I totally get it. I like that differentiation of feeling something being something. Semantics are important exactly for this reason. The correct use of words allows us to make this distinction.
Many people share this experience of what seems like episodes of depression. I'm relating from my own experience of going through 3 solid episodes of depression in my life. A friend shed some light on a different perspective to this. It comes from the idea that we tend to feel depressed when do not connect much with others who can share our views and provide that sort intellectual stimulus we deeply yearn. It is natural for us to want to talk and connect. When we do not get this stimulus (the intellectual stimuli is important for me), we can feel depressed. So what my friend told me is: maybe you are not depressed, maybe you just need to surround yourself with the right people.