Everyone experiences a loss of some sort in his or her lifetime; it could be the death of a loved one or a divorce. Sometimes people some people are unable to move on from a loss for a very long time and this can cause serious anxiety and depression.

What is a tragic event?
Dealing with a tragic or traumatic event can often bring on anxiety and depression; a traumatic event can be the loss of a loved one, a natural disaster, economic crisis’s, or even experiences in times of war. The point is, pretty much everything can be considered a “tragic” or “traumatic” event; our brain makes it that way.
Anxiety and depression are very serious and can occur when one of the five stages of grief are not completed. The five stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Anxiety and depression will occur if you never accept what has happened and get over it. Yes it may take some time to get over the loss of a child, parent, or friend but at some point you do need to move on.

Anxiety and depression both have symptoms of feeling guilty, feeling worthless, having thoughts of suicide, headaches, muscle pains, fatigue, insomnia, oversleeping, lack of energy, loss of interest in things you once enjoyed, suicide attempts, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive behavior, phobias, irrational thinking, and more. Depression and anxiety are both very hard to live with and can change your life dramatically.

Dealing with depression and anxiety after a loss is tricky, of course you will go through the five stages of grief as listed above, but can get stuck on the last step. If you feel like you cannot get over something and are letting it rule your life, you may need to see a doctor. There are many different therapists and counselors available that have expertise in this kind of field.  These therapists can help you get to the bottom of your problems and help you work on fixing them.

Some people may not want to drive on a certain road because a loved one was killed there. This behavior will keep you from living your everyday life and keep you from experiencing new things. The fear that you too will die on the same road may start to rule your life. Speaking with a counselor and facing your fear may be the best way to deal with your depression and anxiety.

Others may need medication for their anxiety and depression and counseling. This may be the only way to diminish your depression and anxiety symptoms. Dealing with a loss or a traumatic event can be very hard, it is appropriate to grieve for your loved one but if you feel like you cannot get over it and you think about it every day, you may need some help.

If left untreated anxiety and depression can lead to ulcers, loss of jobs, strained relationships with others, divorce, loss of friends, weight gain or weight loss, and even suicide.