In my last post we took a look at depression and grief. There is some thought that antidepressants can be beneficial to people going through the grieving process. Most of the information that I am finding in medical and psychiatric findings, such as this one, explain that it's important to understand the point that grief becomes full on depression before looking at mental health medicines as a form of treatment.

These articles mention these key differences between grieving and clinical depression:

  • Most people who are deeply grieving will still have lighter moments where the pain is less intense, (Emotional ups and downs) whereas with depression the emotions are constant and heavy.
  • Those who are grieving may still have moments of "hope" for what the future may bring, while those suffering from depression will mostly feel "hopeless".
This article does a good job of summing the differences up in this statement:


The main difference between grief and depression concerns the presence or absense of self-esteem and guilt. When a person is experiencing depression, there is typically a loss of self-esteem and overall feeling of guilt. This can be somewhat complicated, as some people will experience guilt as a result of the loss of a loved one, but this type of guilt is specific to the event of loss. It is helpful to consider seeking help through counseling if you are unsure about your reactions to the loss or would like support through the mourning process.


Keeping in mind this difference between clinical depression and grieving, most mental health professionals do not prescribe medicine for people who are grieving. Since most of the mental health medicines that deal with depression are more long term and take some time to take full effect, they are not really suited for people dealing with grief. There are some "fast acting" medicines for depression and anxiety, such as Lorazepam or Ativan, that are sometimes used for people suffering from extreme depression during the grieving process.

As always, it's best to consult with your doctor about any issue that you are facing that affects your mental or physical health. They will be able to work with you to better understand your situation and needs.