Is Depression Just Unresolved Grief?

“Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry _______.” If you’re like most people, you’re conditioned to automatically respond “alone.” If you’ve suffered a devastating loss such as death of a loved one, divorce or breakup, you may be trying to cope with these and other unspoken rules.
Here’s another one: “The way to get through grief is to just keep ______.” Did “busy” come to mind? These types of phrases are almost automatic responses. They are pieces of information stored in our belief systems from childhood, reports Jeff Zhorne, MA, grief counselor and director of The Grief Recovery Program.
“It’s actually misinformation,” Zhorne explains. “When we encounter life’s inevitable losses such as death, divorce, moving, retirement, empty nest or other life transitions, these are the rules we have and they’re useless.”
Zhorne believes most depression stems from unresolved losses. Unresolved grief has a tendency to drain us of all energy. “Like a thermostat, the body, mind and emotions can shut down when reaching overload,” he explains. “We might call this depression, but the source is often unresolved loss.”
More and more mental health experts are seeing a real need for deep grief work – “getting to root issues to relieve depression.” Research has shown that painful feelings of regret, for example, can have an enormous negative physical and emotional impact on people.  Such feelings can lead to chronic stress, hormonal and immune system issues, and even cause problems with an individual’s mental health.
The potential risks to both mind and body make it essential to take action. The Grief Recovery Method offers an effective plan of action for dealing with regrets and other feelings associated with loss of any kind. This Method is an educational approach to dealing with any grief in your life, and gives you the tools to take recovery action.
For more information on working through significant emotional losses or to schedule a free consultation, call The Grief Recovery Program at 661-733-0692 or visit https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/jeff-zhorne-northridge-ca/459346