What Is Complicated Grief?
Grief is a normal human response when faced with any type of loss. Responses to loss are experienced emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically. Despite popular belief, the grief process is not linear, and there is no set time frame to heal.
Many people who experience a loss will typically notice a gradual decrease in the intensity of their pain in ensuing weeks and months. However, there are some individuals who will experience what is called “complicated grief.” Complicated grief is believed to impact roughly seven percent of adults experiencing grief.
What is Complicated Grief?
Compared to a more typical grief process, complicated grief has a longer-lasting effect. There is a more persistent response that doesn’t fade and can have more of an impact on daily life.
With complicated grief, the intensity of your grief may persist, linger, or worsen for months and even years. Typically, if it’s still going strong after six months to one year, it can fall in this category.
In the most current edition, the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) now lists complicated grief as its own disorder.
Typical Symptoms
One of the primary distinguishing factors that complicated grief has is that those experiencing it tend to find their grief reactions enduring over time with no relief in sight. Every day functioning can become difficult.
If you’re experiencing complicated grief, you may find yourself having difficulty with accepting the death, feeling emotionally numb, wanting to continue on with your life, and ruminating about different aspects of the death including blaming yourself or others.
Other symptoms can include:
Intense feelings of sadness or emotional pain
Intense rumination and unable to focus on anything else but the loss
Bitterness about the loss that does not abate
Difficulty or inability to attend to daily tasks or responsibilities
Overly surrounding yourself with things that remind you of the lost person
Anger
Feelings of guilt
Loss of purpose
Inability to enjoy life or experience pleasure from past memories of the person you lost
Withdrawing from all social activities and other relationships
Additionally, you may experience loss of appetite, suicidal ideation, and issues with physical health.
Causes of Complicated Grief
Loss can affect each person differently and can result in a wide range of symptoms. The type of loss can also impact the severity of symptoms or how you move through grief.
You’re more likely to develop the complicated version of grief if you’ve experienced a previous loss or an unexpected loss. Parents who have lost a child and those who have experienced a loss through sudden violent death tend to be at higher risk for complicated grief. If you were a caregiver through the long illness of a loved one, you may also have a more difficult time with grief. If you were very close to the person you lost or were dependent on them, this may also affect your grief process.
If you’re already struggling with another mental health disorder, that can lend itself to a harder time moving through grief.
What Happens with Complicated Grief
When you’re navigating through complicated grief, there is also a mental, psychological, and physical toll. Over the long term, you can develop new onset or worsening anxiety and depression. If there was trauma involved, you may experience PTSD symptoms.
The heartbreak of loss may even cause medical symptoms such as an increase in blood pressure, chest pain, shortness of breath, significant sleep disturbances, and a compromised immune system.
Diagnosis
If you’re experiencing prolonged grief symptoms, a healthcare provider can make a diagnosis based on what your symptoms are and how they’re impacting your life. Symptoms lasting longer than a year are definitely cause for concern and should be assessed.
A healthcare provider will also assess whether you meet the following criteria:
You can’t accept your loss
You’re in intense emotional pain
You’re demonstrating avoidant behavior
Engaging in social activities is difficult
You have difficulty regulating emotions
You’re becoming detached and isolated
You’re struggling to find meaning or have suicidal thoughts
Treatment
Once you realize you’re dealing with complicated grief, know that therapy can be a tremendously helpful next step. There are also options to explore such as support groups, coping mechanisms, medication, and alternative treatments.
If you’re struggling with complicated grief, we can help you in your healing process. Relief is possible. Contact us today for grief counseling.