Depression
Depression is the normal human reaction to loss of any sort. Bereavement is such a large loss that it is not surprising that feelings of depression or sadness can last for a long time. The previous stages of shock, searching and anger are all initial reactions to a death. They occur because parts of us cannot yet believe or accept what has happened. Depression, however, comes when we accept the reality of the loss, and react to it.
Depression may take the form of crying bouts, tiredness, disturbance of normal sleep rhythms, loss of interest in things around us, or loss of concentration. One person described it as the world losing colour.
Despite the well-intentioned phrase to “snap out of it”, depression is not something that people can just shake off. It is a physical and mental condition, which takes time to heal. Sometimes those suffering depression due to loss of a loved one need professional help from doctors or counsellors.
