Many parents find it difficult to figure out if their child is just feeling sad or actually has clinical depression. Being aware of the differences between sadness and depression can help parents give their kids the proper intervention that they need.
Healthline shared some of the most common differences between sadness and depression. Being able to recognize these differences and provide the right parenting intervention can make your child's life better, brighter and safer.
What is it like to be a child with depression?
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1. Sadness Comes And Goes, Depression Does Not
One of the biggest differences between sadness and depression is that the former just comes and goes. Sadness is a normal human emotion we feel when we experience unpleasant situations such as failures, disappointments, betrayal, loss and more. It usually goes away by spending time with people we love, doing fun activities or having a good rest.
On the other hand, depression is constant and can last for weeks and months. It is a major mental condition that can cause harm to many aspects of a person's life.
2. Depression Requires Medical Intervention
Depression can cause havoc to a person's career, personal relationships and health. Many people who suffer from depression have suicidal tendencies and constantly think of death.
Eating and sleeping habits are also negatively affected. Medical intervention is usually needed in order to keep the illness in check and protect the life and future of the depressed person.
3. Difference In Source Of Negative Emotions
One of the biggest differences between sadness and depression is the source of the negative emotions. When people become sad, they can usually point out the specific reason for their feelings. "But the depressed person is uniquely primed to react badly to a negative event, and after it occurs, they often experience a deeper, more general feeling of depression and misery that lasts beyond 'normal' boundaries," Bustle explains.
