Is there a real difference between sadness and depression and how can you tell?

Question

I'm always battling my emotions over the things in my life and I find myself feeling sad daily. Is it depression?

Answer 1

Please take a look at some websites like healthyplace.com and take a depression quiz. There are some serious differences between sadness and depression.

Nobody here can diagnose you with either one. Without a proper analysis from a physician, you cannot be diagnosed.. so please don't listen to anyone who says either one.. you would be much better off seeing a doctor.

I would personally take a visit to a counselor, who could then refer you to the appropriate person.. Believe me, it makes a world of difference.. and remember, you are NOT alone. *hugs*

Answer 2

Yes, there is a difference. Sadness is a passing melancholy mood.

Depression is a clinical condition of chronic and morbid depressed mood.

If you can perk yourself up without help, it's sadness. If you don't love anyone in your life and you have sad moments each day, that is NORMAL.

Caution! Our sick, barbaric culture has a harsh bias against people with a melancholy personality, they'll think you're weird or clinically depressed. So your natural reaction is going to be to act cheerful anyway -- which -- makes the problem worse!

take the quizzes the other answerers have shown and let them be electronically scored. that'll probably tell you if you have clinical depression.

If you don't have clinical depression and you are sad a lot, it is because you are GRIEVING over something. Let me tell you a secret -- grief comes before love. Maybe your life is preparing you for better things a little later.

Hey! Keep some sad, whiny, crybaby love songs around so you can listen to them when you're sad. Even the Backstreet Boys (groan) will do. After about 10 or 15 cuts, you'll get BORED with that mood and want some peppier tunes or want to call a friend on the phone. Use music as a mood manipulator, but start by STUFFING your sad mood, not trying to dance and smile your way out of it. This trick is how I've survived with my own basically melancholy personality.

but I'm not clinically depressed -- I know 'cuz my doctor told me that.

Answer 3

Hello. There is a lot of quality research on depression and sadness. From my understanding depression is a chronic problem. An example is here in Seattle there is a problem with a higher average of depression and mood issues. This has some link to the months of grey and rainy weather. And sadness tends to be a emotion that is more viewed as a temporary condition rather than a clinical issue like depression. Both of these emotions are always being explored in a variety of ways.

Answer 4

Hi, The best thing is to eliminate the feelings of sadness by trying to eliminate the sources of the emotional things that make you sad....are you unhappy with a situation try to change it ...I don't know how old you are and the specifics of your daily life but if you are sad daily it could be depresion but that doesn't have to mean that it lasts forever many things influence how we feel, other people,can say,do things to afect us, If you love them they will understand when you tell them that what they are saying or doing upsets you , and they should try to make a compromise and you should feel better just letting them know how you feel ,I f the problem is financial .. there is only two things to correct that either stop spending so much or figure how to make more cash.
If you don't like your friends or thier habbits...make new ones you will enjoy being with , and sometimes we are our own best company.. and my best advice of all. keep busy and you won't have time to be depressed I know it can sound corny but helping someone else can make you feel like there is a reason to be here and there are many people that need you in thier lives...you just havent met them yet..so get out there and do something spectacular today......This world needs kindness...especially now.

Answer 5

depression takes over your life and seems to consume your every thought. It is a constant battle to feel like a part of society. You will be uncomfortable and have difficulty bonding with others, because you may feel ashamed of your weakness or you will be overbearing to others and know it yet you can not seem to get anyone to understand. You may begin to isolate your self and slip deeper into your own mind thus resulting in an agonizing spiral into oblivion. Lost within your own mind and unable to find the key. You will over time decide it is time to get help or you disappear, and become an empty shell, a zombie, unable to feel the way a normal person can. It is very scary when you realize this. Believe me you will know the difference. Don't worry. You are probably fine. it is normal to be sad sometimes.

Answer 6

I'm not a doctor--but I'll tell you what I've been told.

Everyone at some point in their life is sad. Often people are sad. It's no big deal. Life is full of sadness and happiness. Folks get sad because of various things.

Depression on the other hand is a deep, I would say almost paralyzing, feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. That you will honestly need professional help to overcome.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Depression is extreme sadness. It's a total sense of dispair. It's easy to overcome sadness, and it only lingers for a short time. Depression is something that can consume your life. It's like comparing being elated and glad...one's a more drastic emotion. Depression is something many people have a hard time rising up from.

Answer 8

Feelings of sadness lasting over 2 weeks and reoccuring are considered depression. Seek a website or a doctor who can give you a list detailing all possible effects of depression. I know there's a website that lists the details and once I can find the web address, I'll post it here for you. I believe you could also call a mental health/health clinic or your family physician and they could mail you a copy.

Answer 9

To me it sounds like depression. I am not an expert but from my own experience I've felt sad and I've felt depressed. The difference I've felt is that sadness went away quickly but depression stayed longer and at times I couldn't even get things done and I couldn't see myself living much longer. Thank god I realized that life is so beautiful and full of opportunities.

Answer 10

Sadness lasts a few days. Depression lasts a few weeks or more and is not getting any better.

If you've been depressed for a month or more, maybe you should get some help.