The need for a different word comes from a bit of linguistic trickery we tend to perform.

Because we tend to think of people with "depression" as being "depressed", we are apt to ask questions, like, "What do you have depression about?"

This question makes no more sense than "What do you have cancer about?" (thanks to Stephen Fry for the comparison) but because it does make sense to ask, "What are you depressed about?" it can be difficult to explain this to people.

Physiologically, it isn't at all clear that "depression" and "being depressed" are species of the same genus. The latter is a transient, perfectly healthy, emotional state. The former is a persistent, unhealthy neuro-physical state.

So having less similar words for things of a different kind that are often confused would be a good thing.

Just for those curious about the Fry quote, I think it might originate from his blog, himself quoting Alastair Campbell. At the very least there's a nice reference to it, and I'm happily crawling along the links enjoying it.

http://www.stephenfry.com/2013/06/24/only-the-lonely/

http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/2013/06/10/response-to-...

In short, it's a difference in kind, not degree, and that 100% merits a different word.

I propose we just say we're "feeling down" to describe "situational depression".

>why does your wife need a different word?

Because stories like yours, in context, tend to say (in subtext or not) "I was sad once but then I did X and I was fine, so what are you whining about? Just go do X!" This often includes an implication that the depressed person should not receive empathy, comfort, or even respect because their failure to make themselves 'snap out of it' indicates a moral weakness that ought to be punished. The statement may or may not include something along the lines of "she just likes drama" or "she just wants attention."

From the perspective of someone with a more or less normal emotional range, this kind of makes internal sense. You've been sad before, you equate that with the depressed person's mental state, and then you think, "Wait, when I was sad, at least I didn't Y or mope around in front of my friends or ask for disability accomodiations, etc. That person is weak and needy and whining." If your experiences were, in fact, equivalent, that might be valid.

But they are not. Not close. Not by several orders of magnitude. It's like seeing someone throw up and chiding them for not knowing their limits, when in fact they are in chemotherapy.

But then posts like yours are at risk of saying "you only think you had depression, but you got better, so fuck you for faking it you liar. I have real depression".

It's not that "your experience wasn't real depression" because people experience it differently and "real" depression is a uselessly ill-defined concept.

It is that "your experience does not make you qualified to pass negative judgements on others who are probably experiencing something very different from you."

Okay, but you will get that even if you use differet words for depression. You could say "I have 'detailed-specific-cancer-name", and people will give you bullshit advice about some other totally different cancer.

Changing the name of a diagnosis does nothing to reduce ignorance of that diagnosis.

The other replies have beat me to the punch, and they have it right. Other people have been depressed about things in the passing sense of depression, and they think whatever got them out of their depression will also work for my wife, and they often share their advice with her. After hearing scores of simplistic suggestions, my wife is reluctant to describe herself as having depression: not out of shame or embarrassment, but because she wants to avoid the maddening anger she feels when a well-intentioned person glibly offers advice.

"Oh, that is so sad. When I had depression, I found that picking up a new hobby, like gardening, did wonders for me! I have some gardening books you can borrow."

"Depression? Well, the trick is to just put whatever it is that caused it behind you."

"How can you be depressed? You look great, you have a wonderful family, and you are in good health! Stop focusing on the negative and open your eyes to the great things you have!"

"Where do you attend church?" ... "Oh, you don't? What you need to do is let Jesus Christ into your life. God has a wonderful plan for you and I'm sure you'll be better once you open your ears and listen to His message. Once you realize that Jesus walks with you every step and loves you unconditionally, it will absolutely lift your spirits up!"

"I was depressed too, but then I found this wonderful energy worker. He completely reshaped my life energy field and I've never felt better. What is your email? You need to call him today!"

All of those people say exactly the same thing about cancer. "You should try this tea!"

John Diamond (died of throat cancer) wrote some books about it.

It doesn't matter what you call a mental illness: you're going to find ignorant idiots giving stupid worthless advice or voicing their horrible uninformed stigmatising opinion as if it's obvious fact.

Different word because there is a colloquial meaning "I am depressed because my car died on the way to work" or "Wow, that movie was depressing." which isn't even in the same ballpark as the disease.