topic Depression versus situational sadness in Depression

Depression versus situational sadness

Roberty_Bob — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 00:40:49 GMT

One thing I've learned over the years managing my depression is to distinguish it from sadness. I'm in a bad place right now and I have every right to feel sad. However, because it is not inexplicable random depression I know why I feel sad and I know what to do in order to process the sadness. The most important thing for me right now is to not let this situation trigger another depressive episode.

Depression versus situational sadness

JessF — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 00:57:21 GMT

Hello Roberty_Bob, I'm just the same. I think it works in the other direction too, in that your depression can make you feel worse about a situation than it may actually be. I woke up in a very angry mood this morning, after a night of poor sleep. A number of things have happened this morning that pushed my buttons and left me thinking, I can't cope with this. Luckily before I got myself into a spiral, I was able to chat with someone and have those things put in perspective for me, and take a step back so I could see that my sleep and mood was amplifying my stress.

I think just being aware of why you are sad at the moment, and having a plan of what to do to manage it, will be a big help for you. It puts you ahead of the game.

Depression versus situational sadness

Roberty_Bob — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 01:09:27 GMT

Absolutely Jess. But that's why depression is such a horrible thing. It can just be without reason so cannot be processed, just managed.

Depression versus situational sadness

pipsy — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 02:54:49 GMT

Hi R.R Just touching base to let you know I'm thinking of you. I understand your depression, there so many things that are happening in your life that you have no control over. When you can control things, the depression doesn't seem to be so bad. When bad things happen that you have to accept, this seems to make the depression worse. Depression also feeds on the inability to stop bad things from happening. When you start feeling sad/angry, try to focus on the good things in your life. You see your kids, that's good. Concentrate on what you're going to do next time you see them. Instead of looking at the 'bad' thing i.e handing them back, look on that as possibly temporary. I know it's easy to say, I have to 'lift' myself up from insensitive remarks my ex makes. He remarked that when his dad dies, I won't be going to his funeral in case his mum makes a nasty, toxic remark to me about being there. My ex is not able to 'fend' off toxic remarks made to me by his family. It hurts and upsets me, but to feel better, I tell myself it's better not to put myself in the firing line. His parents caused us to part and he defends their actions. I got very 'down' about this till I realised he can't help being the way he is. The depression I experienced was a temporary set-back to my ego more than anything else. Once I realised what had caused the depression, I was able to move on with my life.

Hope this gives you another perspective.

Depression versus situational sadness

Roberty_Bob — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 05:59:58 GMT

Thanks for that perspective, pipsy. I agree that if we have control over a situation we are less prone to falling into depression. I used feign control through drugs and alcohol. That failed catastrophically. I now have some semblance of control over my life through healthy lifestyle choices. That seems to working so far.