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Depression Caused by Grief

Feeling overwhelmed with sadness is normal during the grieving process, but knowing the difference between grief and depression can help you or a loved one avoid additional unnecessary pain.

  1. Grief

    • Grief is an emotional, psychological, physical and social response to the death or loss of a loved one. Each individual grieves differently, and while some may complete the process within a few months, others may find themselves coping with their grief for years.

    Depression as Part of the Grieving Process

    • Depression is acknowledged as one of the widely accepted stages of grief. It is known within the grieving process as reactive depression, and some of its symptoms include isolation, frequent crying spells and feeling no desire for or purpose in life.

    Major Depression vs. Reactive Depression

    • Reactive depression forms in response to stressful or traumatic events and is normally worked through by the individual as he or she learn to cope with their loss. Reactive depression has a relatively short duration as a natural part of grief. Major depression can develop slowly for a number of personal reasons or be triggered by a single traumatic event and lasts longer and exhibits more symptoms than reactive depression.

    Recognizing Depression

    • Symptoms of depression include insomnia, lack of appetite, loss of interest in work, school or hobbies, refusal to socialize and thoughts of hopelessness, guilt, self-hatred and even suicide.

    Treatment and Management

    • Once mental health professionals reach a diagnosis of depression, one or a combination of treatments may be recommended, including psychotherapy and antidepressants. Vitamins, herbs, dietary adjustments and physical exercise may also be suggested if they may help improve the conditions of individual patients.

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