6 Signs You're Dealing With Depression and Not Sadness

The death of a loved one, the ending of a partnership or friendship, the loss of a job — there’s no shortage of events and circumstances that can lead to sadness. In fact, sadness is an important part of the human condition, and we should always make room for it. Yet, you’re worried because your sadness isn’t showing any signs of letting up, and you’re wondering whether you’re dealing with something larger. 

The reality is that 21 million adults in our country report at least one depressive episode. The actual number is likely higher because many people don’t seek help and remain undiagnosed.

As experts in mood regulation disorders such as depression, Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Julie Smith and her team at Royal River Psychiatric Care in Yarmouth, Maine, want to share the signs that you might be dealing with depression rather than sadness. 

These include:

1. Prolonged sadness

There’s no timeline for sadness, and some people can carry grief over the course of a lifetime. That said, sadness does tend to take different forms as time goes on and settles more into the background.

If you’ve been struggling with sadness that’s at the forefront of your life for at least two weeks, with no breaks, this could signal depression.

2. Things you used to enjoy no longer bring you joy

Another sign of depression is a loss of interest in activities you once loved. With sadness, people can often find some temporary happiness by engaging in their favorite activities, but that’s not the case with depression. Instead, no matter how hard you try, you’re just not enjoying yourself, even when you’re doing something you used to love.

3. Changes in sleeping and eating patterns

Sure, you go through a breakup and eat a pint of ice cream and a bag of cookies. If, however, you’re sleeping a lot more or less or you’ve changed your diet and eating patterns considerably, these can be signs of depression.

4. Feeling fatigued

Another side effect of depression is feeling a sense of overwhelming fatigue, even when you’re well rested. The fatigue is both mental (a lack of enthusiasm) and physical (you just have no energy).

5. Feeling hopeless

When you’re sad, it can feel like the world is a very dark place, but light eventually shines through. With depression, there’s no light, and you can feel an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, like the world will never be bright again.

6. Thinking about suicide 

This last item is a big divider between sadness and depression. If you’re thinking about suicide or how the world will be without you, this is not typical of sadness. This is depression, and severe depression, at that.

The best way to figure out whether you’re dealing with sadness or depression is to come sit down with one of our mental health experts. We know exactly what to look out for when it comes to depression, and if we find that it might be affecting you, we can get you on the road to better mental health right away.

For a comprehensive depression evaluation, contact our office today. We offer in-person and telepsychiatry appointments.