What is the difference between sadness and depression?

Similarly, sadness is not an illness and is not depression either. When I describe depression—which, of course, contains profound sadness—people have a hard time individuating it in their minds from sadness, but they are quite different. Sadness is a Normal, Human Emotion Sadness is something we all experience; it’s a normal, human emotion. We experience it when we experience something unpleasant in life—a loss, a disappointment, and so on. Sadness is what happens when you get a divorce. Sadness is what happens when you’re stood up for a date. Sadness is what happens when normal events occur in ways that are hurtful. Sadness can occur at very regular intervals in our everyday lives. However, sadness is not constant. Sadness is not an every-moment-of-every-day thing like depression is. Sadness relents, depression doesn’t. Sadness is interrupted by periods of laughter; depression often can’t be budged by even the most talented comedian. Sadness may usher in negative thoughts but it does not propel a person into a place of suicidal ideation. Sadness may reduce our ability to enjoy life but it doesn’t destroy it all together. Sadness may last for what feels like a long period of time, but it does not remain constant for weeks or months. Sadness doesn’t produce significant weight changes or prolonged periods of sleep changes. Sadness doesn’t include psychosis. In short, depression is so far beyond sadness that comparing the two is almost laughable. Sadness is painful and it sucks, but it is normal and it does pass. Depression is beyond painful. It’s life-altering, it is not normal, and often does not resolve itself without medical intervention. Medicalization of Normal, Human Emotion It’s important to understand the difference between sadness and depression because it clarifies which is an illness and which is not. It’s important to realize that depression is not a medicalization of normal, human emotion. Depression is a real illness. It is very different from sadness. And skilled clinicians can tell the difference between the two. People with Depression are Not Just “Sad” Just as cell growth is normal in a person, we call out of control cell growth an illness—we call it cancer. Depression is exactly the same. Depression is when a normal, human emotion gets out of control to the point where it is no longer normal. Considering someone with an illness merely to be “sad” is an insult to that person and minimizes an illness that takes thousands of lives every year. And we can’t afford to do that, lest the illness take one more.

Sadness is something that is only experienced for a short amount of time. Unfortunately, depression is something much more consuming and that is with you every day.

While sadness might last a long time it does not invade your whole being on the same level as depression. Depression soaks through every crevice, poisoning whatever positive thoughts or emotions existed in your body. It changes your behaviour for the worse and in the beginning you will be completely helpless against it.

From my experience with talking to people who are sad and depression, is that "sadness" is more of a definite solid emotion, while depression is something more complicated; a turmoil of not only sadness, and despair, but also a feeling of "numbness"; you feel numb to many emotions, you not only aren't sure how to feel happy, but also sad. You see no purpose in your actions and life because you're numb from it. It's something that really engulfs someone from the inside and out.

From a psychopathological approach, sadness is a natural, transient emotion, and there is nothing wrong with it. As long as it maintains a reasonable balance with other emotions, it is fine. Depression is a psychological mood disorder defined by a deep, persistent sadness that continues for an extended amount of time. Depressive sadness rarely goes away and causes you to isolate yourself from others and abandon the activities you once enjoyed. You often cannot identify a cause of the sadness, and nothing you do makes it go away. When sadness consumes and defines your life for months or years, it has become depression, but you must see a licensed professional to be officially diagnosed.

Sadness is something you can easily over come or may even fade with time. Depression, is chemicals going wrong and it sucks away life from the person it effects. It's a horrible epidemic that affects millions of people. It's hard to over come and needs help to be beaten, which is why we should look after one another.

Depression is for life, sadness is a day, a week or an hour, sadness is temporally, you have to learn to live with depression without comitte suicide

While sadness usually only lasts for a little while (perhaps a day or so, depending on the situation), depression will linger. Depression is more long-term, and can have a great impact on your ability to function.

Sadness is a normal human emotion. All people experience sadness when they meet something unpleasant in their life. It is not constant. Depression is long term and does not resolve itself without help of doctor.

Sadness is a short length of low feelings with a potential happiness. Depression is longer & painful