What separates depression from sadness and stress?

Depression is an illness. One of it's symptoms might be sadness, but it's much more complex. Sadness and stress however, are feelings, they eventually pass.

I think when you have depression, it takes the energy out of you. Sadness and stress can be very similar. But with sadness, you can get very emotional and want to feel loved.

Depression is usually characterized as a feeling that goes on for an extended period of time. However, sadness and stress are both factors that can lead to or trigger depression. If you think you have depression, I urge you to go see a professional who can correctly diagnose you. And if you ever need someone to talk to about how your feeling, feel welcome to come to 7 cups :)

Everyone gets sad and stressed from time to time however whenever that sadness does not go away and that stress overtakes and your daily life begins to be a struggle then you need to begin to get help and consider the possibility of depression.

Depression has many more components than simply sadness and the feeling of stress. It can include things like feeling worthless, hopeless, and give people the want to die, while simultaneously doing things like taking away pleasure from activities you once liked, and changing sleeping and eating patterns. So, in general, depression is much more complicated than sadness and stress.

Depression is like a parasite, it won't leave you that easily; it'll put miles between your inner Self and your grasp on reality. And even in those rare stances when you think you might need to do something to get out of it, it'll always make you feel like it's already too late. It's a constant state; it's feeling numb and feeling pain at the same time. Sadness and stress, on the other hand, might be more temporary; sometimes, it may also be easier to pinpoint the cause of sadness and/or stress, as compared to depression. It's harder to accept empathy as a helping hand if you're depressed; it's harder to see a way out.

For me personally, I would say depression might color many/most aspects of my life and be a condition that lasts longer and comes and goes. Sadness and stress are more short term, though they also may come and go, and can be related a little more directly to specific situations/events. Depression can fit into those categories as well, but doesn't always show itself just through sadness and stress. Sadness and stress feel like more temporary states of mind (again, that may come and go throughout one's life) and may more often have a concrete trigger attached to them, whereas depression is more pervasive and can effect more areas of someone's life for a longer period of time.

Sadness and stress could Temporary for several days, but depression it could be for months or even years. Usually when you are sad or stressed you can determine the cause, but the depression most people can't determine what cause it. Sadness and stress are one of depression feelings, because usually depression is several feelings. Sadness could be the first stage of the depression if the cause didn't solved as well as stress. Sadness don't need medication to be healed. Sadness and stress could affect your life for days or weeks, but depression not only for months or years it could also leads for serious problem, like heart problem or Or problems with the digestive system. There is a lot of differences but I think those are the biggest, take care of yourself, if you have sadness or stress find the solution before it gets worse.

Sadness and stress come and go. They act like bursts of intense emotion, sometimes passing as easily as they came. Depression works much like a thick fog. It covers everything. It doesn't matter how good things are, or how bright the world is, you can't see through the fog. It distracts, and tries to keep you from focusing on the good. The upside is, the world will keep going. Fight depression, and when you come back into a clear head, you will wonder why you were depressed in the first place. It takes time and effort, but it is possible. There is so much to be happy about, you just have to clear away the fog to see it. I fought it, and while I look back and wonder why I let it get to me, I am so happy on the path forward, and often find that I have forgotten what was so bad in the first place. If you are going through it, you are not alone. You may not be able to see those who are struggling, but they are right beside you, and it will get better. Keep walking!