
Some symptoms of depression include:
Feeling sad, empty, and hopelessness
Having no energy to do the activities you once loved or found important
Feeling like you have no energy or are just always tired
Feelings of worthlessness or feeling guilty for things that don’t warrant guilt
Changes in appetite, maybe you're skipping meals or snacking a lot
Changes in sleep, such as sleeping a lot or having a hard time falling asleep
Finding yourself unable to concentrate, remember things, or making choices
Risky behaviors such as using multiple substances, driving recklessly, or self-destructive behaviors like skipping school or spending more than you can
Having thoughts or plan about harming yourself
You may have some of these symptoms and there may be others ones that aren’t on the list. Depression does not look the same for everyone. It can be important to monitor how long you’ve been feeling the way you feel and how you’re behaving.
What Now?
So now that maybe you have gotten a better idea about both sadness and depression, there are a few next steps for what you can do. Remember, sadness and depression are human emotions and experiences. You are not alone in experiencing it.
First is to acknowledge that you do feel sad or depressed and that is okay. By addressing the emotion or feeling we are agreeing that it is there.
The next step is to take care of your mind and body. This can be through resting, eating your favorite foods, and doing an activity to get your body moving. However this can be difficult if you are experiencing depression which is why the next step is very important.
Connecting with others. Know that you're not alone. You can reach out to friends, family, and your therapist. Each connection you have is meaningful in its own way. Friends and family are your support system when you’re not in session with a therapist or getting professional support. A therapist can help you identify what you are experiencing and explore what is going on. Therapy can help you find tools and coping mechanisms that can help manage your symptoms.
Medications: If you feel that maybe there is a chemical imbalance or a biological concern, you can have that discussion with a therapist and they can guide you on the next steps. Even if you want to explore that idea or get clarification, you can bring those questions and concerns in!
Remember
You are not alone in feeling sad or depressed. Things happen in life that affect your body and mind and sometimes we need external support to help get through it. There are always people to support you and guide you through your difficult moments. Your therapist is here to support you during the good, the bad, and everything in between.
Resources:
Medical News Today - The Difference Between Depression and Sadness but Jenny Fitzgerald and medically reviewed by Joslyn Jelinek, LCSW, ACSW, RDDP
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314418
Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Sadness and Depression
https://www.cdc.gov/howrightnow/emotion/sadness/index.html