I feel sad a lot, unmotivated, and I often can't stop crying for many hours. But I sleep and eat decently and I also can smile or laugh sometimes. Am I depressed or just sad?

You would need to talk to a professional to get a proper diagnosis, but not every person experiences the same symptoms of an illness. There are tons of symptoms for depression but most people don't experience all of them. Either way, even if you were not diagnosed with depression, sadness is very real and should be worked through with a professional, if you feel you need one. Don't hesitate to get help, especially if you're worried you won't be taken seriously because you haven't experienced certain symptoms. Be gentle with yourself and do what you can to get a professional diagnosis.

Good question. Prolong sadness , if it is not address , could lead to depression. At the moment , it is good that you are still able to sleep, eat and smile. So at least your sadness has not zapped up all your energy and attention. I would be really good if you spend some time to identify the reasons, the situations and sometimes, people who make you feel this deep sadness. When you identify then you have an understanding of what makes you sad . As you understand then you could try to sort them out. Some of this sadness could be just old emotions you have not put to rest. Some could be unfulfilled wishes or dreams. Help yourself by addressing your sadness.

I have felt that way many times as well. Being around the right people will help get through everything and put a smile on your face! It may take time but it feels great. My friends have helped me through so many things and when they stick by you, you just know they are ones to keep by your side forever. You could be depressed but you should check with your doctors cause I’m not able to tell you if you are depressed or not. But thank you for sharing that story. Have a Great rest of your day.

A person can suffer from depression and still, eat, sleep and smile. There are many symptoms of depression, some people experience them all, some only a few. Think about how long have you been feeling this way? Is this the first time or has it happened before? If its happened before, how long do these feelings typically last? I think it would be good if you went to a doctor or mental health professional just to be sure; especially if you begin having thoughts of self harm or not wanting to exist in general. Don't be afraid to ask for help. You are not weak, or inferior; you are just dealing with an illness. If it turns out that you are just sad, nothing wrong there either, it happens to us all. Remember to be kind to yourself!

I would point you to our Depression guide on 7Cups to see if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. But even then, I would strongly suggest seeing a trained professional in diagnosing you properly, as untreated depression is not what anyone would ever want. Try your best to take care of your mental space, and make sure to eat all of your meals and stay hydrated and stay passionate in the activities and hobbies that you adore the most. Furthermore, rely on your closest friends! Surround yourself with positive energy and feel safe and comfortable around those who you love the most.

You can't really know the answer to that until you go see an actual therapist or someone professional. Plus, I don't think you want to hear some advice or "suggestions" from an armature. I would assume that it could be depression, but then thing with depression is that you don't necessarily feel sad. You would feel unmotivated to do anything and you just don't feel right. Nor do you necessarily cry when you're depressed. So, I would think that it's just sadness, but my answer doesn't stop you from going to an actual professional to get an actual diagnosis.

you may be depressed. more than 260 million people today are depressed. its very common but you may feel so alone! but you are not. there's many available treatments for depression form antidepressants to therapy. and if your not into those sorts of things there's some thing you can do at home like eat balanced meals, exercise but more importantly surround yourself by people who will support and care for you. these things aren't guaranteed though. and they may not work for you, so its reccomended you get treated by a doctor before it progresses. its also very possible your just sad. maybe somethings happen to you recently that could cause you to be sad. but if you feel this way for more then two weeks, your probably more than just sad.

It is hard to tell, given I am not a psychologist, maybe you could go to one to know! But make sure you know that even if you are or are not, something is not right. You should try and look for ways to improve your situation, maybe such as idenitfying the problem, or by looking online for help! This website is great for speaking to people, and other strategies such as exercising, mediation or binaural beats can help you improve your mood! Make sure you do proper research before implementing any of these stratergies though! Im wishing all the best for you, good luck! :D

You can be depressed and still have periods of happiness. You can be just sad and sometimes feel like you can't get out of bed. Whether you could receive a formal diagnosis of depression or not, your feelings are still valid. You cry and you feel pain, and you seem to be listening to that pain. No matter the severity of the emotions, we can still take steps to help you feel better. We can take steps to get more smiles laughs. You know best when it comes to your emotions, so although the answer to the question is not as important as your reaction to it, you're the only one who can answer.

Depression can look a little different for everybody, and can even vary between episodes for the same person. Sometimes I feel like I have a sneak attack depressive episode because it turns up looking totally different that what I'm used to. But just because your symptoms may not check every box does not mean that it is not depression. Sometimes the suspicion you might be in a depression is the best indicator that you are. I'd recommend speaking to your doctor about the possibility that you have depression and see what they say. I hope you feel better soon.