Rehab Educates on Grief Turning Into Depression

Erlanger, KY – SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky, a local Erlanger rehab facility, recently published a blog post educating the community on when grief turns into acute depression and when people should look into getting help for it. Grief is a normal, natural, and universal experience. It is how the brain and body respond to any loss, from losing a loved one, a job, health, etc. There is no set timeline for grief, as everyone goes through it differently. For many people, they will recover from grief within a year, but others may need more time or require assistance transitioning to a less severe form. The need for more time or help is known as prolonged grief, which can significantly impact a person’s ability to function daily. Grief eventually subsides with time, but with prolonged grief, symptoms may get worse.

“Because of this, some people are unable to adapt to life without the loved one they lost. An estimated 7% of people will experience prolonged grief. While anyone can experience prolonged grief, some factors make someone more likely. One of the main factors is if the circumstances surrounding death were traumatic. Examples include losing a child or spouse, losing a parent at a young age, murders, multiple deaths in a short period, deaths caused by disasters, and deaths that were untimely, unexpected, or sudden.” the blog post states.

Grief is often expressed in 5 stages, which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Depression is a normal part of mourning, which means experiencing depression is not always a reason to be concerned. People can experience these stages in various orders and may even repeat some stages or skip others. However, sometimes, depression is not a normal part of grief. If someone has been experiencing intense grief for longer than 6 months or it is getting worse and preventing someone from moving forward in life, it can become a concern. Often, it results in someone requiring treatment to find healing.

For many people, depression linked to grief is temporary and will eventually pass with time. While not everyone needs help with depression associated with grief, this is not the case for every individual. Common symptoms of depression that require treatment include feeling “empty,” slowed down, withdrawn, detached, unable to get out of bed or take a shower, and the presence of suicidal thoughts or self-harm. If someone is experiencing thoughts of harm, they should go to a 24/7 crisis care center as soon as possible.

“Ultimately, there is no easy timeline for grief, and it can be challenging to get through on your own if you don’t have a strong support system. If you are experiencing any of the signs of acute depression mentioned above or find that you can’t function or achieve daily responsibilities, seek depression treatment as soon as possible. It will provide you with the tools that will allow you to find meaning in life again,” the blog post continues.

SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky solves unmet needs in Erlanger for both adolescents and adults. They offer no-cost care assessments that connect patients with a representative who will work with them and their doctor to determine the best treatment plan for their needs. SUN Behavioral Health also offers 24/7 crisis care for those who are in the midst of a mental health or substance use disorder crisis.

To learn more, visit their website or call them at 859-429-5188. SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky solves unmet needs.