Sadness And Depression Can Be Easily Confused. These 10 Tweets Show There's A Difference.
By
Editorial Staff in
Facts and DIY
On 4th September 2016
Sadness is a normal human emotion. We’ve all experienced it and we all will again. Sadness is usually triggered by a difficult, hurtful, challenging, or disappointing event, experience, or situation. In other words, we tend to feel sad about something. This also means that when that something changes, when our emotional hurt fades, when we’ve adjusted or gotten over the loss or disappointment, our sadness remits.
Depression is an abnormal emotional state, a mental illness that affects our thinking, emotions, perceptions, and behaviors in pervasive and chronic ways. When we’re depressed we feel sad about everything. Depression does not necessarily require a difficult event or situation, a loss, or a change of circumstance as a trigger. In fact, it often occurs in the absence of any such triggers. People’s lives on paper might be totally fine—they would even admit this is true—and yet they still feel horrible.
Depression colors all aspects of our lives, making everything less enjoyable, less interesting, less important, less lovable, and less worthwhile. Depression saps our energy, motivation, and ability to experience joy, pleasure, excitement, anticipation, satisfaction, connection, and meaning. All your thresholds tend to be lower. You’re more impatient, quicker to anger and get frustrated, quicker to break down, and it takes you longer to bounce back from everything.
In my TED talk, I discussed one of the more unfortunate consequences of this confusion: How people struggling with depression are often expected to "snap out of it," and are told "it’s all in your head," or "choose to be happy!" Such sentiments reflect a deep misunderstanding of depression. It only makes the person with depression feel worse.
#1 It's very common to not know the difference between sadness and depression.
#2 We all get sad once in a while. When that happens, some of us take to social media to let the world in on our sorrows
While some may take that like a virtual invitation to a one-person pity party, others may interpret it as someone who genuinely needs to vent about feeling down and out.
To be diagnosed with depression, people need to have at least 5 of the following symptoms, for a continual duration of at least two weeks. Be advised: The severity of these symptoms must also be considered, so please use these only as a guideline and see a mental health professional for a conclusive diagnosis.
#3 Some didn't like the word "depressed" being used so casually.
A depressed or irritable mood most of the time.
#4 Or that a disease was being referred to as an emotion.
A loss or decrease of pleasure or interest in most activities, including ones that had been interesting or pleasurable previously.
#5 Or were feeling like Liv...
Significant changes in weight or appetite.
#6 Others like Alex Phillips were put off by the trending hashtag — period.
Disturbances in falling asleep or sleeping too much.
#7 Many wanted to make sure depression was being taken seriously.
Feeling slowed down in your movements or restless most days.
#8 Because it's NOT a joke.
Feeling tired, sluggish, and having low energy most days.
#9 By pointing out depression is not a choice.
Having feelings of worthless or excessive guilt most days.
#10 Even suggesting perhaps a more fitting hashtag.
Experiencing problems with thinking, focus, concentration, creativity and the ability to make decisions most days.
#11 Or asking that the word "depression" not be used willy-nilly.
Having thoughts of dying or suicide.
#12 And a simple yet powerful reminder to have compassion and not turn this mental disorder into a joke.