Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs Sadness a Feeling or Emotion?Coping With SadnessImportant DistinctionsSymptoms of DepressionDiagnosisCausesTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Is Sadness a Feeling or Emotion?
Coping With Sadness
Important Distinctions
Symptoms of Depression
Diagnosis
Causes
Treatment
Close
It is considered one of thebasic human emotions. It is a normal response to situations that are upsetting, painful, or disappointing. Sometimes these feelings can feel more intense, while in other cases they might be fairly mild.
Unlikedepression, which is persistent and longer-lasting, sadness is temporary and transitory. Sadness can, however, turn into depression.Being able to tell the difference between normal sadness and depression might encourage you to take action and seek resources for an improved mood.
Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee
Sadness is a normal human emotion that often occurs in response to upsetting, painful, or disappointing situations. This emotion can vary in intensity. Like other emotions, it is temporary and lessens with time.
Here are some ways toexperience normal sadness in a healthy wayand to allow this emotion to enrich your life:
It is important to be able to distinguish between feelings of normal sadness and symptoms of more serious depression.
It is the transitory nature of sadness that makes it different from depression. While sadness is limited in duration, depression lasts longer and creates significant impairments in a person’s ability to function in their daily life. Sadness is an emotion, whereas depression is a mental disorder.
Be aware of the signs of sadness turning into depression and get help if you notice these symptoms significantly impacting your life for two weeks or longer.
SadnessNormal human emotionOften occurs following disappointments and painful experiencesUsually passes with timeYou can usually still function and do things you enjoy
Normal human emotion
Often occurs following disappointments and painful experiences
Usually passes with time
You can usually still function and do things you enjoy
Mental disorder
Can be long lasting without treatment
You feel fatigued, unmotivated, and disinterested in things you used to enjoy
Symptoms of depression include:
If you experience these, you may feel inclined to just “tough it out” and wait until it passes. However, the earlier you recognize these signs, the sooner you can seek help and change your situation.
Symptoms of Clinical Depression
When to Call Your Doctor
Know that you are not alone if you are experiencing some (or multiple) of the symptoms above.
If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of sadness or depression for longer than a few weeks, consider reaching out to your doctor to determine the cause and what you can do about it.
Sometimes feeling depression is not a result of mental illness. It could be a medical condition, like hypothyroidism, for example, that can be causing symptoms of depression.
Once your doctor rules out anypotential medical causes, they will be able to provide other options for your depression or refer you to apsychiatrist or therapistwho can help you.
Depression Discussion GuideGet our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment.Download PDFSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Get our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment.
Download PDF
Sign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Sign Up
Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.
Your doctor will use a number of techniques to determine if what you are feeling is normal sadness or depression. This often involves asking questions or having you complete a questionnaire about what type of symptoms you are experiencing, how long you have been feeling them, and how severe they are.
Your doctor will also want to know more about your life and the impact these symptoms have had on your ability to function at home, work, and school.
Your doctor may also perform a physical exam and conductlab teststo rule out medical conditions or that might be contributing to your symptoms. Remember to tell your doctor about any medications or supplements that you are taking since certain medications, such as beta-blockers and corticosteroids, may also cause feelings of depression.
There are a number of factors that can play a role in causing depression. Some of the risk factors for depression include:
It is important also to be aware that feelings of sadness in response to a situation in your life can turn into depression. This is why it is essential to seek help if you suspect that what you are feeling is more than normal sadness.
Treatment for Depression
Depression is usually treated usingmedications called antidepressantsor through talk therapy. Usually, the best treatment plans include both.
Medications
Some popular medication choices for depression include:
Your doctor will discuss with you which option isbest for you.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive therapy is a popular type of psychotherapy for depression. It teaches people to take their negative patterns of thinking and replace them with more positive ones. This is helpful because our thoughts and what we say to ourselves impacts our mood and motivation.
If we frequently say negative things, we’re creating a mental environment relevant to depression. Positive thinking, on the other hand, triggers positive emotions. And while controlling all aspects of depression isn’t possible, this is one aspect we do have some power over.
The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.
Lifestyle
Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes that you can make that may help you cope with your symptoms. Doing things like getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, getting adequate sleep, and staying connected with loved ones can help you manage your condition.
Finding ways to overcome sadness or depression can get you back to feeling like your normal self. While normal sadness is usually temporary and can often be relieved with lifestyle adjustments, you should talk to your doctor if your symptoms last longer than two weeks. If what you are feeling is depression, there are effective treatments available, including medication and psychotherapy, that can help.
If you or a loved one are struggling with sadness or depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are struggling with sadness or depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lokko HN, Stern TA.Sadness: Diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(6). doi:10.4088/PCC.14f01709Hecht D.The neural basis of optimism and pessimism.Exp Neurobiol. 2013;22(3):173-99. doi:10.5607/en.2013.22.3.173Targum SD, Fava M.Fatigue as a residual symptom of depression.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2011;8(10):40-3.Simmons WK, Burrows K, Avery JA, et al.Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite: Dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(4):418-28. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020162Hage MP, Azar ST.The link between thyroid function and depression.J Thyroid Res. 2012;2012:590648. doi:10.1155/2012/590648Driessen E, Hollon SD.Cognitive behavioral therapy for mood disorders: Efficacy, moderators and mediators.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010;33(3):537-55. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.005
6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lokko HN, Stern TA.Sadness: Diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(6). doi:10.4088/PCC.14f01709Hecht D.The neural basis of optimism and pessimism.Exp Neurobiol. 2013;22(3):173-99. doi:10.5607/en.2013.22.3.173Targum SD, Fava M.Fatigue as a residual symptom of depression.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2011;8(10):40-3.Simmons WK, Burrows K, Avery JA, et al.Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite: Dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(4):418-28. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020162Hage MP, Azar ST.The link between thyroid function and depression.J Thyroid Res. 2012;2012:590648. doi:10.1155/2012/590648Driessen E, Hollon SD.Cognitive behavioral therapy for mood disorders: Efficacy, moderators and mediators.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010;33(3):537-55. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.005
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lokko HN, Stern TA.Sadness: Diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(6). doi:10.4088/PCC.14f01709Hecht D.The neural basis of optimism and pessimism.Exp Neurobiol. 2013;22(3):173-99. doi:10.5607/en.2013.22.3.173Targum SD, Fava M.Fatigue as a residual symptom of depression.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2011;8(10):40-3.Simmons WK, Burrows K, Avery JA, et al.Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite: Dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(4):418-28. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020162Hage MP, Azar ST.The link between thyroid function and depression.J Thyroid Res. 2012;2012:590648. doi:10.1155/2012/590648Driessen E, Hollon SD.Cognitive behavioral therapy for mood disorders: Efficacy, moderators and mediators.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010;33(3):537-55. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.005
Lokko HN, Stern TA.Sadness: Diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(6). doi:10.4088/PCC.14f01709
Hecht D.The neural basis of optimism and pessimism.Exp Neurobiol. 2013;22(3):173-99. doi:10.5607/en.2013.22.3.173
Targum SD, Fava M.Fatigue as a residual symptom of depression.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2011;8(10):40-3.
Simmons WK, Burrows K, Avery JA, et al.Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite: Dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(4):418-28. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020162
Hage MP, Azar ST.The link between thyroid function and depression.J Thyroid Res. 2012;2012:590648. doi:10.1155/2012/590648
Driessen E, Hollon SD.Cognitive behavioral therapy for mood disorders: Efficacy, moderators and mediators.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010;33(3):537-55. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.005
Meet Our Review Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
What is your feedback?
