However, she does talk about her own experiences with sadness and how she navigates those feelings. For instance, she refers to her sadness as a "black dog" that she has to learn to live with, acknowledging its presence but not letting it consume her. This suggests that sadness is a temporary and manageable emotion for her, unlike depression which is characterized by a more persistent and debilitating state of mind.
The book focuses more on the coping mechanisms the narrator develops to deal with the challenges she faces, including the overwhelming responsibility of raising a child she didn't expect. She uses humor, resilience, and community support to navigate these difficult emotions and eventually find a sense of belonging and purpose.
Therefore, while the book doesn't explicitly define the difference between sadness and depression, it hints at the contrast by showing the narrator's ability to cope with sadness through her journey of self-discovery and connection with others.