Millions of people around the world experience sadness or depression at some point in their lives. However, recognizing the difference between a diagnosis of depression and the emotion of sadness can help a person process both in a healthful way. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) note that depression is one of the most common mental health illnesses in the United States. Feeling sad is an integral part of depression, but they are not the same. Knowing and understanding the differences can help a person recognize when to seek treatment. In this article, we help the reader make this distinction and suggest treatment options for depression. Share on PinterestGuille Faingold/Stocksy Defining sadness and depression is important for improving wellbeing. SadnessSadness is a normal human emotion that every single person will experience at stressful or somber times. A number of life events can leave people feeling sad or unhappy. The loss or absence of a loved one, divorce, loss of job or income, financial trouble, or issues at home can all affect mood in a negative way. Failing an exam, not getting a job, or experiencing other disappointing events can also trigger sadness. However, a person experiencing sadness can usually find some relief from crying, venting, or talking out frustrations. More often than not, sadness has links to a specific trigger. Sadness usually passes with time. If it does not pass, or if the person becomes unable to resume normal function, this could be a sign of depression. If low mood gets worse or lasts longer than 2 weeks, the person should talk to their doctor. DepressionDepression is a mental disorder that has an overpowering effect on many parts of a person’s life. It can occur in people of any gender or age and alters behaviors and attitudes. In 2015, around 16.1 million people aged 18 years or above in the U.S. had experienced at least one major depressive episode in the last year, accounting for 6.7 percent of all adults in the country. Symptoms include:
In severe cases, the person may think about or attempt suicide. They may no longer feel like spending time with family or friends and might stop pursuing their hobbies or feel unable to attend work or school. If these feelings of doubt last longer than 2 weeks, a healthcare professional may diagnose the person with major depressive disorder (MDD). Symptoms of MDD include:
A doctor would consider a person who experiences any five of these symptoms for longer than 2 weeks to have a medical problem rather than a prolonged experience of sadness. For a diagnosis of MDD, the doctor should link the symptoms only to depression and not to another medical diagnosis, such as substance abuse or an underlying condition. Unlike sadness, depression can leave a person struggling to get through their day. Sadness is just one element of depression. If a person has symptoms of depression for longer than 2 weeks, they should seek professional help. A physician can help to determine the level of treatment necessary to manage symptoms. Following diagnosis, possible treatments include medication, counseling, and psychotherapy. MedicationsMedications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a type of antidepressant. These function by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger that helps to improve mood. Examples of SSRIs include citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, and sertraline. According to the Mayo Clinic, these drugs can ease the symptoms of depression, although they do carry a risk of adverse side effects. For example, when people first use antidepressants, these drugs present a risk of symptoms deteriorating before they improve. Family members of the person taking the medication should monitor them closely and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have expressed concern that some SSRIs can cause increased suicidal ideation in younger people and may pose some risk to the fetus if taken during pregnancy. As a result of this, the drugs carry a black box warning, which is an important notice on the information leaflet outlining the possible dangers of the drugs. When prescribing SSRIs, prescribers must carefully balance the pros and cons of use. Psychotherapy and counselingPsychotherapy involves talking to a trained professional. A person can pursue psychotherapy on its own or with the support of antidepressant medications. A therapist can help identify problem areas, teach coping mechanisms, and educate an individual about the realities of the condition. A medical team might admit a person with severe depression to a hospital if they are in immediate danger to themselves, either because of the risk of suicide or lack of ability to care for themselves. Outpatient facilities and psychotherapy clinics can help with long-term care. Depression and sadness are linked but are not the same. Sadness is an emotion that everyone experiences, often after stressful or upsetting life events. Depression is an overpowering and ongoing mental health disorder that can drastically impact on daily living. Specific triggers will often cause sadness, whereas depression may have no identifiable cause. Sadness is a part of depression but more temporary in nature. Seek a medical opinion if sadness seems to continue for a disproportionate amount of time. This could indicate the development of depression. Read this article in Spanish.
Missing someone hurts. The ache of yearning for another person can cause you to experience sadness, emptiness, despair, or a deep sense of absence. Most people understand that these feelings are normal following the loss of a loved one or when a close friend moves away. It can be a lot more confusing to feel this way when you find yourself longing for someone after ending your relationship with them. Why would you still miss someone you don’t want to be with anymore? You might feel this way because of a sense of nostalgia. Or you might miss certain things about the person. You might even miss the person you were in that relationship. This article explores what it feels like to miss someone and how it can be challenging to let go of them, even if you don’t want them in your life anymore. Missing someone often feels like a physical ache in your chest. You might feel sad or even angry. When you are missing them, it might seem like you’re not able to concentrate on anything else. You might find yourself thinking about the person all the time, and you might want to talk to them or see them again. You might find yourself shedding tears when you think about this person. Or you might be tempted to pick up the phone and call or text them. While these feelings can be confusing, it is important to remember that such emotions are not unusual or uncommon. Missing someone might also cause:
Sometimes these are temporary feelings that come and go or lessen as time goes on. In other cases, some of these feelings might be symptoms of depression. If you have been experiencing sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest, and a loss of pleasure that last longer than two weeks, you should talk to your healthcare provider.
Missing someone hurts, both mentally and physically. It might even feel like you are missing a part of yourself. Life is full of changes, including changes in relationships. It's natural to miss someone who is no longer part of your life. You may also miss the idea of a person. The person and relationship served a purpose in your life, so when things change, it's natural to miss what your life and routine were like when that person was part of it. Relationships are a fundamental part of life, but that doesn't mean that they always work out. When these bonds are broken, you may experience painful feelings of longing. You might miss someone because:
That person was once an essential part of your life. Even though you no longer see them, it is perfectly normal to miss the good things that they brought to your life. You may still find yourself looking back and thinking about them. And in retrospect, the good parts of the relationship might loom larger in your mind. The problems that caused you to end the relationship seem distant and less significant now that you are no longer faced with them each day. Whether your relationship was a friendship or a romantic partnership, the loss of the connection can leave you feeling like there is an emptiness in your life. These emotions can be even more intense if the other person ended the relationship. In this case, you might also feel ashamed, hurt, or angry even though you still miss the other person. But it is also essential to recognize that you can feel this way even if you were the one to initiate the goodbye. This doesn't mean that you regret ending things. Instead, it might simply mean that you miss the relationship's companionship and will eventually be ready to form new relationships with other people. Feeling like you still miss someone can take a toll on your well-being. In addition to the sense of longing and emptiness that you might be feeling in the short term, you might also find yourself experiencing other problems, including:
Learning how to manage the end of a relationship is considered a vital development task during late adolescence and early adulthood. At some point, most people experience either breaking up with someone or being broken up with. How these relationships end, research suggests, can impact future emotional health.
According to one study, understanding the reasons for the breakup was associated with better emotional outcomes and greater relationship competence. Such findings might indicate that even if you do miss the other person, it is essential to understand why you feel that way and why the relationship ended in the first place.
Missing someone can impact your emotions and may contribute to feelings of loneliness or depression. Taking steps to understand why you miss someone can provide insight that might benefit your future well-being. Missing someone can be a difficult feeling to deal with. In addition to loneliness or sadness, you might also feel regret. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the painful emotions of missing someone and get on with your life. If you still miss someone, remind yourself that you may need time. The longing you feel is likely to be more intense right after the relationship ends but will gradually wane as time goes on.
Remember to be kind to yourself. It's a natural reaction to miss someone, so try not to put added pressure on yourself to move on right away. Social support is essential for mental well-being. Spend time with friends and family. Talk about how you feel with trusted friends and family. This will help you feel less alone and more connected to others who understand what you are going through. Engage in activities that make you happy. Find new hobbies or activities that you enjoy. This provides a distraction from your emotions, but it can also help you focus on your own needs and interests. Ensure that you're not neglecting your needs and well-being. Eat nutritious meals and spend some time each day being active. Try to get enough sleep. Do something nice for yourself, like getting a massage or going out for dinner with friends.
Mindfulness meditation is a practice that involves combining mindfulness and meditation to promote calmness, decrease negativity, and let go of painful thoughts. Rather than trying to avoid specific ideas, mindfulness meditation promotes accepting feelings without judgment.
Observing feelings without judgment can redirect your attention to the present moment without dwelling on the past, which helps decrease anxiety. One way to cope with the ache of missing someone is to make new connections with other people. You might try joining social groups in your area or try online dating. If you don't feel like you're ready to start dating again, spending time with friends and family can help fill the void you are experiencing. Gaining a sense of closure after the end of a relationship might be helpful when you still miss someone. Some ways to find closure include getting rid of things that remind you of the relationship, removing them on all of your social media platforms, and accepting that the relationship wasn't right.
Journaling about your feelings and experiences can be a helpful way to understand better what you are going through and why you feel the way you do. Try focusing on writing about what you have learned rather than ruminating on negative or painful thoughts. Gratitude journaling can be a helpful and effective strategy for improving your mental outlook.
Missing someone is a natural feeling that everyone has to go through. It is a feeling that can be hard to cope with, but there are ways to make it easier. If you still miss someone after a relationship has ended, it is crucial to recognize that these feelings are normal. While such emotions are complicated, remembering why the relationship didn’t work out in the first place may help you find ways to move on.
There’s nothing wrong with missing someone you cared about, even if you don’t necessarily want them to be part of your life anymore. Instead of dwelling on the pain of missing them, it can be helpful to focus on feeling a sense of gratitude for the positive experiences you shared. If you are struggling and you don't feel like you have a good support system, it may be helpful to find a therapist to talk to about what you are going through and to help with your healing. |