The Difference Between Feeling Bad and Depression
Every now and then we all have to deal with feeling bad. Feeling down can often be described as a temporary state of depression, although there are symptoms of true depression that are not often felt during a typical bout of “the blues”. We are going to discuss the differences between feeling bad and being depressed. This is not meant to serve as a means of self-diagnosis, but rather an information source of symptoms and treatments to provide a better understanding of depression.
As humans we are naturally emotional creatures with limitations as to how much mental and emotional stress we can handle. A bad day—or in some cases even a bad week—can leave us feeling miserable, helpless, and even a little sore in the self esteem department. The thing about feeling bad is that it is not a day-to-day way of life…it is temporary. Usually the upset of a bad day ends after a good night’s sleep, or a stressful week is soothed by a good weekend. Feeling down is simply a part of life that crops up every now and then, but doesn’t affect the overall quality of a person’s life. There is no treatment necessary for having the blues because it only lasts a short time and is not generally a risk to one’s health.
Now sometimes this period of sadness can last a little longer after the passing of a loved one. This type of sadness may take a few months for us to deal with, but it usually does not keep us from functioning normally on a day-to-day basis. Feelings of guilt and emptiness often wear down over time to the point where we are no longer incapacitated by sadness. Instead, time should naturally enable us to accept the fact that a loved one is gone and will be missed, but that life for the living must go on.
Depression is a state in which feelings of loss, emptiness, and hopelessness are felt on a day to day basis over a long period of time without any indication of improvement. Depression is often described as having no desire for anything and feeling empty all the time. Spending time with friends and family is no longer appealing, hobbies seem pointless, and negative thoughts run abound without the ability to control them.
Unlike “feeling bad”, depression is a condition that lasts for months and even years. There are also different types of depression. Minor depression is one that while a little more severe than feeling down, usually doesn’t last longer than a few months. This may be the result of losing a job, breaking up with one’s partner, or moving to a new place. Severe depression is a level of depression that often involves thoughts or attempts of suicide. Other symptoms include the urge to cry for seemingly no reason, insomnia or restless sleep patterns, unexplainable headaches, loss of appetite, lack of interest in sex, lack of energy, along with the typical feelings of hopelessness and emptiness.
The perplexing thing about depression is that it can appear without any reason. May people experience depression without any link to a particular event or situation. Doctors are still researching possible causes behind depression, although we do already know that depression seems more likely to afflict a person who: has a family member that also has depression, has lost a relative through suicide, has low self esteem or lacks confidence, is diagnosed with a chronic illness, or has recently given birth.
Treatment for depression varies depending on the person’s situation—namely the cause behind their depression (if known) and the severity of it. There are prescription drugs available to combat some of the major symptoms of depression, but a doctor may also ask the patient to undergo counseling. Exercise has also been proven to help boost one’s mood out of a depressed state. As a rule, drugs are usually used as a last resort when counseling and dietary and physical activity changes are ineffective.
As you can tell, the symptoms of depression are a great deal more severe than simply feeling blue. These symptoms also last for months, interrupt a person’s day-to-day life, and reduce their overall quality of life. If you would like to be evaluated for depression, speak to your doctor about arranging a consultation.