For most people, the emotional, mental and physical symptoms experienced after a death can be attributed to normal grief. However, this is not always the case. It is important to understand the difference between normal grief and clinical depression so the bereaved person gets the appropriate support or treatment. Before we can differentiate between grief and depression, we need to understand what defines each of them.
Grief Grief can be defined as a natural response to any loss, including physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral and spiritual responses. Grief is unique to each individual but can include any combination of the following:. Depression Depression is clinical condition that can become deadly if left untreated. To be diagnosed with depression from a medical professional, a person must have a certain number and combination of symptoms.
These symptoms must be present nearly every day for at least two weeks. Some criteria for diagnosis include presence of the following:. As you can see, there are many similarities between grief and depression, but there are also important differences.
The chart below identifies some of the differences between typical grief reactions and clinical depression. Keep in mind that it is possible a person could be experiencing both grief and depression at the same time. Grief has long been considered a personal, non-medical struggle. However, new evidence shows that CG can make you feel worthless and suicidal , which is similar to depression. Because of this, doctors now seek to treat complicated grief like a disorder, suggesting therapies and treatments to lessen the draining hurt of grief.
No exact number exists for how many people have or have had CG. One estimate states that 10 million people in the United States likely have severe enough symptoms to be thought of as having CG. Unlike CG, depression is a clinical disorder that starts in the brain. Many different types of depression exist. Major depressive disorder MDD is one of the most recognizable.
MDD has symptoms that can last for years and can interfere with your daily life. Another type of depression is psychotic depression , known in the medical community as major depressive disorder with psychotic features.
This can cause hallucinations. Another type of depression is postpartum depression , which happens when you have depression after giving birth. Depression can also happen as a result of grief. Depression symptoms can worsen after an event like the death of a loved one. Depression is well-documented. CG is most commonly caused by the death of someone you love. If your significant other or a close family member dies suddenly, you may have trouble accepting your loss.
You may feel intense sadness for years. Your relationships with friends, family, and coworkers may suffer. You may even completely withdraw from your personal and professional life. Grieving is a normal process. However, it can worsen your quality of life and involve more serious symptoms when it lasts for a long time. These symptoms can include:.
If you have these symptoms for months or years, you may need to ask your doctor about treatment for CG. Symptoms of depression can be similar to CG. In addition to the CG symptoms listed above, depression can cause other unique symptoms, such as:. You can have symptoms of both CG and depression at the same time. However, CG and depression must be treated differently. If you think someone is considering suicide, get help from a crisis or suicide prevention hotline. Try the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at CG is most commonly caused by an unexpected or sudden death of a loved one, especially the death of a friend, child, or other family member.
Violent deaths, such as from car accidents or natural disasters, can also cause CG, and depending on the circumstances, may result in another condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD. A history of trauma or abuse can cause your normal grief to develop into CG as your mind and body struggle to accept your sudden loss. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile.
Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Grief and depression share similar symptoms, but each is a distinct experience, and making the distinction is important for several reasons.
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. What's more, grief can sometimes trigger a major depressive episode, just as with other stressful experiences. Studies have shown that the extreme stress associated with grief can also trigger medical illnesses—such as heart disease, cancer, and the common cold—as well as psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety.
Given this overlap, there are times when it may be tricky to distinguish between grief and depression. A better understanding of their similarities and differences can help.
Grief has several symptoms in common with the symptoms of major depressive disorder , including:. Grief can also develop into complicated grief, which, unlike uncomplicated grief, does not seem to dissipate with time and can look a lot like depression.
It is likely due to these symptoms that the DSM no longer includes the bereavement exclusion from the diagnosis of major depression. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Where grief and depression differ is that grief tends to decrease over time and occurs in waves that are triggered by thoughts or reminders of its cause. In other words, the person may feel relatively better while in certain situations, such as when friends and family are around to support them.
But triggers like the birthday of a deceased loved one or going to a wedding after having finalized a divorce could cause the feelings to resurface more strongly. Depression, on the other hand, tends to be more persistent and pervasive. An exception to this would be atypical depression , in which positive events can bring about an improvement in mood.
Morbid preoccupation with worthlessness.
0コメント