Grief Depression: Coping With The Stages Of Grief Depression
Posted on | August 7, 2009 | 2 Comments
Grief depression (not to be confused with clinical depression) is a healthy and natural response to the loss of a loved one. As you are a unique person, you will experience grief and depression in your own unique way. However, you must also be sure that you are dealing with grief in a healthy way. Otherwise, you may have positive or negative long-term effects from your bereavement process.
Common Characteristics Of Grief Depression
Normal characteristics of grief related depression include the expected symptoms such as: apathy, lethargy, and sorrow. Usually, over time, these symptoms will subside as you work though the stages of grief. However, grief related depression can manifest itself again and again as special occasions and holidays come and go throughout the year. Each special occasion is another reminder that you will not share another special moment with the loved one again.
Overview Of The Kubler-Ross Stages Of Grief
In 1969, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross released her Five Stages Of Grief. The stages were studies and developed as Kubler-Ross worked with terminally ill patients. These five stages of grief have also been found to apply to the behavior of survivor loved one’s dealing with death of a loved one. To summarize Kubler-Ross’ work, the Five Stages Of Grief are:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance.
These five stages of grief have served as the “gold standard” when discussing the bereavement process of a person suffering from grief related depression.
Distinguishing Grief Depression From Clinical Depression
Not surprising, you may experience the symptoms of depression while you are coping with grief.
However, it is important that you distinguish between grief depression and clinical depression. Clinical depression is a psychological disorder usually caused by a chronic serotonin deficiency or other chronic psychological condition.
Clinical depression usually requires long-term treatment and care.
Grief is a healthy human response that ordinarily should not be treated with prescription medications or antidepressants. In fact, such medications can often be counterproductive. Medications usually delay the necessary work of coping with grief by moving through the stages of grief in a timely fashion.
If you do not deal with natural grief depression, it can devolve into chronic clinical depression. If you suspect that this is happening to you, do not wait to seek treatment. Go, immediately, to a qualified bereavement or grief counselor for further evaluation.
Complications In Moving Through The Stages Of Grief Depression
Your success in coping with grief depression will depend on the following factors:
The Circumstances Surrounding Your Loved One’s Passing. When a loved one dies suddenly and unexpectedly, it will generally take longer to work through the stages of death than if the loved one’s death had been anticipated.
Your Relationship (Or Lack Of Relationship) With The Deceased. Grief depression can be complicated when you did not have the opportunity to say things that needed to be said or heal animosity that developed during a lifetime of living. You may find it more difficult dealing with grief depression where you had not spoken to the deceased for a long period of time
Your Personality Or Ability To Cope With Grief Depression. If you are already prone to clinical depression or seasonal affective Disorder (SAD), you may find that dealing with grief depression may be more complicated than someone with a more positive personality.
Grief Related Trauma. Be aware that the loss of a loved one is a form of trauma, even if the death is unexpected. How you cope with grief can have an effect on the scope and extend of this trauma. If ignored, grief related trauma will stifle your attempts at coping with grief. You will be unable to move through the stages of grief. The net effect of this is that you will suffer damaging psychological problems.
Coping With Grief: How To Deal With Grief Depression In A Healthy Way
Here are some fundamental tips in dealing with grief related depression:
Surround yourself with supportive friends, relatives and groups. I have counseled my clients that this is the best way of dealing with grief depression. Going it alone is a dangerous and unhealthy idea. You will find that there are discussion groups in your area. You will also find that there are professional grief counselors in your area should you need to talk with professionals to work through the stages of grief.
Ask a friend to spend time with you, even if its just to take a walk or watching a movie. You will not feel like doing this. But, it is imperative that you resist the urge to shut yourself up alone and away from your support system. You should not be embarrassed to ask another person to share their time with you. Do not deny them the blessing that comes from helping a friend in need.
Find a creative outlet, such as painting or journaling. I have found that painting or drawing is an especially effective method of assisting children in dealing with grief. For adults, journaling is a good way to recall positive experiences with the deceased as well as document your thoughts and feelings as you work through the stages of grief. Lastly, should your grief depression devolve into clinical depression, a grief counselor will find your journal especially helpful in formulating a plan of treatment for you.
Create An Online Memorial Or Facebook Page. Recently, I have been counseling families to take advantage of social networking services such as Myspace or Facebook to create an online memorial or meeting place where family members can share and related experienced about the deceased. This combines all of the tools discussed above: community, journaling, and scrap-booking.
Grief Depression: There Is No “Right” Or “Wrong” Method Of Coping
Whatever form that it takes, do not be ashamed of the methods you find to deal with grief depression. When dealing with grief, there is no such thing as “silly.” There are no “shoulds.”
Doing something is always better than doing nothing.
Related posts:
- Grief Depression: Coping With The Stages Of Grief
- Depression Treatment: Uncovering The Symptoms of Depression
- SIRA: Grief and Bereavement
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