Denton Divorce Lawyer

When Grief Becomes Depression

Most people associate words like “grief” or “mourning” with the death of a loved one. The truth is that ending a relationship through divorce can be just as painful as losing a loved one to death. It is perfectly normal to feel regret, anger, frustration, and other difficult emotions during a divorce.

Sometimes the problem can run deeper than mourning. Ordinary grief can cross the line into an episode of depression. While grief is normal and even healthy at the end of a relationship, clinical depression is a very serious disorder.

Signs of Depression

If you think you or a loved one may be depressed, here are some common symptoms to watch out for:

• An inability to eat, or a compulsion to eat all the time
• Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or self-loathing
• Inability to focus
• Decreased enjoyment of activities that used to bring happiness
• Insomnia, or the opposite extreme, a need to sleep all the time
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm

Distinguishing between healthy grieving and clinical depression is a complex choice that only a medical professional can make. Please do not rely on internet diagnoses. If there is any chance that you are depressed, make an appointment with your doctor.

Getting Help

Whether you are severely depressed or grieving, you should know that you do not have to struggle with this pain alone. Therapy, support groups, and perhaps medication can help you get your life back on track. The situation may seem hopeless, but it is not.

If you need help with the frustrating legal complications that can arise during a divorce, contact experienced Denton divorce lawyer Alexander & Associates at 972-420-6560.