Grief

A complex set of emotions, called grief, comprises your feelings after experiencing a significant loss in your life. At Happy Apple, based in Columbus Circle, Manhattan, and serving Midtown, Central Park South, the Upper West Side, and the Upper East Side of New York City, Maggie Vaughan, MFT, PhD, and the team provide individualized grief counseling whether you’re experiencing grief from the death of a loved one or another major change. Call Happy Apple or book an appointment online to start evidence-based grief counseling today. 

What causes grief?

Grief is the natural emotional reaction you experience after losing someone or something close to you. In many cases, grief follows the death of a loved one, but it can also arise from other circumstances in your life involving a major loss. You might experience grief after:

• The loss of a pet
• A breakup
• The end of a friendship
• The diagnosis of a chronic health condition (loss of your health)
• Being terminated or laid off
• The loss of your sense of safety after a traumatic event

Even a more subtle loss, like moving out after graduating, can trigger grief in your life. There’s no shame in feeling grief, no matter what triggered it, and the team at Happy Apple is here to provide you with the counseling you need to process your loss. 

How can I distinguish grief from depression?

Grief and depression share a lot of similarities. Whether you’re experiencing grief or depression, you probably have a lot of sadness or despair. Despite similar feelings involved with both, grief and depression are two different experiences. 

Grief is always triggered by a significant loss and can often come with additional feelings and symptoms, including:

• Confusion
• Living in the past
• Separation anxiety
• Decreased immunity
• Yearning 
• Apprehension about the future

While depression can also be triggered by some form of loss, it usually has multiple causes and contributing factors, including your background, genetics, and environment. 

Another major difference is the duration of grief versus depression. While feelings of grief tend to decrease over time or occur in waves, depression is more persistent. Your feelings of grief might flare up when you encounter reminders of your loss, for example, while depression symptoms tend to persist regardless of potential triggers or lack thereof. 

How can therapy help me manage grief?

The Happy Apple team provides a safe and supportive atmosphere for managing your grief with evidence-based psychotherapy to help you develop coping mechanisms. The team evaluates you initially to identify the cause of your grief and assess your lifestyle so they can provide individualized care based on your needs and preferences. 

If you experience significant grief or loss in your life, call Happy Apple right away. Otherwise, you can schedule an appointment online with the click of a button.