Sad or Depressed: What’s the Difference?

In This Article:

If you need help,
we’re here for you.
Contact us today.

Get Help

100% Confidential
Pasadena Villa
Locations & Programs
Smoky Mountain Lodge
(Sevierville, TN)
Intensive Residential Treatment and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
The Stables Autism Program
(Sevierville, TN)
Intensive Residential Treatment

Sadness and depression may seem similar, but in regards to their meaning they’re two completely different things. Unlike diagnosable clinical depression, everyone feels sadness at some point in his or her life. Major depressive disorder on the other hand, affects just a small portion of society. Put simply, sadness is an emotion. Depression is more. It’s a state of mind in which negative emotions such as sadness are symptoms of.

Sadness is common to the entire population. It’s an emotion directly attributable to a specific event. An entire community can feel sadness after a natural disaster. A child may feel sadness after accidentally breaking their favorite toy. But unlike depression, the effects of sadness are felt momentarily and the causes are easy to pinpoint.

The effects of depression can descend upon a person without warning or explanation. A person could have everything going well in his or her life right before the disorder occurs. Unlike sadness, depression symptoms include weight gain or weight loss, sleepiness or excessive sleep and a general disinterest in activities her or she would normally enjoy. Depression symptoms don’t go away after a few hours or days. When symptoms last for more than two weeks at a time, clinical depression may be to blame. The duration of symptoms is a key factor in distinguishing depression from sadness.

The assumption is commonly made that depression and sadness are the same thing. Many falsely believe depression is merely a more severe case of sadness. Nothing could be further from the truth. With similarities abound, the differences between the two are distinct and conclusive. One simply gets over sadness. Major depressive disorder often requires intervention and treatment. Depression is treated with different types of psychotherapy and medication on a case-by-case basis. Understanding the difference between disorders and emotions is a major step in ending the stigma attached to mental illness.

Pasadena Villa’s Smoky Mountain Lodge is an adult intensive psychiatric residential treatment center for clients with serious mental illnesses. We also provide other individualized therapy programs, step-down residential programs, and less intensive mental health services, such as Community Residential Homes, Supportive Housing, Day Treatment Programs and Life Skills training. Pasadena Villa’s Outpatient Center in Raleigh, North Carolina offers partial hospitalization (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (PHP). If you or someone you know may need mental health services, please complete our contact form or call us at 407-215-2519 for more information.

Source:

Health.UsNews.com

If you’re ready to start your recovery, we’re here to help.

Contact us today.

Our treatment centers accept private payment, out-of-network benefits, and in-network benefits.

Our Admissions Team is available at 407.215.2519 to discuss your payment options.

Recent Posts

If you’re ready to take the next step in the recovery process for you or your loved one, the compassionate team at Pasadena Villa is here to help. Give us a call at 407.215.2519 or complete our contact form.

Looking for treatment?

Subscribe to Our Monthly Newsletter

Get exclusive resources, find inspiration, and grow alongside us. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter now!

X