Am I Sad or Depressed? Recognizing Differences in Symptoms and the Prevalence of Depression
As humans, we all go through periods in our lives where we feel sadness and grief.
But how do we know when the sadness is something more? Where is the line between just feeling sad and feeling depressed? This article will list some explanations of the difference and also outline how prevalent depression is in our society today. This article is not to serve as a diagnostic, if you are looking for more information as to if you may have depression, seek out a therapist or medical professional.
Let’s define the differences
Depression and sadness are related to one another, but they are different in nature. Sadness is a specific emotion that is experienced in response to an upsetting or stressful life event. Depression is something that is more overwhelming and impacts overall everyday functioning. A long period of sadness could turn into depression but sadness not to the point of depression is a more fleeting emotion. Depression can also cause more chronic symptoms including fatigue, lack of interest, and sleep problems. Grief may show up in feelings of sadness and appear like depression, but grief is not depression. Grief tends to come in waves and be triggered by thoughts or reminders. Grief can still feel debilitating and impact everyday functioning though.
What is the prevalence of Major Depression Diagnosis?
According to the World Health Organization, about 3.8 percent of the population experiences depression and 5 percent of adults in the population have it. Depression is more common in women compared to men. About 8.4 percent of US adults in the population have depression according to the National Institute of Mental Health. We have to take into account that some people who may have depression may not seek out treatment and therefore they would not be accounted for or represented in these statistics.
What are the trends of depression looking like?
Depression rates are on the rise both in the US and globally. If you or someone you love are suffering from symptoms of depression know that it is more common than you think. Access to care, workforce shortages, and the impacts of how communities have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic has affected the mental health of many individuals. The delivery of mental health services and lack of resources causes an increase in poorer mental health conditions among those that are affected. Since the pandemic, there has been a new service provided that provides more effective crisis services to individuals. The number 988 has recently been rolled out to provide crisis mental health services by trained individuals. For the mental health system to improve it’s going to take more than a new crisis line to help, more systemic change will need to happen.
Do you think you or someone you love may have depression? Here is what you can do.
Now that you have been provided more background into what depression is and what it can entail there are things that you can do to help yourself or a loved one handle the emotions of sadness or depression. First, never shame or blame someone for how they feel allow them to feel their feelings and let them know that you are there to support them through it. Encourage your friend or family member to seek out therapy services.
Begin Working With A Depression Therapist in Charlotte, NC
Here at Inward Counseling, we see individuals, couples, and families that struggle with depression. We have qualified clinicians that can help you through whatever challenges or circumstances you are facing. Reach out to us to see if we might be a good fit. You can start your therapy journey with your team of caring therapists by following these simple steps:
Fill out our contact form
Meet with a caring therapist
Start coping with depression symptoms and receive the support you deserve
Other Services Offered With Inward Counseling
Depression therapy isn’t the only service our team offers. We know that you may experience more than one mental health concern at a time. This is why we are happy to also offer therapy for anxiety, couples, family, and EMDR. We also offer trauma therapy and Christian counseling. Visit our blog or about page to learn more today.