Difference

[Huxlly]

What is the difference between grief and depression?

[cookie3114]

I found this quote and thought about your question: What is the difference between grief and depression?

Grief is depression in proportion to circumstance; depression is grief out of proportion to circumstance. It is tumbleweed distress that thrives on thin air, growing despite its detachment from the nourishing earth. It can be described only in metaphor and allegory…Grief is a humble angel who leaves you with strong, clear thoughts and a sense of your own depth. Depression is a demon who leaves you appalled.

-Andrew Solomon, The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression

[BettyBuys]

Hello to you,

Grief is simply a term that describes the way a human feels and reacts to a loss or negative event or situation. It can be anything really, something that you miss and find it hard to accept that it's gone.

To be a little trite people do actually grieve over losses in sporting events. Competetitors may grieve fior years until they either change their lives or beat the onject or time etc that caused the problem. Football fans can grieve endlessly during the football season if they follow a team of perennial losers.

That's a way of telling you it can really be anything at all. A pet can devastate a family when lost etc.

In medical terms depression cannot exist until a period of 2 weeks with no change in the grief/sadness ocurs. This is coupled with a range of other symptoms too.

On the other hand a grieving process may take most of your life to adapt to. This does not mean you are miserable and depressed all your life but you just never really get that issue or person out of your mind for long. They are always there with you and you miss them as it should be.

The key to that is to change the memories from just that one bad day to all the good days so you remember the good times instead of just the passing or loss of the person.

Grief also has a distinct pattern usually. Google the "grief curve" and you'll see what I mean. I hope. It basically shows your emotins turning down big time, bottomong out andthen slowly returning to normal. Not in a smooth pattern though. You may go down, start to rise and drop again and so on.

[talene]

Grief is a feeling of loss related to a particular event or situation.  Grief can lead to depression in susceptible people, but generally when grieving there are things that are still enjoyable that one can do to take their mind off the pain.  In depression, it's hard to find enjoyment in anything, even things that once were fun.  It's important when grieving to do things that you enjoy, even if they also bring sadness (for instance, things that remind you of your lost loved one).  If you don't, then you can find yourself slipping into depression and by that time there isn't anything left to enjoy.  Try to focus on pleasant memories and keep yourself busy.  Grief can last a long time.  I'm still grieving for my daughter who died almost three years ago.  But, it does get better over time.

[mammo]

Grief occurs with the loss of a loved one, broken relationship, etc. Although devestating, it will usually pass in a short amount of time, or at least eases up.  Depression is when you are sad 24/7, lack of interest in normal activities, crying, anger, hopelessness,
sleeping, just no interst in anything.  Depression interferes with your day to day activities.  Depression can be brought on a by the loss of a loved one, job, etc., or as the result of a chemical imbalance.  If this is happening to you, see a psychiatrist as they are best at helping you cope with personal issues, and working thru them, and determining if you are depressed.  You may need medication.  Just know you're not alone, there are many of us here always willing to help, and always supportive.