What Does Depression Feel Like? The Difference Between Sadness and Depression

What does depression really feel like — and how is it different from ordinary sadness?

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, psychologists Dr. Robert Duff, Dr. Margaret Rutherford, and Dr. Maduka Trivedi help clarify one of the most misunderstood topics in mental health. While sadness is a temporary emotional state, depression is a serious and persistent illness that can impact every part of life.

Through metaphors, expert insights, and lived experience, our guests explain why depression is not a weakness, why positive events don’t always “snap someone out of it,” and what symptoms signal a need for professional help. If you’ve ever wondered whether what you—or someone you love—are experiencing is sadness or depression, this episode offers clarity, validation, and hope.

Primary Topics Covered:

• What depression feels like vs. what sadness feels like
• Dr. Robert Duff’s “Big D” vs. “Little d” depression explanation
• Depression as a recurring pattern and “parasite”
• Why sadness fades but depression lingers day and night
• Dr. Margaret Rutherford on forgetting how to be happy
• The hidden faces of depression: irritability, exhaustion, despair
• Dr. Maduka Trivedi on why external positives don’t cure depression
• Clinical signs of major depression (per WebMD’s criteria)
• When to seek professional help and available treatments

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Why sadness and depression are often confused  
01:14 – Episode overview and why this distinction matters  
02:24 – Dr. Robert Duff on “Big D” vs. “Little d” depression  
03:24 – Depression as a recurring uphill battle  
04:25 – Metaphors: depression as a “parasite” that feeds on itself  
05:09 – Dr. Margaret Rutherford on crossing from sadness into depression  
06:55 – Why depression consumes daily life in a way sadness does not  
07:07 – Forgetting happiness: why it’s not a choice  
07:31 – Depression as a genetic predisposition, not weakness  
08:45 – Dr. Maduka Trivedi: the two major signals of depression  
09:48 – Why positive events don’t always shift depression’s weight  
10:23 – WebMD’s nine symptoms of major depression  
11:22 – How to recognize major depressive disorder  
11:33 – Treatment options: therapy, medication, and sleep hygiene  
11:45 – Closing encouragement for those living with depression  

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