What Is the Difference Between Depression & Stress?

Everyone experiences stress as a part of everyday life. And even though it is not as severe as clinical depression, we've all gone through the blues and felt down. Both stress and depression create an ebb and flow---highs and lows---that range from mild to extreme but beyond that the two have distinct characteristics.

Stress

• Stress is the tension that results from our daily interaction with the world. Our bodies are equipped with a natural physiological mechanism called the "Fight or Flight" response. Its purpose is to give the body the energy it needs to face the stressful situation. To do this the body automatically increases the heart rate along with the blood supply to the heart and brain, makes more glucose available for quick energy, and breathing becomes more rapid. All of these responses are caused by hormones that return to normal levels once the stress goes away. If stress remains high, the hormone levels stay up and the physiological responses continue to the point where they begin to cause physical damage.

Symptoms of Stress

• The stress response is a physical reaction that impacts your entire body. Symptoms can be physical, emotional, and behavioral. You may experience headaches, an upset stomach, chest pain, high blood pressure, problems sleeping, and heart palpitations. The range of emotional responses includes worry, anxiety, sadness, anger, forgetfulness, and loss of concentration. Common behavioral symptoms are eating too much or too little, crying, social isolation, angry meltdowns, and abuse of drugs or alcohol.

Depression

• Depression is a biochemical imbalance that causes a significant change in mood. The nerve cells in the brain communicate with one another by using chemicals called neurotransmitters. Some of these chemicals play a major role in maintaining moods, so if they are not available in adequate amounts, the result is depression.

Symptoms of Depression

• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders states that the symptoms of depression must be present nearly every day for two weeks and they must be severe enough to impact your ability to function. The key symptoms are low energy and a loss of interest in your normal activities. Your appetite may change, you may gain or lose weight, and sleep may become either excessive or impossible. Depression can cause agitation, affect your ability to concentrate, and result in thoughts of death or suicide.

Comparison

• Stress and depression share some of the same symptoms. Both are also rooted in biochemical responses, but they operate using different chemical pathways. Stress serves a legitimate purpose; depression doesn't. Mild to moderate stress can be managed with purposeful relaxation and lifestyle changes. Depression can be helped with cognitive therapy, but it frequently needs medication to restore chemical balance. Prolonged stress can ultimately result in very serious physical illnesses including a weakened immune system and heart disease. Eating too much or too little during depression or stress will also cause health issues. Depression also has severe consequences as it interrupts personal relationships, interferes with job performance, and causes physical deterioration through lack of care. The differences end when prolonged stress causes depression.