Grief is a perfectly normal human emotion and an essential one to experience to make your way through the mourning process when a loved one is lost. There are some people for whom the emotions can become so extreme that depression can set in which creates an altogether different condition. It is important to recognise the line between the two, as the medical community considers depression to be a psychological condition and one which, if left unchecked, could have consequences far more severe than simple grief. Here are a few symptoms to watch out for:
- Intense feelings of guilt
- A preoccupation with death or suicide
- Feeling worthlessness
- Slow speech and body movements
- Inability to function at work, home, and/or school
- Previously-enjoyed activities now hold no pleasure
- Hallucinations of the deceased
Grief can exhibit similar symptoms to depression, such as frequent crying, extreme sadness and mood swings. However, if these symptoms become too extreme there is no shame in asking a professional whether there is anything in what you are experiencing that would indicate something more than grief.
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