How Depression Differs From Sadness

How Depression Differs From Sadness
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
How Depression Differs From Sadness

Depression is a term, often used in the wrong context, by every one. Depression is often wrongly thought as a synonym for sadness. But it is not so. Depression is not just sadness. It is more than that. It is a medical illness.

So how does a seasonal sadness in a person differ from depression? The main difference between the two is sadness goes away after a certain amount of time but depression persists. In depressive disorder a person has a depressed mood or a loss of interest in daily activities consistently for at least a fortnight. A sad person can cope with life whereas a depressed one feels hopeless and he feels he can't take it anymore.

To a person who is depressed, the most uncaring and insensitive phrase you can utter is "to snap out of it". When you say this to a depressed person, you not only get him mentally more depressed but also leave him keep wondering what the real problem with him might be. The most important thing you have to understand when dealing with depressed people is that if a person diagnosed with depression can snap out of it, then probably a person with heart decease or kidney failure may as well snap out of it.

Many people think that people with depression are weak and they never try to come out it or they are just acting. All these assumptions are wrong. On the other hand depression is a serious mental illness, which if left untreated, can even lead to suicide. So never go easy if any one you know is suffering from it. It is highly curable and the first thing you need is to consult with a doctor. Most of the people react well to the treatment and get better as the days pass by. So next time, when you feel like yelling at a depressed person, hold it. Try to help him with the right treatment.