Is there a difference between feeling depressed and having depression?
Depression is currently one of the most discussed topics in town. And it is really good to have a heart-to-heart talk about feelings. But the thing is, with all the fuzz around depression, it has become more of a trend. And unfortunately, people are ill-equipped to distinguish a genuine case of clinical depression and just getting sad. Yes, there certainly is a difference.
People get sad from time to time; it is a basic human emotion. When your parent dies and you cry it out for a couple of days, it is completely normal. Some big changes usually come with this lingering emotion. However, this ‘sadness’ won’t be severe enough to interfere with our daily functioning and will fade out soon. I kind of feel guilty calling it ‘sadness’. So, let me introduce you to the medical term for the occasional blues; adjustment disorder with depressed mood.
The signs of a person who is simply sad are:
· Might express emotion through crying.
· Might spend time alone.
· Can maintain regular eating and sleeping patterns.
· Can participate in regular activities, such as work or school.
· Starts feeling better in a few days or weeks.
This distinction doesn’t mean that a person with situational depression is in any less a pain than the one with major depressive disorder. It just means that the disorder hasn’t got strong enough to interfere with a person’s life in a drastic way. And it is always important that we take care of each other. So it is best if you don’t label a person to either of this category; that is the job for a psychologist.
So, how is depression, the current trend different from the blues we experience from time to time? The most significant difference between the two is the duration involved. In situational depression, you will see that the symptoms fade off with time within a couple of days. Whereas in major depressive disorder, the symptoms persist without any degradation in severity for at least 2 weeks. And once you cross that 2-week line, it is important that you visit a mental health professional.
Some of the signs of depression are:
· Might experience unusual feelings of sadness, anxiety, guilt, anger, hopelessness, helplessness and irritability that last two weeks or more.
· Might move more slowly or sometimes becomes agitated and unable to settle.
· Might have sleeping difficulties or sometimes sleep too much.
· Might lose interest in activities that used to be enjoyable.
· Might have thoughts about self-harm or suicide.
Looking for these signs are important. But be aware that depression might present as different things for different people. And just because we hear the word a lot now, doesn’t mean that we completely understand it. Always have a loved one close to share your feelings with and support one another. And don’t hesitate to visit a mental health professional if you think you need help.
