Signs of grief and depression

What distinguishes Prolonged Grief Disorder from depression? What are the emotional symptoms of depression? If the grieving person begins to abuse alcohol or drugs, neglects personal hygiene, develops physical problems , or talks about suicide , it may be a sign of complicated grief or depression. Talk to them about getting professional help. If grief continues and causes a prolonged and deep depression with physical symptoms such as poor sleep , loss of appetite , weight loss , and even thoughts of suicide, you may have a condition known as complicated bereavement.

Talk with your doctor as soon as possible. Extreme focus on reminders of the loved one or excessive avoidance of reminders. Grief and depression share similar symptoms , but each is a distinct experience, and making the distinction is important for several reasons. Intense and persistent longing or pining for.

With depression , getting a diagnosis and seeking treatment can be literally life-saving. At the same time, experiencing grief due to a significant loss is not only normal but can ultimately be very healing. Depression in the elderly may be first diagnosed upon admittance into an assisted living or nursing home environment.

Often the diagnosis of depression is accompanied by a prescription for antidepressant medication(s). These symptoms can include: a powerful pain when you think of your lost loved one. Although they are quite different, they look surprisingly alike.

Common signs and symptoms of grief include but are not limited to: Denial or shock. Panic attacks , intense anxiety. Inability to concentrate. Feelings of restlessness. Here the shutting down of grief is like throwing a heavy blanket over our emotional selves.

The result is an emotional numbness, low-grade but persistent depression , a why-bother attitude, a lack of energy, drive, motivation. People who are grieving do not necessarily go through the stages in the same order or experience all of them. WARNING SIGNS : GET HELP IF THIS DESCRIBES YOU!

In teens, symptoms may include sadness, irritability, feeling negative and worthless, anger, poor performance or poor attendance at school,. At this stage, the symptoms of grief are expected to be pervasive and intense, and deep grieving is not necessarily a sign of emotional and psychological imbalances. But if the grief seems to intensify as more time passes, or persists for six months or longer, complicated grief may have developed. It is possible to grieve without being depressed. That sai there is a difference between the sadness of grief and the unrelenting numbness of depression.

Grief and depression are quite different but they can appear similar as they can both lead to feelings of intense sadness, insomnia, poor appetite and weight loss. Depression stands out from grief as being more persistent, with constant feelings of emptiness and despair and a difficulty feeling pleasure or joy. Thoughts of suicide or a preoccupation with dying. Symptoms of grief can be emotional, physical, social, or religious in nature. Or maybe you’re getting plenty of sleep and still feeling fatigue due to the constant emotional strain of grief.

Tips: When you’re struggling with fatigue, sleep is a good place to start but it isn’t the only factor.