Sadness is an emotion that can cause us a lot of psychological discomfort. But what we should not do is confuse being sad with suffering from a mental illness such as depression.
Depression is a very disabling disorder that we must learn to differentiate and not confuse with being sad . This confusion only downplays the severity of the depressive disorder. It is normal for people to use the two terms interchangeably to refer to the same thing. We can hear or say, and I am included in this group, expressions like “I’m depressed” when really what we are is sad.
We see it as important to know how to differentiate the two terms and try to use them properly, since despite having similarities they do not refer to the same thing at all. Thus, depression is a clinical disorder that, as such, affects functionality and generates great discomfort in the person who suffers from it, it is incapacitating for their day-to-day life and requires both psychological and psychiatric treatment for recovery.
On the other hand, sadness is a basic emotion , which although it is linked to a negative state, it is not dysfunctional, and can become useful and also differs in the hard one, sadness being shorter. In this article we present the main differences between the two terms, so that you know when it is appropriate to use each one.
- We recommend you read: “How to overcome depression with the help of a psychologist”
Being sad is not suffering from depression: how to differentiate depression from sadness?
It is common for society to use the terms depression and sadness interchangeably, but although they have similarities, they are not synonymous and refer to different things or states. We must know well what the difference is to be able to use and refer to each one as it is correct.
Sadness is a basic emotion that everyone experiences at some point in a situation that causes us pain. It is considered that sadness is a negative emotion since it creates discomfort in us, but this fact does not mean that it is not good, since the normal reaction to this type of situation is to feel sad, thus helping us to let off steam and being the correct way to be able to overcome them properly.
On the other hand, when we talk about depression, the subject is in a more adverse state , since apart from sadness, which is a criterion of depression, it is necessary that they present other symptoms and that these affect and have repercussions on their functioning. In this case we are already talking about a disorder, that is, it is no longer a state that everyone goes through and therefore we already consider it something pathological. Taking into account this first definition of terms, let’s see what the main differences are between depression and sadness.
1. The nature of the terms
As we have already mentioned, sadness is a basic emotion that we all experience at some time and that, as such, tends to be less intense and less serious , altering the life of the individual less. On the contrary, depression is included in the Clinical Diagnostic Manuals as a mental disorder, which will be more affected, impairing the normal functioning of the individual, making him more incapacitated and generating greater discomfort.
2. Period of duration
In order to make a diagnosis of depression, and to be able to say that the subject has had a depressive episode, it is necessary that the symptoms last at least 2 weeks, that is, that criteria are met during this period of time. On the other hand, there is no set time for sadness, this is a normal emotion, and can last more or less time depending on the events and the characteristics of the person, but as a general rule the period is less than that of depression, less than two weeks. .
3. Accompanying symptoms
A characteristic symptom of depression is sadness, in this case pathological, but this is not the only criterion that we must meet, at least 4 more must be present, as we have already said for two weeks and almost every day, these other possible symptoms that may be displayed are: anhedonia, which is a decreased ability or interest in feeling pleasure; weight gain or loss (5% in 1 month) or appetite; insomnia or hypersomnia; psychomotor agitation or retardation; fatigue or loss of energy; feelings and worthlessness or guilt; difficulty concentrating and repetitive thoughts of death or suicide. While regarding sadness, no other associated symptoms will appear , the individual only feels sad and other areas of his life are not affected.
4. How it manifests in children and adolescents
Another point to keep in mind is that in children and adolescents being sad or having depression may not manifest itself in the same way, since instead of being sad they may be irritated, in a bad mood and anything feels bad or bothers them. In this way, they will not express sadness as such but through another different state.
5. How to proceed
Taking into account the information given so far, it is obvious to deduce that sadness will not need psychological treatment, as we have said it is an emotion that appears before an event that causes us pain and as it comes it usually goes away, the problem is if it evolves, the The situation becomes complicated and a disorder ends up developing, in this case depression. Despite not being an aversive state, we can try to distract ourselves, make plans that we like and interact with our friends so that the sadness disappears sooner.
On the other hand, depression, being considered a disorder, will require treatment . Depression is one of the most typical pathologies in the general population, for this reason multiple investigations have been carried out to verify which are the most effective treatments. As in almost all disorders, one option, used above all in severely ill patients, is pharmacological treatment, mainly serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which are currently the most widely used.
In reference to psychological treatment, different ones have also been tried, although those that are considered well established are: behavior therapy, which is mainly based on increasing their activity, especially focusing on pleasant and pleasant activities; cognitive therapy, focused on cognitive restructuring and changing negative or depressive beliefs; and interpersonal therapy, designed to intervene in grief or loss, interpersonal disputes, role transition, and interpersonal deficits.
Note that it is common for cognitive and behavioral therapy to be used together, this combination known as cognitive behavioral therapy. In the same way, it is also possible to treat jointly with drugs and psychological therapy , what is more, if you take drugs, the most recommended option is that you also receive psychological treatment, otherwise you will not overcome or improve the problem.
6. Sadness can be functional; depression not
Sadness is a negative emotion, but as we have said before it can be functional since it is a way of expressing our feelings, of externalizing that something has hurt us and has hurt us, this being the most appropriate way since expressing it is the only way to get over it. If in the face of something that affects us we act as if nothing had happened, with a high probability we will not be able to turn the page, its intensity will increase and it will end up affecting us more.
But in the case of depression, we will always talk about a dysfunctional and non-useful affectation, as we have already said, it is considered a disorder and as such causes the subject who suffers from it to see their daily life altered and not be able to carry out activities that they did before. towards.
7. Biological affectation in depression
In depression we observe an alteration in the amount of neurotransmitters , we see a lower level of serotonin, the neurotransmitter par excellence related to mood, as well as a decrease in norepinephrine and an increase in acetylcholine.
In the same way, using neuroimaging techniques that allow us to record and know mental activity, we see that this activity is lower in depressive subjects compared to those who do not show a disorder. On the contrary, in the state of sadness, emotion, the subjects do not show dysregulation of neurotransmitters or a decrease in brain activity.
8. Depression is more disabling
Compiling all the information given in the previous points, it is easy to deduce that depression is more disabling than sadness. Depression alters the course of your life, making you unable to do or not correctly do activities that you used to do, such as working, taking care of your children, socializing or simply getting out of bed or leaving the house.
On the other hand, sadness, despite being an emotion that generates a negative state, does not seriously harm us in our day to day life, it allows us to continue normally in our lives and our ability to do things is not affected.
Another characteristic factor of depression that makes it incapacitating is apathy, which is defined as the loss of will, motivation or initiative to do things. We will see this characteristic reflected in the lack of desire that the subject will have to do something, to leave the house. , not only regarding activities that he does not like, such as going to work, but also activities that he used to like to do, now he does not want to do them.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.