Depression is a widespread problem affecting more than 264 million people worldwide. It’s the most common mental disorder, the main cause of disability globally, and, unfortunately, can even lead to suicide.
Now for the good news: depressive disorders are also highly treatable. But how do you know if you have a case of the blues or something more?
If you have feelings of sadness, you’re not alone. At Vital TMS Therapy, with offices in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and Washington, DC, our skilled team understands the complex nature of depressive disorders. We can help whether it’s an isolated incident or an ongoing problem.
Here are a few signs your sadness could be more than a healthy human emotion.
Sadness versus depression
One of the most obvious differences between sadness and depression involves duration. That’s because feeling sadness in response to an event or situation usually fades with time. And, while it may seem all-consuming at times, someone with sadness can still feel comfort and even laugh.
On the other hand, depression can make it difficult or impossible to find pleasure in anything, including people and things — even those that used to bring you joy. This distinction stems from the fact that depression isn’t an emotion; it’s a mental illness.
Unlike an emotion or feeling, depression involves:
- Chemical imbalance
- Faulty mood regulation by your brain
- Genetics
- Medications
- Medical problems
- Stressful life events
Research also shows that a combination of these factors triggers depression, not a single cause or event.
Recognizing the signs of a problem
In the United States each year, 6.8% of adults with a major depressive disorder primarily experience sadness. This frequency can make a problem easy to miss, especially when so many people casually use words like depression or depressed when describing everyday feelings of sadness.
Sadness and depression share several symptoms, but depression can also impact your thinking, behavior, and physical well-being. And, while the symptoms overlap, sadness usually improves after two weeks.
Signs of depression often include:
- Fatigue
- Headaches, upset stomach, or body aches
- Changes in sleeping or eating habits
- Gaining or losing weight
- Mood changes, like anger, irritability, or anxiety
- Problems concentrating or restlessness
- Feelings of guilt or self-loathing
- Loss of interest and enthusiasm
- Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or tearfulness
- Withdrawal from others
- Poor personal hygiene or grooming
- Slower speaking, thinking, or moving
If you find yourself thinking of death or suicide, seek help immediately. These are signs of depression that require professional care.
Finding help
Anyone can have depression at any time in their life, but we can help. In most cases, treatment for major depression involves a combination of talk therapies and antidepressant medication. However, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can also provide effective solutions.
TMS relies on magnetic energy to increase the level of neurotransmitters in your brain. These chemicals include dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine — all of the naturally occurring substances that help you feel good.
This FDA-approved therapy takes approximately 30 minutes and is completely painless, safe, and noninvasive. And it’s especially effective for treating depressive disorders that don’t respond to other approaches.
The bottom line? There’s help available, whether you have feelings of sadness or a depressive disorder. To find support, contact us by phone to schedule an appointment or request a consultation online today.
