Finding the Right Words

People use the wrong terminology all the time. Sometimes it is not a huge deal and readers can figure out the meaning. For example, people misuse who and whom. Both words are important in the English language and can make the article better. Or effect and affect. This is a common mistake, yet readers can understand the point of the sentence. Even if the reader notices the mistake, they can interpret the meaning. Fortunately, neither of these examples are harmful to the reader. Then there are times when the wrong terminology can be harmful. For example, the difference between sadness and depression. When these two words are confused, the result could be devastating to all those involved.

Everyone experiences sadness at some point in life and it is a natural occurrence. However, when does sadness become real depression? A character died in your favorite tv series does not make you depressed, you are sad. While the loss of a loved one starts out as sadness it can turn into depression if coping skills are not utilized.

The misuse of sadness and depression can be harmful. If you went to see a psychiatrist and were diagnosed with depression because of a fictional character death what would that do? The doctor might prescribe antidepressants that are not necessary. The psychiatrist would either get fired or lose their license. Plus, you would carry around the stigma and the label of “depression.” How would you feel if you had to walk around knowing that you were not depressed, but you experienced a sad event, and everyone thought you were depressed? You might get treated differently within the workplace, treated differently by your friends and family, and even miss out on opportunities because of the diagnoses. However, being told “you’re just sad” when you are depressed can be just as harmful.

Mayo clinic defines depression as a “mood disorder that causes persistent sadness and loss of interest.” In other words, sadness can turn into depression if not coped with or medicated properly. Telling someone they are “just sad” when they lost a love one can be hurtful and make the individual feel worse. The receiving individual might even spiral into a deeper depression.

So how do we tell the difference between “just being sad” and clinical depression? It can be tough, but it is extremely important to notice certain symptoms. If the sadness is persistent and does not go away, usually someone is depressed. Sadness on its own goes away. However, if nothing makes the sadness go away, the individual might be depressed. Another key sign is the loss of interest in something that was once enjoyable. Now, people do change and so do their interests. However, if the person does not want to do anything, that is a problem.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 450 million people worldwide suffer from a mental health condition, in the U.S, about 1 in 5 adults will experience mental illness in a course of a year. Children are not exempt from mental health. Approximately 21% of children ages 13-18 suffer from a serious mental health condition and 13% of children from 8-15 experience a serious mental health condition as well.

One of the key factors is to catch depression early and knowing the signs is vital. Depression experts agree that depression caught early can determine a more effective treatment. While sadness is a part of life, depression does not have to be. It is easy to mix up these terms and as a health care professional, I see it all the time. However, knowing the difference can save someone’s life.