Emotionally Surviving a Traumatic Event

It’s four in the morning. The phone rings. No one’s there. Caller ID says it’s my daughter in LA. My heart pounds. I call back. It goes straight to voice mail. I text, but there’s no response. I wait - check my email and find a disturbing message. I call again. Finally she answers. My phone is acting weird. Sorry. I’m fine.

I cannot fall back to sleep. I am concocting a response to her email in my head.

John saw a biker get hit by a car. I only saw the aftermath. Lots of blood and the guy wasn't moving. The entire windshield was smashed. It was horrifying. Click here to read more.

Is it grief or post-holiday depression?

The holidays are over. You survived. But a lingering feeling of sadness remains. Is it your grief? Have you become clinically depressed? Or is it a let-down after the holidays?

The holiday season certainly had plenty of stress - conflicted relationships, financial concerns, musings on previous holidays, and the noted absence of your loved one. For some, the distress lifted when the holidays ended. Others may continue to feel unhappy or stressed even when they have enjoyed the holiday season.

While depression can include grief, grief can also mimic depression. It is important to recognize the characteristics of each. Grief encompasses a broad spectrum of behaviors and feelings that are common after a loss, which makes differentiating between grief and depression challenging. Click here to read more.