Sadness is not “depression”

Then what is?

The death of a loved one, loss of a job or the ending of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person to endure. It is normal for feelings of sadness or grief to develop in response to such situations. Those experiencing loss often might describe themselves as being “depressed.” But being sad is not the same as having depression. The grieving process is natural and unique to each individual and shares some of the same features of depression. Both grief and depression may involve intense sadness and withdrawal from usual activities.

Being sad simply means “in a state of an emotional low”. Grief can also mean “pain of mind arising from misfortune, significant personal loss, misconduct of oneself or others, etc”. Laymen associate sadness with depression. But in the field of psychiatry, depression is “ a period of unhappiness or low morale which lasts longer than several weeks and may often include ideation of self-inflicted injury or suicide”. Depression is classified as a mood disorder and is often caused due to genetic inheritance, brain structure, differences in chemical secretion in the brain, early childhood trauma, environmental factors, drug abuse, pessimistic personality, etc. It often interferes with daily activities and lifestyle, and can also influence relationships. Depression can affect anyone at any age- even someone who appears to be leading an ideally happy life.

Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:

• Feeling sad, lonely or having a depressed mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Loss of energy or increased fatigue
• Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech (actions observable by others)
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Symptoms must last at least two weeks for a diagnosis of depression. Note that depression is a complicated illness and symptoms can vary from person to person.

Sadness or grief is different from “depression” in the following ways:

1. In grief, painful feelings come in waves, often intermixed with positive memories of the deceased. In major depression, mood and/or interest (pleasure) are decreased for most of two weeks.

2. In grief, self-esteem is usually maintained. In major depression, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are common.

3. For some people, the death of a loved one can bring on major depression. Losing a job or being a victim of a physical assault or a major disaster can lead to depression for some people. When grief and depression co-exist, grief is more severe and lasts longer than grief without depression. Despite some overlap between grief and depression, they are different. Distinguishing between them can help people get the help, support or treatment they need.

Fortunately, treatment for depression is available in the forms of medication, psychotherapy, counseling, electroconvulsive therapy(ECT), light therapy, acupuncture, and several herbal treatments. There are also self-help coping ways such as regular physical exercise, yoga, meditation, plenty of quality sleep and a healthy diet on a regular basis. However, in the initial stage when depression hits you, it might be difficult to cope with it on your own and so, seeking professional help is highly recommended.

So by now, you have realized that depression is a serious mental illness and not just a common feeling of sadness or grief and needs treatment. I would also like to bring to notice the stigma surrounding mental illness worldwide which makes the sufferers hesitate to seek help or even share their suffering. This is my sincere request to everyone out there reading this to not look at the patients with glaring eyes when they say they are depressed or suffering from any other mental disorder. Please understand that they need your love, care, affection, and support. Extend a helping hand to them and make them feel less lonely and suffering. Your kindness can save someone’s life.

Thanks for reading!