Has Your Grief Turned to Depression?

Every person who experiences a loss must complete a four-step grieving process:

1. Accept the loss;
2. Work through and feel the physical and emotional pain of grief;
3. Adjust to living in a world without the person or item lost; and
4. Move on with life.
Depression is more than a feeling of grief after losing someone or something you love; it's a whole body disorder. It can take over the way you think and feel.
Symptoms include:

A sad, anxious, or "empty" mood that won't go away;
Loss of interest in what you used to enjoy;
Low energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down;"
Changes in sleep patterns;
Loss of appetite, weight loss, or weight gain;
Trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions;
Feeling hopeless or gloomy;
Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless;
Thoughts of death or suicide or a suicide attempt; and
Recurring aches and pains that don't respond to treatment.
If you recently experienced a death or other loss, these feelings may be part of a normal grief reaction. But if these feelings persist with no lifting mood, it's time to ask for help.