Predominant mood in grief is feelings of emptiness and loss , while in depression, one has a persistent low mood and anhedonia .  Mood in greif improves over days to weeks in waves , while it is persistent in case of depression. In greif there may be waves of positive feelings including humor as compared to depression where , there is only low mood.  The grieved person is preoccupied with memories of the deceased, depression on the other hand is characterised by the depressive cognitions of guilt, pessimism, hopelessness, worthlessness.