The Depression of Grief: Coping with Your Sadness and Knowing When to Get Help

When someone you love dies or you experience a significant loss of any kind, it’s normal and necessary to grieve. Grief is the thoughts and feelings you have inside you about the loss, and sadness is often the most prominent and painful emotion. In other words, it’s normal to be depressed after a loss.

This compassionate guide will help you understand your natural depression, express it in ways that will help you heal, and know when you may be experiencing a more severe or clinical depression that would be eased by professional treatment. A section for caregivers that explores the new DSM-5 criteria for Major Depression is also included. This is a must-read for both the mourner in need of insight and the caregiver who will learn more about this critically important aspect of grief care.

“A renewed sense of meaning, purpose, and, yes, even joy, await you,” writes Dr. Wolfelt. “A deep harmony of mind, body, and spirit was yours at birth and can be yours again. Coming out of the darkness of depression is within your grasp if you use the ideas in this book to create an action plan for your body, mind, and spirit.”