Sadness is unavoidable in daily life and sometimes it can be difficult to move past. A depressive episode isn’t the same as sadness but it can be easily confused. Primarily, depression is a source of sadness rather than a reaction to something sad. Although it may be initiated by something specific, a depressive episode will last longer and/or be more intense than what.would be considered reasonable sadness. It can also feature a wide range symptoms like disordered sleeping, appetite changes, loss of energy, loss of interests and suicidal ideation. Almost 20% of the population has experienced a period of depression at some point in their lives. More than one fourth of this group will develop a disorder that is associated with depression, of which there are several types.