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Am I depressed or just sensitive?

116 Answers
Last Updated: 02/06/2023 at 10:42am
1 Tip to Feel Better
Canada
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Lianne Kirby, MA in Counselling Psychology

Counselor

I believe everyone should have the opportunity for their voice to be heard. I use a trauma informed, person centred approach in counselling.

Top Rated Answers
naturelove7727
July 7th, 2016 1:47pm
Based on personal reflection and observation upon my life experiences, I would consider myself more inclined to being a sensitive person. This sensitive trait, especially with people's feelings, and emotions, are particularly more enhanced due to my Empath identity which bestows me with the ability to be more in tune with the non-verbal cues during social interactions. Also, sensitivity is more pronounced in my disposition, because I do require a lot of personal time, privacy and space to recharge my energy levels after various social interactions. The lack of this recharging schedule would lead me to a state of detachment from the world, where I would fail to communicate with people using my effective empathetic listening skills.
Anonymous
August 6th, 2016 3:54am
Is it not possible to be both sensitive and depressed? The word 'sensitive' has negative connotations: no one can tell you if something has or has not hurt you because they are not you. Only you really know how you feel both physically and emotionally. If someone tells you that you are 'just sensitive,' they are not being very supportive. If you're concerned that you may be depressed, seek a friend, school counselor, parent, relative, or a kind therapist; there is hope.
Anonymous
September 4th, 2016 5:09pm
Do you feel sad or alone? Do you feel crushed? Or perhaps do you feel like someone is being inconsiderate to you?
miraculousBeauty49
August 5th, 2016 4:18pm
Depression isn't necessarily about taking everything to heart, it's more about not being to see any positive.
Supergirl94
August 10th, 2016 6:20am
Could be either or both :) Depressed is feeling like you are in a black hole, you have negative thoughts, you feel down about life and may be able to see some good things but primarily you feel very very sad and negative towards things. You feel unable to feel happy or boost your mood. Sensitive is where you just feel emotional towards things, where you may very easily get emotional from something someone said, something you have seen. You can't really control it but you just suddenly feel emotional or feel an emotion because of something. :)
LittleLemon96
August 17th, 2016 1:13am
it depends on your situation you can do this depression test to help you figure it out. https://www.7cups.com/depression-test/
Renderstarve13
September 3rd, 2016 10:28am
I don't know. I hope you just sensitive. Don't be so desperate. Everything will be fine. You'renot depressed
Anonymous
August 28th, 2016 11:43pm
Depression makes you think things negatively so they impact the way you see certain things, therefore feeling more sensitive. For example if you are depressed and have low self esteem, hearing someone say something negative about you will impact you more than usual.
Apollosdaughter
March 30th, 2018 4:32pm
Well, it just depends on your case history. Just by judging from the question would be improper and not good.
AmyJulianna
July 29th, 2016 2:16pm
I used to wonder the same way. I recommend taking online depression screening tests, like the one on 7cups.
Friendtoday
July 8th, 2016 11:31am
You should never make excuses for how you are feeling. If you are feeling sad or upset, take the time to think about why. If you are feeling down for an extended period of time, it might be wise to seek the help of a professional to rule depression out
TessMo
November 2nd, 2017 2:38pm
"Depressed is a very big word" as my psychologist would say. Being depressed isn't just feeling sad or blue for no reason. It's not feeling motivated to do anything, losing interest in the things that you loved doing, it's being 3" away from an unexplainable breakdown. Now I can see why these two things can be mixed. Being sensitive is self explanatory; having a very thin layer of tolerance and boat loads of emotional instability. Based on what I know, being sensitive won't make you self harm or be distant. You'll just get hurt for a while and then maybe in the next two days be over it. This is my opinion though, it might not be the right one. :)
StrongSpoonie
April 29th, 2017 8:27pm
I think it all depends on what is going on in your life. Depression and being sensitive are not mutually exclusive. Certain things like health, noise, people not listening can both agitate and depress. But, if you are phrasing sensitivity as being bothered by unimportant things, that's not the case. If something doesn't make you feel right, it is important. Don't ignore depression because you think you are just being sensitive.
Anonymous
January 13th, 2017 2:39am
This is a tough question to answer, unfortunately, since I do not know your exact circumstances. If you believe you have depression, however (or if you have any other concerns about the state of your mental health), I would advise you to speak to a licensed therapist/psychologist for the proper diagnosis and help. I will say that, from what I know of it, having depression does not mean that you are being too sensitive. While depression sometimes involves an overwhelming sense of sadness, it can also be characterized with a feeling of being "numb" or "empty." You may lose interest in all the activities that you once have enjoyed doing.
Dandroider
May 1st, 2018 6:48pm
Depression has a lot of signs, not only being sensitive, for example the inability to motivate yourself or to feel joy in things you liked before. However you can only get a reliable diagnosis by a professional.
ThatKidWhoStealsAllTheSocks
August 12th, 2016 11:07am
In this sort of situation you have to look at everything and think hard to yourself. "Is there anything going on in my life that can cause me to be depressed? Do I cause anything to cause myself depression without even knowing it? Am I surrounding myself with people who support me?"
Anonymous
April 21st, 2018 11:11pm
This is something that would actually be hard to decipher, personally I am both, so I am familiar with each spectrum. Being depressed is a very deep feeling of sadness and loneliness in the world, not because of what someone said, but because of how you are feeling your life is going. Typically, sensitivity and depression go hand-in-hand because being sensitive you take things to heart, that could be really hard on your mentality. Sensitivity is how you react towards other's emotions and depression is how you react to your own feelings.
UniqueHeart
August 25th, 2016 12:52am
Depression is a constant state of sadness where you have little energy, are lethargic, experience feelings such as anxiety, guilt, helplessness and low self esteem. You have no motivation to do things and find little enjoyment in things. You may also experience suicidal tendancies. This is very different from sensitivity - being sensitive means you feel things more deeply than others and so are more affected by these things.
JackalopeJacqui
October 12th, 2017 7:09pm
This is a tough question to answer. I do believe there is a line between the two words but I also believe they have much in common. Personally, I am not a very sensitive person and for a long time I thought you had to be very sensitive to even be depressed. But now I don't believe that is true. I spent a long time telling myself that because I wasn't overly sensitive, because I didn't cry much that I couldn't have been depressed, that didn't add up. But I was depressed and I did need help and because of this stereotyped view of depression it took me a long time to accept it. I think honestly sensitivity has little to do with depression. You shouldn't consider your sensitivity when trying to find out if you depressed. For me I had to look at my behaviors, my feelings, my thoughts and my actions to figure out I was depressed. How I reacted to events wasn't important, where I was sensitive or not. What mattered was how these events and feelings effected me in the long run. That's how I knew.
Anonymous
May 28th, 2017 11:32am
Depression can vary. It can be clinical or it can be just a period of time when you feel exhausted and sad. You can differentiate between these by talking to one of our listeners or using a guide on our website. Generally, if you are experiencing feelings of depression for longer than two weeks you might want to talk to your doctor and get more information.
Kelleyd83
October 10th, 2018 3:32am
I think the honest answer to this question is you are depressed. I know that when I was told that "you are being sensitive", it was by people who didn't understand actually what I was going through, and it made them uncomfortable to see an honest, spontaneous emotion, like sadness, fear, grief or guilt. You are not alone because many, many people go through this type of invalidation, which is a type of abuse, and no abuse is mild in comparison to another. This is only my opinion. In other words, the original emotion, perhaps, is sadness, whereas what others are telling you is that you're sensitive.
brightCandy74
September 22nd, 2016 9:01am
It depends on the person and sometimes both are interconnected. If a sensitive person grew up in a non-supportive environment, they are more likely to be depressed. If an sensitive person grew up in a supportive environment, it’s less likely they will be depressed.
sheldon0022
August 29th, 2019 1:38am
To my knowledge, depressed people are extremely sensitive. They are highly sensitive to negativity, negative thoughts and negative outcomes. They tend to see everything negatively and their brain always tend to pay more attention to negative information. They tend to process information negatively too - which is why its not just a purely 'mental' condition, there are biological reasons to why someone feels 'depressed'. One way to see if you are depressed or just sensitive is to see if you collect, process or see things in a 'negative' way. Example: When someone tells me something 'mean'. Here is what my thought process looks like: Is there any any truth to this statement? a. Yes. Okay, then I should try to improve myself. b. No. Then I will determine what type of reaction would be appropriate for this person and react accordingly. I will not feel sad, sensitive or impulsive in either of these cases. A depressed person will CONSISTENTLY see, think and feel negatively about this remark but tend to not take any actions to change either their internal or the external issues regarding it. A sensitive person that isn't depressed on the other hand will tend to react impulsively to such remarks but will not keep ruminating about it. In my opinion, I think that this a good way to differentiate whether you are depressed or just sensitive.
gentleSun78
July 25th, 2019 12:19pm
It depends on symptoms. Symptoms of depression are extreme sadness, hopelessness, loss of motivation, everything becomes hard for you, you can no longer experience joy, anhedonia, lose interest in socializing, feel lonely (it means unheard, not understood, therefore not necessarily alone). If you are sensitive, you can experience many of the emotions (including those which aren't diagnostic for depression - envy, jealousy, anger, dissapointment, fear, etc) when something triggering happens but you don't necessarily lose hope, motivation and possibility to enjoy life and have fun, you also don't necessarily lose interest in socializing. If you have got depression, you need professional help, but if you are just sensitive, you don't necessarily need professional help.
AnaNemus
September 4th, 2019 7:50am
Depending on your symptoms, depression is possible. If you’re experiencing many of the symptoms of depression over a period of two weeks, then it is likely that you are suffering from depression. Examples of some of the symptoms include feelings of hopelessness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, thoughts of death, guilt, loss of energy... etc. It is also possible that in addition to depression, you are a highly sensitive person (HSP). HSPs are highly compassionate, introspective and intelligent. They experience their emotions very intensely, which can be overwhelming. It can be easy to get lost in the world’s misery which is what makes HSPs susceptible to anxiety and depression.
Anonymous
September 8th, 2019 6:15pm
a lot of people get confused when they're sad, lots of people assume they're depressed when they're not, or the other way around. It is important to understand exactly how you are feeling to improve your mental health. There are lots of people who are struggling with academics and work due to this problem. the thing with being depressed is that it is constant and long lasting, and very life impacting at times. sensitive people tend to take words to heart and think about it a lot, which is a common symptom of depression, but sensitivity is easier to deal with. labeling your emotions and mental state is very important.
ChasingEuphoria
February 6th, 2023 10:42am
Depression is a serious medical condition that affects a person's mood, thoughts, behaviors, and physical health. It can cause feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in things that were once enjoyable. Being sensitive can also affect a person's emotions, but it is typically related to a heightened awareness or heightened emotional response to others and the world around them. If you are experiencing symptoms that are affecting your daily life, such as changes in appetite or sleep patterns, a persistent feeling of sadness or hopelessness, a loss of energy, or difficulty concentrating, it may be helpful to speak with a mental health professional. They can assess your symptoms and help you determine if you may be experiencing depression or if there are other factors at play. It's important to seek help if you are feeling overwhelmed, as early treatment can help improve your symptoms and overall well-being. There are many effective treatments available, including therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes.
Iwontjudgeipromise
November 2nd, 2019 11:03pm
I personally am not trained to give an answer to whether you are depressed or not. However, I am sorry you feel this way and advise you talk to someone close to you and maybe see a doctor. But if you want to talk anonymously to me or any other member here no one will judge you and we will all listen, however, we are under code and can not give you advise in case it turns out to worsen the situation, but everyone here is happy to talk. Once again I am sorry you feel this way and hope you feel better soon!
Michael94
August 11th, 2018 2:18am
Being sensitive can cause you to feel sadness for those around you or even yourself. Just remember these feelings of negativity are temporary and you have the power to lead yourself emotionally in another direction.
HumanEars
October 17th, 2019 5:53pm
Hard to say without knowing more. But you could be either one or both. I think that if you want to separate "being sensitive" from "being in a depression", I would try to determine is there an external factor that you are being sensitive to. Then ask "if this situation was removed, would my low mood be gone?" If you answer yes, that would likely be just being sensitive. However, if you think there is a low mood you wouldn't be able to shake, then that would likely be a good sign you are dealing with depression. Now, it isn't always easy to mentally separate the situation (or multiple situations) adequately to determine wether you are dealing with depression as well. Also, ongoing environmental factors can also be a contributing factor to the onset of depression or a depressive episode. So if you cannot confidently assess it, I would strongly recommend contacting your doctor and having them refer you to a mental health professional who can help sort that out with you, and plan a future course of action of things that might help. Even if you aren't clinically depressed, you will likely gain some tools to help your general mental wellness.