Mental Health Mental Health Basics

A Time to Grieve

Research has shown that people don’t necessarily go from one stage to another. “I have observed that people go through two different kinds of reactions in grief,” says Ott. In the beginning of their grief, people spend a lot of time focusing on the intensity of their emotions. And later, they are focused on other consequences of their loss such as new roles. For some bereaved people, certain questions become paramount such as "Who am I without this person? What am I going to do with the rest of my life?"

How can grief affect one’s physical health?
Research shows that people, especially in their first year of grief, experience more physical and psychological problems. They tend to see their physicians more frequently. Men have been shown to be at higher risk for sudden death in the first year after their spouse’s death, particularly those men whose wives connected them to a social network.

A number of studies have indicated that sleep patterns can be altered in bereavement. Results of some sleep/wakefulness studies suggest that symptoms of stress and depression can make it harder to fall asleep, as well as lead to changes in REM (rapid eye-movement sleep) sleep patterns, when dreaming occurs. There is also a reduction in the overall quality of sleep. If people have significant problems sleeping, they may want to talk to their physician, as sleep is an important part of maintaining your immune system. Talking with a supportive person, getting exercise and eating a nutritious diet are other ways to get better sleep and bolster one’s immune system.

But eating healthfully can also be difficult. When a person is in a state of numbness and shock, they don’t have an appetite. “However, I think that gets turned around after a while; sometimes people actually gain weight rather than lose weight,” says Ott. That may happen because people don’t feel like they want to cook. They don’t have the energy to do it, so their eating habits and the kinds of foods that they eat are probably not as healthy as they were. People who experience the death of a spouse may lose the motivation to cook for one person, when they’re used to cooking for others.

What is the difference between grief and depression?
Grief is not depression; it’s a deep, deep sadness. Depression and anxiety symptoms are common in bereaved people, but generally level off during the first year after the death. And a person who’s grieving is still able to function in their life roles, whereas people who are depressed may not be able to function.

However, probably 10 to 20 percent of people develop biological depression, anxiety disorders or symptoms related to the trauma of the death. People who may have had mental health problems before the death are at particular risk for problems with grief. People who have these problems should seek out help from a therapist.

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