Depression Versus Sadness — Do Not Ignore the Warning Signs

Way too often, we hear others saying, “Oh, I’m so depressed”. While emotional distress should never be downplayed, it is essential to remember that depression is not sadness. It is a mental illness that can affect anyone at any time. In fact, depression affects about 20% of people worldwide. Sadness is part of life. Mishaps happen, challenging situations occur, and it is okay. One can be in a bad mood for a while and lose interest in hobbies, but several days later, it starts getting easier to cope. The gloomy moment goes away, and life goes on. On some occasions, the sadness persists. A week passes, then two; a month has gone, yet the feeling of being stuck does not go away. Interacting with others is becoming exhausting. It is safer to just withdraw from life. This is a sign that mental health is starting to degrade. There are different ways of experiencing depression, but they all have some common symptoms. These include feeling sad, hopeless, anxious, guilty, worthless, tired, irritable, angry, lonely, and having trouble sleeping. If you, your friend or a family member shows any of the symptoms, take a moment and evaluate the need to speak to a mental health professional. Depression is not under one’s control. There are many factors that contribute to it. Some of these include genetics, environment, life events, medications, physical health, and chemical imbalances in the brain. Never underestimate any warning signs. Problems are easier to prevent than cure.

Depression is deeper than sadness and persists for longer. It is a mental health condition. (Photo: Unsplash)

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