Grief and depression are not the same
While grief and depression share some similar features, they are not the same.
Grief is associated with loss. If you are grieving, you may experience changes to your thoughts, feelings, behaviour and thinking but this usually improves over time. Some people who are grieving may become clinically depressed, but many do not.
On the other hand, depression is characterized in part by a pervasive loss of joy in life, high levels of self-criticism, significant changes in sleep and appetite, severe anxiety or anger, and sometimes thoughts of suicide.
How grief feels
These are examples of common feelings when grieving:
- “At times I have no energy.”
- “It's hard to believe he's gone.”
- “I'm trying to accept that she’s gone.”
- “I miss her so much.”
- “I’m not sure who I am now without the uniform.”
- “I hate that I can't change what happened.”
- “I can’t stop thinking about her.”
- “I feel so angry. I thought I would have more money to do the things I always dreamed of in retirement.”
- “I feel so alone, like I don’t belong anywhere anymore.”
- “I'm starting to feel okay… sometimes.”
Signs of depression
Feelings that may signal problems
For more support
Talk to your health care provider, seek counselling from someone with experience in grief and loss, or access a mental health professional. If you have a plan to harm yourself or others, this is a medical emergency. Go to your nearest Emergency Department, call your local Crisis Line or call or text 9-8-8 (in Canada).