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?

it is probably both. It could be like times in my life when this happens and I am just low or depressed and at other times I am able to see some hope.

You should seek trained professionals for help on this subject, however in my own opinion, a lot of these signs seem to show as symptoms of depression.

You may just be going through a bout of sadness, or you may have a serious problem. Just because you can smile or laugh sometimes does not make your problem invalid. Also just because you sleep and eat does not make it invalid. If you need any support do not hesitate to contact me

No one can diagnose you as depressed other than a doctor. However, apathy, lack of motivation, and extended periods of sadness can be indicators of depression. I recommend going to see a doctor if this lasts longer than two weeks to get a professional opinion and hopefully some help.

its hard to know if you're clinically depressed without an official diagnosis. it could be depression; just because you smile and are happy sometimes doesn't mean you don't have depression.

Depression isn't necessarily a constant thing so it's entirely possible you are depressed. Everyone depression looks different. I'd recommend you consider seeing a therapist or psychiatrist to figure out if you need help

This is a very difficult question and the answer could be either. If you feel that this is a problem for you, i think that it would be best for you to visit a doctor and they could better help you.

Does the label really matter? Call it depressed; call it sad, or call it anything you like. You are concerned right now about how you feel. It's important to sleep and eat decently but what emotions cause you to cry for many hours? Sometimes sadness is "situational" because something terrible has happened. Someone you love or your long time pet has died. That's to be expected. Sometimes we can feel unhappy for seemingly no reason at all. It is probably a wise idea to check that sort of sadness out, especially if it lasts for quite a while.

To be depressed doesn't mean you can't be happy sometimes. I'm a really depressed yet cheerful person and I always laugh when I want to. You are a really honest person when it's about your feeling and that's good! Being depressed i's a feeling to you have to deal for a long period of time while being sad it's almost just a short phase.

you are depressed, because depression is a long-term sadness causing to not eat and sleep. Sad is a short-term feeling unmotivated.