In this episode of A Gift For Grief, I'm diving into a question many people who are grieving may think about: "How do I know if what I’m feeling is grief, or if it’s depression?"

Both can feel heavy, isolating, and overwhelming - but they’re not the same thing.

I'll talk through some of the ways grief shows up differently from depression, where they sometimes overlap, and why it matters to understand the distinction.

This isn’t about putting labels on your pain, it’s about giving yourself language, compassion, and clarity. My hope is that by the end, you’ll feel less alone in whatever you’re experiencing, and more supported in finding the help you need.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your grief is “normal,” or worried it might be something more, this episode offers gentle guidance and reassurance.

In this episode, I’ll talk about:

•What makes grief unique.

•What sets depression apart.

•The places where they overlap.

•And most importantly, how to recognize when it might be time to reach out for extra support.

Connect with your host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebates

If this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.

You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After early retirement and the heartbreaking loss of both her parents, Sue Williams turned to creativity and spirituality as a way to heal.

What started as journaling soon transformed into poetry, eventually leading to her award-winning book, I Am Unique. Since then, Sue has gone on to create oracle cards, publish anthologies amplifying women’s voices, and inspire countless others to embrace creativity as a tool for self-discovery, healing, and transformation, especially in midlife and beyond.

Sue’s story is a moving reminder that even in the depths of loss, courage and creativity can help us reconnect with ourselves and what we’re here to share with the world.

Recommended reading:

The Artists Way by Julia Cameron

Sue Williams books:

Believe You Can Succeed

Believe You Can Face Your Fears and Confidently Claim a Life You Love

Believe You Can Live a Life You Love at 50+

Golden Threads Women's Shared Wisdom from the Tapestry of Life

I Am Unique

Connect with your host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebates

If this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.

You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of A Gift For Grief, Narinder Moore reflects on the very different ways grief has touched her life.

Her Father was bedridden for five years and died in 2008. Narinder explained how she experienced a mixture of sadness and relief - comforted by knowing he was no longer suffering.

Years later, her grief took on a new shape. The sudden loss of her eldest brother Gurjit in 2021, followed by the death of her younger brother Jagdip in 2023.

This brought pain of a different kind - sharper, more unexpected, and deeply disorienting.

Narinder opens up about how the Sikh community stepped forward during these times of loss and she shares the important role of Sikh customs and traditions in mourning.

Members of the Sikh community came together to surround her family with prayer and support.

Those who were able to read from the scriptures brought the sacred words into the house, filling the home with comfort and reverence. The presence of the scriptures offered both spiritual strength and a reminder that she was not alone in her grief.

This heartfelt conversation explores how grief is never the same twice, and how faith, culture, and community can both comfort and challenge us in times of loss.

Connect with Narinder through her Facebook group or Facebook page, both called - The Live Well Learning Hub.

Narinder's book 'Reflections' A Guided Journal: is available from Amazon.

Recommended reading:

Anita Moorjani Dying to Be Me

Bill Kirkpatrick: Going Forth

The Miracle Morning: Hal Elrod

A Gift For Grief: Louise Bates

Donna Ashworth: Growing Brave

Connect With Your Host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebates

If this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.

You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.