What's the difference between stress and depression?

What is the difference between stress and depression? – Know the symptoms

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Almost everyone has experienced stress. Stress is normal and is good for you in certain situations. When you are stressed, for example because work is pilling up or because you are planning on a wedding, you will be increasingly triggered to focus on problems and try improving your performance at work. However, you need to be careful because if you have gone through stress, you may suffer from depression. Even in some cases, depression can occur without stress. So, what is the difference between stress and depression?

People are often confused stress and depression as interchangeable terms. The fact is, these two things have fundamental differences. How stress and depression work are not the same, so the response will also be different. If not handled properly, depression can endanger one’s mental health, physical, even their life. So, it’s important for you to recognize the difference between stress and depression so you can take care of yourself properly before it’s too late.

 

What is the difference?

Stress versus Depression
Stress and Depression are not the same

Stress usually starts from feeling overwhelmed due to the amount of pressure from outside and inside someone who has lasted for a long time. Stress can encourage you to be more eager to face challenges, but it can also break your spirits. This is because everyone has different mechanisms for dealing with stress.

When you are stressed, your body reads an attack or threat. As a mechanism of self-protection, the body will produce various hormones and chemicals such as adrenaline, cortisol, and norepinephrine. As a result, you will feel an energy boost and increased concentration so that you can respond effectively to sources of pressure. The body will also automatically turn off bodily functions that are not needed, such as digestion.

However, if stress arises at times that are not desirable, blood will flow to parts of the body that are useful for responding physically like the feet and hands so that brain function decreases. This is why many people find it difficult to think clearly when under stress.

In contrast to stress, depression is a mental illness that adversely affects mood, feelings, stamina, appetite, sleep patterns, and the level of concentration of sufferers. Depression is not a sign of unhappiness or character defects.

Depression is not a natural condition such as stress or panic. People who suffer from depression will usually feel lost enthusiasm or motivation, constantly feeling sad and fail, and easily tired. This condition can last for six months or more. So, people who suffer from depression usually find it difficult to go about their daily activities such as working, eating, socializing, studying, or driving normally.

Anyone can get depressed, especially if there is a history of depression in your immediate family. Research also shows that women are more at risk of developing depression than men.

 

Symptoms of stress

Stress can happen to anyone, including school-age children. Look at the following symptoms of depression to find out if you are experiencing stress or depression.

– Hard to sleep
– Memory loss
– Concentration disorders
– Changes in diet
– Easily to get angry and offended
– Feeling nervous more often
– Feeling overwhelmed by tasks at school or the office
– Feeling afraid of not being able to complete tasks well

Symptoms of depression

 

Depression
Symptoms of depression

Signs of depression are far more complicated than stress symptoms. Its appearance can be gradual so it is difficult to really realize when depression first strikes. The following are various depressive symptoms that usually occur.

– Withdraw from the social and family environment
– Feeling sad as if there is no hope anymore
– Loss of enthusiasm, motivation, energy, and stamina
– Difficult to make a decision
– Eat less or more than usual
– Sleep longer or longer than usual
– Difficult to concentrate
– Difficult to remember things
– Feeling guilty, failed, and alone
– Having continuous negative thoughts
– Easily disappointed, angry, and offended
– Difficult to undergo daily activities
– Lost interest in things that are usually you enjoyed
– Having the thought of suicide

How to deal with depression

If you find that you are depressed, you must take action immediately. Depression is a disease that can be cured if the treatment is right. However, depression cannot be cured by you alone. You need help from others. Try to have a counseling session with a psychologist or psychiatrist. You may also be referred to various therapies such as Behavioral Cognitive Therapy (CBT) and psychotherapy.

What is the solution?

When you are stressed, you can divert that stress by looking for entertainment, picnics, maintaining a sense of humor, socializing, sports, or trying to meditate, tai chi, and other activities that are interesting and fun for you.

If that doesn’t relieve stress, you can also talk to the doctor about how you feel and think because maybe it’s depression, not stress.

Stress can pass when we have less burden on our mind. Relaxing massage with aromatherapy and listening to soothing music can help reduce your burden when stress suppresses.

Continuous feelings of sadness in people with depression cannot simply be cured with holidays or entertainment due to brain changes that make a person lose interest in many things.

To help you deal with depression or sink yourself into protracted sadness, treatment with antidepressants and sedatives can be the solution. Sleeping pills may also be offered for those of you who have insomnia or difficulty falling asleep. Remember that being depressed isn’t your fault, but you can fight it. Tell your situation honestly to the people closest to you so they can support and help you recover faster.

What are the dangers if depression is not treated?

Do not underestimate or let depression just like that because the impact is very dangerous. Various studies have found a very close relationship between depression with liver disease and heart failure. In addition, research also shows that people suffering from depression are 58% more likely to develop obesity due to drastic dietary changes and lack of exercise. If not treated seriously, depression at a young age can reduce the ability of the brain and increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and stroke.

In some cases, those who have been severely depressed tend to try to end their lives with suicide. So, it’s about time you take stress and depression seriously. Recognize the difference and deal immediately with stress and depression before it’s too late.

What's the difference between stress and depression?

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We Stress Free does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. However, if you need someone to talk to and want to make friends, please feel free to reach me at ferra@westressfree.com. If you would like to REDUCE your STRESS and are interested to do an ONLINE THERAPY, you can do so here.
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Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

 

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14 thoughts on “What is the difference between stress and depression? – Know the symptoms

  1. Very insightful post, I’m sure many people experience difficulty telling when they are encountering stress and depression. It’s becoming so much more prevalent in the world, or else people are disclosing that they have it as opposed suffering in silence.

    I’d love to see an article on the difference between stress and anxiety.

    1. Hi Sharon,

      Thank you for taking time to visit my site, read my post and leave a comment. I really appreciate it!

      Yes, you’re right. It is difficult for some people. I have a close friend whom I knew since in junior high school, she is an introvert and she is very picky in choosing who she will share her feelings with. Everyone has their own method they choose in order to relieve their stress. It would be great if the outlets they choose are positive and useful for them.
      Thanks again for your comment. Your idea about an article on the difference between stress and anxiety is already on my list of future posts. 😃
      Cheers,
      Ferra

  2. These two things can some times go hand in hand where one brings the other along with a and in my own case, stress brings depression to me. Whenever I am having a difficult time with anything I am doing for a period of time, especially days, and can’t see a way forward, it affects my mental health and boom, depression sets in for me. Now that I know how it all works, I am really working hard to avoid stress or task that would make me sad.

    1. Hi Benson,

      Thank you for taking time to visit my site, read my post and leave a comment. I really appreciate it! 😃 👍 

      I am glad you found this post is useful. 

      Whenever you are going through a hard time, start feeling sad or having negative thoughts, quickly divert those to make yourself busy by doing something you enjoy and especially if it is making something like art, or a writing, you’ll feel a good feeling by accomplishing something you are proud of. Deep breathing could be one thing you’d like to look at in order to help you to reduce your stress.

      Stay safe and healthy! Take care!

      Ferra 💕

  3. Thank you so much for sharing this article. Now a days many people fight between stress and depression. But most of them are unable to understand they are in depression or stress. This article is a eye opener for all.of us. All of the solution and points are useful. The whole article is very informative. I habe a close friends who fights with depression a lot. I will share the CBT therapy with her and request her to take it. 

    again i thank you for this thoughtful article. Everyone must read this article. I will share this article to y social.media account so that everyone can read this article and be benefited.

    1. Hi Sumaiya,

      Thank you for taking time to visit my site, read my post and leave a comment. I really appreciate it! 😃 👍 

      I am glad you found this post is useful. Yes, please. Sharing is caring. Thank you for thinking of sharing this post to your social media accounts.

      Stay safe and healthy! Take care!

      Ferra 💕

  4. Hi There,

    Signs of depression are far more complicated than stress symptoms for sure as you can be depressed and some people don’t know you are but stress shows it’s the ugly face in full light in my eyes. I suffer from Psychosis which if not treated it can be horrible in the terms nothing is real. I’m fine now after new medication that worlds 100%. Great website I hope lots of people read your content it’s a subject many need to learn. 

    Steve

    1. Hi Steve,

      Thank you for taking time to visit my site, read my post and leave a comment. I really appreciate it! 😃 👍 

      I am glad you found this post is useful. Sending you virtual hugs. You can defeat stress and depression. If there’s anything I can help you with, please let me know.

      Stay safe and healthy! Sleep well tonight!

      Ferra 💕

  5. Many thanks to you for sharing such an excellent article with us .We all live under some stress because we are not completely stress free.And because of these emotional stresses, I suffer from depression, and I keep thinking about different kinds of stresses.But in the face of this emotional stress and frustration, I cannot express it.I loved reading your article and learned about the difference between depression and depression and its symptoms.

    1. Hello Shariful,

      Thank you for taking time to visit my site, read my post and leave a comment. I really appreciate it! 😃 👍 

      I am glad you found this post is useful. Sending you virtual hugs. You can defeat stress and depression. If there’s anything you need me to help you with, please let me know.

      Stay safe and healthy! Sleep well tonight!

      Ferra 💕

  6. Hello dear Ferra. I must thank you for the useful posts you’ve upload here to your site. I’ve read a few of them and have bookmarked your site because I want to continue reading them further on.

    It’s good to know the difference, and I know depression is far more complicated. But Identifying the symptoms on time can be a game change. Once again, thanks!

    1. Hello Paolo,

      Thank you for taking time to visit my site, read my post and leave a comment. I really appreciate it! 😃 👍 

      I am glad you found this post is useful. If there’s anything I can help you with, please do let me know.

      Stay safe and healthy! 

      Ferra 💕

  7. Timely post Ferra!

    I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I’ve been experiencing stress from work for a long time now but lately, it’s affecting me to a point that I don’t have the appetite to either eat nor work anymore for that matter. I know that when there’s passion, work does not cause stress but lately, the stress is too much that it causes me to lose interest in passion.

    Is that normal for people to go through that? I’m thinking that it’s more to depression but the symptoms also show stress :/

    1. Hello Riaz,

      It is normal for people like you and me to experience stress at work. Severe stress at work can occur due to various pressures but if you left it unchecked, in addition to affecting your mental state, stress can also affect your health. As you mentioned, your stress has come to the point that you lose interest in eating and working. That is a symptom of depression. When the stress has made us difficult to function well, it is not stress anymore. You can start taking measures by reducing your stress at home following the suggestions in my post. However, when it is still bothering you and it has affected your health, maybe you should seek help from professionals.

      Thank you for sharing and leaving your comment on this post. If there’s anything I can help you with, please do let me know. 

      Stay safe, happy and healthy!

      Cheers,

      Ferra

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