When to seek help

 

  

Grief is not classed as a mental illness and may only be of concern if it persists and develop into depression. There is not a defined period for the duration of grief as this will vary between individuals and it must be explained to families that recovering from grief does not indicate a heartless individual. It simply demonstrates a different strategy of coping with grief.

 

 

Stages of grief that occurs in most people:

 

Typically, it consists of 4 stages:

 

 Stage 1 includes shock and numbness where person may be in denial of the death. This may be a form of protective mechanism.

 

 Stage 2 includes yearning and searching of the deceased, some even report detecting the presence of the deceased around them. This is the stage where the person begin to accept that the person they love has passed away and may develop emotional isses such as aggression.

 

 Stage 3 includes disorganisation and despair at the thought of the deceased no longer present in their lives.

 

 Stage 4 is reorganisation as the person gradually recovers from grief and continues life without the deceased. This may include taking on new roles or learning new skills to adapt to the environment.

 

 Grief is not classed as a mental illness and may only be of concern if it persists and develop into depression. There is not a defined period for the duration of grief as this will vary between individuals but if after several months grief continues to interfere with the daily life, then they may wish to seek attention from health professionals.

Furthermore, it is ideal to explain to families that recovering from grief does not indicate a heartless individual, it simply demonstrates an alternative strategy of coping with grief.

 

 

 

 

Differences between grief and depression:

 The two condition share similar symptoms, however differences suggestive of depression include persisting symptoms of;

1. The individual  constantly experiences negative emotions whereas grief occurs in waves.

2. Despair and hopelessness

3. Difficulty concentrating on tasks i.e. performance in the workplace is affected

4. Suicidal thoughts or self harm

5. Slow body movements

6. Intense experience of guilt