Clinical Depression Vs. Sadness
Q. What is the difference between clinical depression and sadness?
A. Although depression is often thought of a being an extreme state of sadness, there is a vast difference between clinical depression and sadness. Sadness is a part of being human, a natural reaction to painful circumstances. All of us will experience sadness at some point in our lives. Depression, however, is a physical illness with many more symptoms than an unhappy mood. The person with clinical depression finds that there is not always a logical reason for his dark feelings. Exhortations from well-meaning friends and family for him to "snap out of it" provide only frustration for he can no more "snap out of it" than the diabetic can will his pancreas to produce more insulin. Sadness is a transient feeling that passes as a person comes to term with his troubles. Depression can linger for weeks, months or even years. The sad person feels bad, but continues to cope with living. A person with clinical depression may feel overwhelmed and hopeless. Read more
Comments
Sadness is something that you can overcome, clinical depression is to me something that you can’t just get rid of. The thing for me is to get help when it doesn’t get better on its own, or if it becomes so severe as to make me feel so terrible every day that I cannot go on. Or feel that life is just horrible. Because life isn’t so bad, really, sadness doesn’t last forever. There is an end sometime, with the proper treatment.
I think that a family history of mood disorders should be part of the diagnostics. One side of my family has had a terrible history of depression and substance abuse. There’s plenty of evidence that genetics plays a role in mood disorders.
For me, as soon as I get low enough to start suicidal ideaion at all is time to get immediate help…especially since I’ve been on anti-depressants for about 15 years.
i simply feel so hard to get through a day..whenever i go to sleep at night i wish that i dont have to wakeup for tomorrow..in the morning when i open my eyes i feel so down and sad…
I had no sadness when I got hit with depression; I just became so exhausted, with an overwhelming fatigue. My whole body felt so heavy, like I was wearing a suit made out of lead. Then came the loss of interest and the continual feeling of being overwhelmed at the littlest things. To even think about brushing my teeth, drying my hair or clipping my nails made me want to cry because it seemed impossible to do anything. Those symptoms then caused feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
I suffered from Depression from my teen years until present and I am in my mid-60’s now. What disting;uishes Depression from sadness is the length of time you feel down, having difficulty sleeping due to anxiety and this feeling of sadness that encompesses your being. Once you understand what you are dealing with, therapy, friendships and pushing yourself to limit the amount of time you allow it to continue. You cannot always “snap out of it,” but you can try to get out of the house and just go browsing in a store, spend some time at the park and just try to break the mood by interacting with people. Your surroundings also play a part in Depression. If you hate where you live, move to another location – one that makes you feel good inside. It’s a miserable illness to have because Depression often saps you of your energy. However, fighting back does help as well as taking anti-depression medication.
I can certainly relate to Lina’s comments, as I feel the same way …wishing that I didn’t have to go anywhere & could just stay in my apt. with my pets, & not have to be around anyone. However, if you pick one day of the week & do something on that day you enjoy, it’s like a “break” from the stress, & can really help clear your thinking.
After my father passed away in July of 2007, it was obvious that I was grieving and feeling appropriately sad. At the time though I thought my “clinical depression” was returning. I went to see my pdoc and practically begged him to take me off the Prozac I had been on for 10 years (and working just great) b/c I was more depressed than usual. My pdoc was trying to explain the process of grief to me to no avail. He did end up changing my meds, however after going off Prozac and starting a new AD only made things worse. After the Prozac was out of my system, I realized that the Prozac
was working, but b/c my father had just died I was going to feel exceptionally sad. Maybe I would feel
that way for a while to come, which I
did. I am on Prozac once again and back to the old Suzy I once was. I just had to do some grieving to get through my dad’s death.
After realizing there is a difference between sadness and clinical depression, I am learning to cope. With each passing day, I find new hope in different aspects of my life.Some may be simple, others complex. It is these types of challenges that give me the inner strength I need to continue. Together with a strong personality, and tight inner circle of people to talk to, I know I will be alright!
Lack of energy? I can relate to that! My depression seems to mimic cfs/me, I am so fatigued right now and this fatigue alone is keeping me home and may cost me my job. Also, my body aches, I have ibs, reflux (hiatus hernia and Barrett’s Oesophagus toboot!), I struggle to sleep and also suffer from deafness and tinnitus. All at the ripe old age of 38. Ah, but I HAVE overcome my alcoholism. I’m 32 months sober!
Nice to read all the above comments, but no real solution really. I have left things gone so far, that I don’t know where to start…I go to bed at night, saying that Tomorrow, I’ll start….but tomorrow, is again another day where I struggle to get out of bed…
Having a shower, cutting my toe nails, have become such a chore….
Now add to that cleaning a refrigerator or oven, besides the regular…
I’m at a point that I avoid people, I don’t want anyone coming to my house….
It’s a vicious circle….