Depression is not sadness in a greater dose. It is a clinical condition that changes the way a person thinks, feels their own body, sleeps, relates to others, and evaluates themselves. Confusing it with a bad moment is the reason why it is recognized late.
The difference from sadness
Sadness is linked to a reason, has a variable course, and leaves room for other things: you can be sad and laugh at a joke. Depression, on the other hand, tends to be pervasive and constant, often worse in the morning, and it takes away the ability to feel pleasure even in things that used to work. When this state lasts for weeks and does not respond to positive events, it is no longer just a low mood.
Signs not to ignore
- Persistent low mood, present almost every day for most of the day
- Loss of interest and pleasure in activities, relationships, projects that used to matter
- Disproportionate fatigue, that does not improve with rest
- Sleep disturbances: insomnia, early awakenings, or hypersomnia
- Changes in appetite and weight, either excess or deficit
- Slowing down of thought and movement, or conversely agitation
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions, even on trivial matters
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness disproportionate to the facts
- Progressive social withdrawal, often masked as "I don't feel like it"
Not all of them are necessary. If several of these signs persist for at least two weeks and affect work, study, or relationships, it's time to talk to a professional.
When it's urgent
If thoughts of harming yourself, of no longer wanting to be here, or the idea that others would be better off without you appear, don't wait for an appointment: talk to your doctor immediately, go to the nearest emergency room, or call the 112. This is not an exaggeration and it is exactly the kind of situation these services exist for.
Possible causes
Depression almost always arises from the combination of several factors: a biological predisposition, a personal history that has left specific vulnerabilities, and life events that act as triggers — a loss, the end of a relationship, job loss, illness, a period of prolonged stress. It often coexists with anxiety, so much so that the distinction between the two is not always immediate: I discuss this in the article on difference between anxiety and stress.
Why support makes the difference
One of the cruelest traits of depression is that it convinces those who experience it that asking for help is useless or undeserved. It is the symptom speaking, not reality.
A psychotherapeutic path works on two levels together: on daily functioning, to gradually recover activities and routines, and on the personal and relational dynamics that fuel the condition. In some cases it is appropriate to combine it with a medical evaluation: when needed, consultation with the treating physician or a psychiatrist is part of the process.
A journey in Florence or online
I receive clients at my office in Florence, at Via Tommaso Campanella 5, in the Campo di Marte – Coverciano area, and online. If you recognize yourself in some of the signs described, or recognize them in someone you care about, you can contact me for an initial introductory session.
Se ti riconosci in più di uno di questi segni, il primo passo può essere un colloquio con una psicologa per la depressione a Firenze.
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