Everybody experiences sadness from time to time, and the same can be said for depression. The need for mental health help and treatment for depression arises when it becomes something altogether different than sadness, and much more all-encompassing. How then to know if you are merely sad, temporarily depressed, or in the throes of a mindset that requires depression therapy? Let's compare the issues side by side and see what we can learn.

Life comes with stress, and we all experience it from time to time. Our everyday lives are stressful, and occasionally specific situations come up that add to that stress level. A disappointment at work, trouble in a relationship, or a family illness are all examples of situations that can add stress to our lives. In such situations it is normal to feel down or even sad. Normally this feeling passes after a few days, or as soon as the issue at hand is resolved.

If you are experiencing this type of normal sadness or stress there is nothing to worry about. Clinical depression, however, is something entirely different.

Clinical depression involves a change in your ability to function for a period of two weeks or longer. Consider the following symptoms:

• Significant change in appetite resulting in weight loss or gain

• Recurring disturbances in sleep patterns

• Increase agitation or inability to relax for an extended period of time

• Fatigue, lethargy or loss of energy for an extended period of time

• Sadness, despondency, despair, loneliness, or feeling of worthlessness

• Inability to concentrate, focus or make decisions

• Thoughts of death or suicide

• Plans for suicide or an attempt at suicide

Now imagine them playing out over a period of weeks, months or even years. Over time these symptoms decrease your ability to function on a day-to-day basis. Worse yet, because you've lived with these issues over an extended period of time you may not even recognize that what you are experiencing is abnormal.

If you're experiencing depression but are afraid to reach out for whatever reason, we strongly encourage you to walk through that fear and seek the help you need. Sadness is OK and will pass, but depression can literally steal all of your hope regarding the present and the future.

Depression cannot be overcome by waiting it out or wishing it away, but it can be overcome. A Place of Hope reminds you that it is possible to embrace the joy in life again.