Infants Remembered In Silence (IRIS) - Resources - Differences Between Grief and Depression

Differences Between Grief and Depression
From: Finding My Way, Healing and Transformation Through Loss and Grief by John M. Schneider

Issue	Grieving	Depression
Loss	There is a recognized loss	A specific loss may or may not be identified.
Cognitive Schemas	Focus is on the loss. Preoccupation with deceased, implications of loss, the future.	Focus is on self. Persistent, distorted and negative perception of self.
Dreams, Fantasies or Imagery	Vivid, clear dreams - sometime of the loss; dreamer feels comforted.	Negative imagery that contributes to negative perception of self.
Physical	Modulated physical response: the body is allowed to collapse and person admits to exhaustion.	Un-modulated response: Bodily damage and increased vulnerability to illness - via lack of sleep, anorexia or weight gain, unnecessary physical risk.
Spiritual	A connection felt to something beyond, e.g. God; continued dialogue with emotions allows challenges to previously held beliefs.	Especially a year or more past the loss, a persistent failure to find meaning; focus on "why me" and unfairness of loss; no answers to questions.
Emotional Status	Variable: Shifts in mood from anger to sadness to more normal status in same day.	Fixed: Withdrawl, despair, reports feeling immobilized or stuck; difficult to "read" emotions.
Responses	Responds to warmth, touch, reassurance.	Responds to promises and urging or is unresponsive.
Pleasure	Variable restriction of pleasure.	Persistent restriction of pleasure.
Attachment Behavior	Feels reassured by the presence of close friends or someone who is willing to listen to their story.	Loss of connection with self and/or others.

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