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With the dead of winter coming this February first to a colder climate near you, many will feel inexplicably down. Many still will chalk it up to having the winter blues, but is it the blues or Depression? Here’s what you need to know.
Depression and the blues are two different psychological states. The blues refer to a temporary feeling of sadness, low mood, or melancholy, often caused by a specific event or situation, and usually resolve within a few days. Depression is a persistent and severe state of sadness, loss of interest and pleasure in life, and can also include physical symptoms like fatigue and changes in appetite. Depression is usually longer lasting and may require treatment.
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Say you get ghosted after going on a few dates with someone. Not cool by the way. You may feel sad about it for a few days, aka, blue, but move past it. Then BAM! you’re back to swiping on your favorite dating app. In other words, your feelings were temporary.
Depression though, as mentioned above, it’s a long-term persistent mental illness. Usually marked by loss of interest and the energy to counter said loss of interest. Depression is so debilitating in fact, that it’s the leading cause of disability in the world.
Jonathan speaking at the
On February 23, 2023
His talk was on the ways in which you can take back your life when you have trauma and major depressive disorder
Now, you can watch Jonathan Speak at the Stop Depression Summit – FREE!
I was honored to be part of such a wonderfully resource rich summit with some of the foremost experts in the field.
Spot the difference between the blues and depression.
1. Duration: The blues is a short-lived feeling, whereas depression can last for weeks or months.
2. Intensity: The blues are mild to moderate, while depression is severe and persistent.
3. Causes: The blues is usually triggered by a specific event or situation, while depression can have multiple causes such as genetic, biological, environmental or psychological factors.
4. Functionality: A person experiencing the blues can still carry out their daily activities, while a person with depression may have difficulty functioning in daily life.
5. Treatment: The blues usually resolve on their own, while depression may require treatment such as therapy or medication.
6. Symptoms: In addition to sadness and loss of interest, depression can also include symptoms such as fatigue, changes in appetite, insomnia, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of suicide.
Need help? Go to Our Mental Health Resources Centre
Finally, if you know you have the blues and want to shorten its stay, try walking and getting a full night’s sleep. However, if you think you may have depression, make an appointment to see a mental health professional. And read our post on Depression: When Depression Speaks
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