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Sadness

1-minute read

Everyone feels a bit down or anxious from time to time. You may have noticed that you or someone you care about has become withdrawn from friends or family or no longer enjoys things they used to love.

How is sadness different from depression?

Everyday frustrations, disappointments, work-life balance, financial stress or grief can cause an individual to feel sad. People are entitled to feel and express sadness. However, if sadness or worry go on for more than 2 weeks and start to affect daily life, this may be a symptom of depression or another disorder, such as anxiety, which needs medical assessment and treatment.

Where to get help

Find out more about the symptoms of depression.
Find out about recovery.

Last reviewed: September 2014

Need more information?

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What to look for

When is sadness normal sadness? When should you begin to worry about the young person in your life? Thinking about your young persons personality and what theyre experiencing as they develop into an adult can help you to better understand and support their emotional changes.