Grief is a natural response to loss. It is characterized by a profound emotional process that everyone experiences differently, and is seen as an inevitable aspect of life’s journey.
Describing your response to grief encompasses a range of feelings from deep sadness to anger, and can affect both mental and physical health. While most people gradually adjust to loss, some find themselves caught in an extended, intense mourning that requires them to seek professional help at a mental health treatment center.
When you reach a point where your feelings of loss impair your ability to function in daily life over an extended period, this condition is known as Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD). It is a serious issue that requires greater awareness and understanding.
Understanding PGD
Prolonged Grief Disorder is characterized by an enduring and intense form of grief that lasts beyond the expected period of adaptation according to cultural norms. It typically takes someone about twelve months after the loss, give or take according to your personality.
However, when you experience PGD you find yourself stuck in a state of longing or preoccupation with the deceased of a loved one. This grief does not ease with time and instead, persists or worsens.
What Are the Symptoms?
The symptoms of PGD are distinct and more severe than a normal grief reaction. They include persistent yearning for the deceased, intense sorrow and emotional pain. You can also experience an unhealthy preoccupation with the deceased or the circumstances of their death.
This creates difficulty with regard to re-engaging with life, and can result in withdrawal from social activities. It can also promote feelings of meaninglessness, and a perception that part of yourself has died with them.
This level of intense emotional pain can disrupt personal relationships, work, and social functioning.
Signs and Symptoms of PGD
Understanding PGD is crucial because it highlights a type of suffering that is not simply an expected part of bereavement but a treatable psychological condition. Awareness campaigns are essential in educating the people about the signs and symptoms of this disorder. This helps to reduce stigma, and encourages those affected to seek help.
Mental health professionals emphasize the importance of distinguishing between normal grief and a condition that might require intervention. This distinction is vital to prevent unnecessary medicalization of normal human emotions while providing necessary support to those in true distress.
Treatment Options
Treatment for PGD typically involves targeted grief therapy aimed at helping you process your loss and gradually begin to move forward with your life.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been adapted specifically for treating prolonged grief. It focuses on addressing the maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate the grief cycle. Other therapeutic approaches may include narrative therapy, where individuals create a coherent story of the loss and its impact on their life. There is also acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which focuses on increasing psychological flexibility and commitment to personal values.
Prolonged Grief Disorder represents a profound, often overlooked mental health condition that affects a significant minority of people experiencing loss. It is essential to seek help and support if you still feel overwhelmed by grief after an extended period of time.
