I can’t seem to move on – could I be depressed ?

Feelings of depression are part of the grieving process and for many people they do get better as time goes on. However, some people become depressed and can feel unable to move on from their grief. The symptoms of depression are very similar to those of grieving so if you are concerned about how you feel see your doctor for help and advice.

Feeling very low, sad and depressed is part of mourning someone who has died. For most people, these feelings of depression are part of the grieving process and after a while they do get better. However, grieving for someone is a process and even though things may still feel very bad sometimes, after time you should feel like you are moving on.

Becoming depressed while you are grieving can feel as though you have got stuck in the grieving process and can't move on. You may not even realise that you are depressed, rather than grieving. In fact, many of the symptoms of grieving are very similar to the symptoms of depression. You might:

* find your appetite and weight changes - most people don't feel like eating and lose weight, but the reverse can also happen and some people eat more and put on weight
* have trouble sleeping - it can take a long time to get to sleep and you might also wake early in the morning
* feel tired and lethargic and feel you have no energy
* find it hard to concentrate and more difficult to make decisions
* feel you have low self-worth
* think about suicide or harming yourself
* lose interest in life - you feel as though you can't enjoy anything or you lose interest in sex
* be irritable and restless
* isolate yourself and start to avoid other people

Depression can become a downward spiral. Once you become depressed, then it's easy to become more depressed about being depressed.

You should always get help if your symptoms don't seem to get any better, if they affect your work life and your relationships or if you start to feel that life isn't worth living.

There are many things that can help with depression, some of which you can do yourself and some of which your doctor can help with. The right treatment for you will depend on how bad your depression is. Your doctor can help you to decide which is the best treatment for you.

Creating a permanent memorial to a loved one can not only help with the bereavement process but it also provides a place that you can visit at any time in the future to see your loved one.

You can create an online tribute to your loved one here at Friends At Rest. It takes a couple of minutes, is completely free and will give you a 'place' to reflect and remember the great times you shared.

Everyone knows somebody who deserves to be remembered. Click here and remember yours.

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