Situational depression is different from major depressive disorder or the depressive episodes we experience with bipolar disorder. That doesn't make situational depression any less real or uncomfortable for those who are experiencing it, but it does tend to respond faster to antidepressant treatment.

A few years back after my sister passed away, I actually went through a bout of situational depression that lasted a few months. As someone who had only had the "pleasure" of dealing with bipolar depressive episodes, it was interesting to actually experience the difference. First, I realized it was different because there was a very specific reason for the depression; it went beyond normal grief and was quite serious and problematic, so it wasn't simple, normal grief. But I could also see the difference from my usual depressive episodes because it was so specific whereas my bipolar episodes always had that just overall depressive feel, that trying to function through the quicksand feel without really having a "reason" for feeling so down.

Both are very uncomfortable, very debilitating, and disruptive. The main difference was the knowing what the problem was aspect. My situational depression, by the way, did respond a bit faster to an adjustment in meds, and therapy was more useful with it because I knew exactly what I needed to focus on. But I wouldn't begrudge anyone the seriousness of their situational depression; it is just very different in how it feels.