Depression vs. Oppression — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 18, 2023
Depression is a mental health disorder marked by persistent sadness, while oppression involves unjust treatment or control exerted over others.
Difference Between Depression and Oppression
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Depression can be managed and treated with therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. However, combating oppression requires societal change, activism, and reform.
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While depression affects an individual's mental well-being and can impact their daily life, oppression affects individuals or groups in a societal context, limiting their rights, freedoms, or opportunities.
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Depression is an inward experience, often invisible to outsiders, but deeply felt by those afflicted. Oppression, while it can also have hidden facets, manifests in external actions and policies that exert control or cause harm.
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Depression pertains to a state of mind where individuals experience prolonged feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in daily activities. On the other hand, oppression refers to the act of subjecting a person or group to unjust treatment or control.
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Depression can arise due to various factors, including biological, psychological, and environmental causes. In contrast, oppression is often systemic and stems from power imbalances in societal structures.
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Comparison Chart
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Cause
Biological, psychological, environmental factors
Power imbalances, prejudice, discrimination
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Treatment/Resolution
Therapy, medication, lifestyle changes
Societal change, activism, reform
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Definitions
Oppression➦
The act of subjecting to unjust treatment or control.
The dictatorship was known for its oppression of the media.
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Depression➦
A state of mind producing serious, long-term lowering of enjoyment of life or inability to visualize a happy future.
I used to suffer from depression, but now I'm mostly content with my life.
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Oppression➦
A feeling of being weighed down or burdened.
The weight of his responsibilities felt like oppression.
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Depression➦
A hollow or sunken place on a surface.
Rainwater collected in the depression on the road.
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Oppression➦
Cruelty or harshness in action or treatment.
The villagers faced oppression at the hands of the invading army.
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Depression➦
A decline in economic trade and prosperity.
The Great Depression of the 1930s affected millions globally.
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Oppression➦
The exercise of authority in a burdensome manner.
The king's reign was marked by oppression and high taxes.
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Oppression➦
Oppression is malicious or unjust treatment or exercise of power, often under the guise of governmental authority or cultural opprobrium. Oppression may be overt or covert, depending on how it is practiced.
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Oppression➦
The action of oppressing; arbitrary and cruel exercise of power
A system of oppression.
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Oppression➦
The state of being oppressed
Caught in the oppression of poverty.
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Depression➦
A mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness or inability to experience pleasure combined with other symptoms including poor concentration, indecisiveness, sleep problems, changes in appetite, and feelings of guilt, helplessness, and hopelessness. Also called clinical depression, major depressive disorder.
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Oppression➦
A feeling of being weighed down in mind or body
"Every time I entered my house, an oppression settled on me so heavy that I had to stand for minutes at a time in the doorway, gathering what strength I could find" (Erin McGraw). "One has ... to come under the shadow of war to feel fully its oppression" (J.R.R. Tolkien).
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Depression➦
A reduction in physiological vigor or activity
A depression in respiration.
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Oppression➦
The exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.
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Depression➦
A lowering in amount, degree, or position
Depression of stock prices.
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Oppression➦
The act of oppressing, or the state of being oppressed.
Extreme freedom is followed by extreme oppression, said Plato.
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Depression➦
A period of drastic economic decline, characterized by decreasing aggregate output, falling prices, and rising unemployment.
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Oppression➦
A feeling of being oppressed.
Our oppression was lifted by the reappearance of the sun.
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Oppression➦
That which oppresses; a hardship or injustice; cruelty; severity; tyranny.
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Oppression➦
A sense of heaviness or obstruction in the body or mind; depression; dullness; lassitude; as, an oppression of spirits; an oppression of the lungs.
There gentle SleepFirst found me, and with soft oppression seizedMy drowsed sense.
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Depression➦
The angular distance below the horizontal plane through the point of observation.
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Depression➦
(Astronomy) The angular distance of a celestial body below the horizon.
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Oppression➦
The act of subjugating by cruelty;
The tyrant's oppression of the people
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Depression➦
A period of low morale or unhappiness (a period of experiencing the above-mentioned state of mind) which lasts longer than several weeks and may include ideation of self-inflicted injury or suicide.
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Oppression➦
The state of being kept down by unjust use of force or authority:
After years of oppression they finally revolted
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Depression➦
(geography) An area that is lower in topography than its surroundings.
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Depression➦
(meteorology) An area of lowered air pressure that generally brings moist weather, sometimes promoting hurricanes and tornadoes.
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Oppression➦
A systemic limitation imposed on a group.
Oppression of minority groups has been a recurrent societal issue.
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Depression➦
Four consecutive quarters of negative, real GDP growth. See NBER.
The Great Depression was the worst financial event in US history.
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Depression➦
The act of lowering or pressing something down.
Depression of the lever starts the machine.
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Depression➦
A lowering, in particular a reduction in a particular biological variable or the function of an organ, in contrast to elevation.
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Depression➦
A falling in of the surface; a sinking below its true place; a cavity or hollow; as, roughness consists in little protuberances and depressions.
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Depression➦
Dejection; despondency; lowness.
In a great depression of spirit.
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Depression➦
The operation of reducing to a lower degree; - said of equations.
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Depression➦
A mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity
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Depression➦
A long-term economic state characterized by unemployment and low prices and low levels of trade and investment
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Depression➦
A time period during the 1930s when there was a worldwide economic depression and mass unemployment
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Depression➦
An air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation;
A low moved in over night bringing sleet and snow
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Depression➦
A state of depression and anhedonia so severe as to require clinical intervention
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Depression➦
A concavity in a surface produced by pressing;
He left the impression of his fingers in the soft mud
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Depression➦
Angular distance below the horizon (especially of a celestial object)
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Depression➦
A mental health disorder characterized by prolonged sadness.
After losing her job, she spiraled into depression.
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Depression➦
A reduction in activity or force.
The economy faced a deep depression after the financial crisis.
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Depression➦
A period of low atmospheric pressure.
The weather forecast predicted a depression coming from the west.
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FAQs
Is depression a sign of weakness?
No, depression is a medical condition and not indicative of personal weakness.
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Can oppression lead to depression?
Yes, systemic oppression can contribute to feelings of hopelessness, potentially leading to depression.
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Are certain groups more vulnerable to oppression?
Yes, marginalized groups are often more susceptible to oppression.
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What can cause depression?
Depression can be caused by biological, psychological, and environmental factors.
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Is oppression always visible?
No, oppression can be overt or covert, with some forms less visible but equally harmful.
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How is oppression manifested in society?
Oppression is manifested through discriminatory laws, prejudices, and systemic limitations on certain groups.
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How can one combat oppression?
Combating oppression involves activism, raising awareness, and pushing for societal reforms.
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Can events like a breakup cause depression?
Traumatic events, like breakups, can trigger depression in susceptible individuals.
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Can depression be cured?
While depression can be managed and many recover, it varies by individual.
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Does oppression only occur in dictatorships?
No, oppression can occur in various governance systems, not just dictatorships.
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How is depression diagnosed?
Depression is diagnosed through clinical assessments by mental health professionals.
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Can individuals unknowingly contribute to oppression?
Yes, individuals can unconsciously perpetuate oppression through biases and stereotypes.
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What are common symptoms of depression?
Symptoms of depression include prolonged sadness, fatigue, and loss of interest.
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Are there different types of depression?
Yes, there are several types, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar depression.
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What are the long-term effects of oppression?
Long-term oppression can lead to generational trauma, economic disparities, and limited opportunities.
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Author Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform.
Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
