Coping with Grief After Loss: Recognizing Depression and Finding Healing

Grief and depression can look remarkably similar — sadness, fatigue, loss of motivation, changes in sleep — but they are not the same. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Jennifer Bartolotta shares her deeply personal story of losing her husband, renowned restaurateur Joe Bartolotta, and how she learned to distinguish between normal grief and clinical depression.

Jennifer discusses how her husband once recognized signs of depression in her, how she built daily spiritual and mental health practices to sustain herself, and why asking for help is not a weakness but an act of courage.

Listeners will learn how to recognize the warning signs that grief may be developing into depression, why having honest friends and a strong support network matters, and what tools can help us through both grief and depression.

This conversation offers comfort, validation, and practical strategies for anyone navigating loss while also tending to their mental health.

Link to Psychology Today article on Grief vs. Depression: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-new-grief/201203/when-does-grief-become-depression

Primary Topics Covered:

• The difference between grief and depression
• Jennifer’s personal story of loss and resilience
• How depression first showed up in her life and how her husband recognized it
• The role of daily practices in supporting mental health
• Why asking for help and building a support network is essential
• The gift of honest friends during hard times
• Professional guidance on coping with grief and preventing relapse into depression

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and podcast overview
 00:59 – How grief and depression overlap but differ
 01:38 – Jennifer Bartolotta shares her sudden loss
 02:43 – Jennifer’s background and confidence growing up
 03:45 – Struggles with authenticity and early signs of depression
 04:25 – The moment her husband recognized she needed help
 05:55 – Beginning therapy and learning to manage depression
 06:39 – Jennifer’s daily spiritual and mental health practices
 07:20 – Practicing kindness: making someone smile each day
 08:00 – Living through grief after her husband’s death
 08:54 – Distinguishing grief from depression with expert insights
 10:00 – Holding onto hope and perspective during grief
 11:28 – Why asking for help is a strength, not a weakness
 12:30 – The importance of honest friends who notice changes
 13:19 – How noticing “something is off” can start healing
 14:01 – Psychology Today tips on navigating grief
 15:33 – Closing reflections and next week’s preview

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