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- Depression is a feeling of sadness or a low persistent mood, lasting for some time. Grief is an emotional response to the loss of a loved one. Both have overlapping symptoms, but depression is a clinical disorder often resulting from a chemical imbalance in the brain.
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What is the difference between depression and grief?
Does grief overlap with depression?
Is grief a mental illness?
How do you know if you have depression or grief?
What does grief feel like?
Is depression a normal part of the grieving process?
Jun 27, 2022 · Grief is an emotional response that tends to decrease with time and often doesn’t require professional support, while depression lasts longer and symptoms may intensify and linger without...
- Overview
- What Are the Five Stages of Grief?
- What Is the Depression Stage of Grief?
- Symptoms of the Depression Stage of Grief
- Coping With the Depression Stage of Grief
- What This Means For You
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Grief occurs in stages, including depression. The depression stage of grief is marked by sadness as the reality of the loss sets in. Signs of depression in this stage of grief include sadness, regret, loneliness, difficulty functioning, changes in sleep and appetite, and social withdrawal.
If you’re grieving the loss of something or someone you cared about, you may find yourself feeling sad and low. Everything may feel bleak and hopeless, and you may not feel like doing things you once cared about. You may feel overwhelmed and find it difficult to get out of bed and go about your day the way you did before.
If you feel this way, you’re not alone. Many people have similar experiences when they grieve a loss, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, an idea, a sense of control, or anything else that had meaning to them.
At a Glance
Feelings of depression are a normal part of the grieving process. Signs of depression that may occur when someone is grieving include difficulty functioning, hopelessness, excessive sleeping, frequent crying, and withdrawal from loved ones.
In 1969, a Swiss-born American psychiatrist Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross published a book titled “On Death and Dying,” in which she theorized that people grieve in five stages, which are:
1.Denial
2.Anger
3.Bargaining
4.Depression
5.Acceptance
The depression stage is the fourth stage of the grief theory. DePierro explains that it was initially believed that people moved through the stages of grief one at a time, although that’s not necessarily true.
People may experience sadness and other symptoms of depression at any point in the grieving process, or may not experience them at all. The duration, frequency, and intensity of their feelings and symptoms may also vary. Everyone reacts to loss differently.
According to DePierro, these are some of the depressive thoughts and feelings you may experience while you’re grieving:
•Feeling sad, empty, or numb
•Feeling overwhelmed by the requirements of daily life
•Experiencing despair and hopelessness
•Sleeping or staying in bed all day
•Crying often
Accept Support
It’s important to accept support from friends, family, colleagues, spiritual leaders, and others who have been helpful in the past. Withdrawing from people often makes feelings of depression worse.
Don’t Avoid Your Emotions
Work on accepting all the emotions that come up. No feeling is right or wrong. Self-judgments like "I shouldn’t be feeling this way now" can make feelings of depression worse.
Perform a Meaningful Ritual
Rituals and routines can help you process and understand the loss. For instance, if you have lost a loved one, there are many ways to remember them and honor their life. Some people write letters to the person who has passed away or seek comfort in the traditions of their faith.
Experiencing a loss is painful and difficult, and you may find yourself experiencing symptoms of depression. These symptoms are part of a normal reaction to a loss and generally fade with time. However, if you find yourself unable to cope with the loss, you can seek help from a mental healthcare professional.
Best Online Grief Support Groups
6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Grief.
2.U.S. National Library of Medicine. Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.
Mar 24, 2023 · Grieving in response to a loss may include some of the same feelings and symptoms that encompass depression, but grieving does not always involve negative beliefs about the self and world.
- Ken Falke
These feelings are often referred to in every-day life as ‘depression’. Sometimes people who are grieving might wonder if their feelings have changed from what they think of as ‘normal’ grief, and become a sign that they might be depressed. What’s the difference between grief and depression?
Feb 15, 2023 · Grief and depression share some common symptoms, so it can sometimes be confusing to differentiate between them. Those who experience both grief and depression, or a grief disorder, will usually benefit from professional assistance.
Sep 5, 2022 · People who are clinically depressed suffer from relentless feelings of gloom and hopelessness, chronic ruminating thoughts, eating and sleeping problems, and lethargy. They...
Mar 8, 2023 · Depression is a feeling of sadness or a low persistent mood, lasting for some time. Grief is an emotional response to the loss of a loved one. Both have overlapping symptoms, but depression...
