Depression vs. Sadness: Understanding the Nuances

What is Depression?

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), usually referred to as "Depression" is defined as a negative affective state that ranges from unhappiness and discontent to extreme feelings of sadness, pessimism, and despondency. Depression and its symptoms interfere with daily life and can have various symptoms. Symptoms of Depression (MDD) can be physical, cognitive, or social and can include disrupted or changed eating habits, sleep patterns, energy levels, and motivation.

Depression differs from sadness as sadness is an emotional state of unhappiness with a range of intensity. Being sad is a natural response to experiencing negative or difficult events in life however, it goes away over time. Depression, classified as a mood disorder by the DSM-5, is more long-term and can cause severe symptoms that affect how an individual feels, thinks, and makes decisions.

The DSM-5, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, is a comprehensive classification system and diagnostic tool used by mental health professionals to categorize and diagnose mental health disorders.

Depression diagnosis vs. Feeling depressed.

Major Depression Disorder is a common but serious mood disorder. Depression is characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition (thinking patterns), emotional regulation, and behaviour. Depression is usually associated with distress or impairment in important areas of individual functioning. It is different from usual mood fluctuations (mood swings) or short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life.

A lot of folks often use the term "depression" to describe those occasional bouts of sadness we all go through. But it's important to understand that while feeling down from time to time is totally normal, clinical depression is a whole different ballgame.

Let's make it clear: feeling depressed is not the same as having depression. Regular sadness can be like a passing cloud, but depression is more like a stubborn raincloud that sticks around for a long time. So if you're experiencing persistent feelings of sadness that just won't budge, it might be a good idea to seek some professional help. You don't have to go through it alone.

Depression Statistics South Africa 2023

Major Depressive Disorder is prevalent all over South Africa and the world. A study from 2022 revealed some concerning statistics:

• Between 14.7% to 38.8% of people in South Africa suffer from depression.
• 18% of individuals experience symptoms of depression.
• 27% of individuals in a rural settings suffer from diagnosed Major Depressive Disorder.
• 34.7% of individuals in urban settings suffer from postpartum depression.
• 9.8% of adults in South Africa experience major (clinical) depression at some point in their lives
• Only 25% of individuals seek out treatment and care.

Reported in 2015 depression was the single largest contributor to global disability with 7.5% and over 3 million cases reported worldwide.

Depression symptoms

Symptoms of depression can interfere with your life through causes and disruptions such as your ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy life. Research suggests that depression is caused by genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.

Sadness is only a small symptom of depression as people with depression do not always feel sad. Depression can also elicit somatic symptoms such as aches and pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems and individuals may find that they are easily fatigued due to trouble with sleeping and waking up.

Somatic symptoms refer to physical sensations or discomfort experienced by a person that are linked to their mental and emotional state.

Worried that you may be suffering from depression? Here are some of the symptoms you can look out for.

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Irritability
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Decreased energy or fatigue
• Difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or oversleeping.
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
• Moving or talking more slowly
• Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear cause that do not ease even with treatment.

If you think you may be suffering from MDD, please reach out to your primary healthcare provider and discuss your concerns.

References

American Psychological Association. (2015). APA dictionary of psychology (G. R. VandenBos, Ed.; 2nd ed.). American Psychological Association.

Craig, A., Rochat, T., Naicker, S. N., Mapanga, W., Mtintsilana, A., Dlamini, S. N., Ware, L. J., Du Toit, J., Draper, C. E., Richter, L., & Norris, S. A. (2022). The prevalence of probable depression and probable anxiety, and associations with adverse childhood experiences and socio-demographics: A national survey in South Africa. Frontiers in Public Health, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.986531

Department Of Health And Human Services National Institutes Of Health Nih Publication. (2020). Depression in women: 5 things you should know. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-in-women#:~:text=Being%20sad%20is%20a%20normal

Gbadamosi, I. T., Henneh, I. T., Aluko, O. M., Yawson, E. O., Fokoua, A. R., Koomson, A., Torbi, J., Olorunnado, S. E., Lewu, F. S., Yusha’u, Y., Keji-Taofik, S. T., Biney, R. P., & Tagoe, T. A. (2022). Depression in Sub-Saharan Africa. IBRO Neuroscience Reports, 12, 309–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibneur.2022.03.005

Qubekile, Y., Paruk, S., & Paruk, F. (2022). Prevalence of depressive symptoms and quality of life among patients with diabetes mellitus with and without HIV infection: A South African study. South African Journal of Psychiatry, 28(0), 7. https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1762/2542

Sharpe, J. (2022, April 1). Feeling depressed vs. having depression. West Coast Recovery Centers. https://westcoastrecoverycenters.com/feeling-depressed-vs-having-depression/

World Health Organization. (2022, June 8). Mental disorders. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders

Cuadros, D.F., Tomita, A., Vandormael, A. et al. Spatial structure of depression in South Africa: A longitudinal panel survey of a nationally representative sample of households. Sci Rep 9, 979 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-37791-1