The loss of a family member or close friend is difficult for anyone. For some people, it doesn’t seem to get better, and the impact of that loss can be felt in every facet of a person’s life. Understanding prolonged grief disorder and what it may mean to you can help you build a stronger future and get the help you need.
At Willow Creek Behavioral Health, our team uses the advanced treatment options you deserve to have available to you to provide solutions. If you are struggling, we want to hear about it.
What Is Prolonged Grief?
Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is a specific mental health disorder in which a person who recently experienced a death, an intense yearning, or a preoccupation struggles with that loss for 6 to 12 months. The impact is so much so that it makes everyday life tasks and responsibilities challenging.
To understand PGD, it is essential to consider what happens with grief traditionally. In a typical situation, a person facing grief will struggle, sometimes intensely, initially, with gradual improvement over time. However, a person with PGD isn’t able to move past that pain as easily. They remain in a paralyzing level of grief, unable to move forward with daily life. Their grief impacts various facets of their life and may maintain depression symptoms for 6 to 12 months. During this time, they may struggle with deep pain, social isolation, and difficulty going to work.
What Happens in PGD?
Sometimes referred to as complicated grief, PGD typically involves significant grief symptoms that last for a year or longer, that limits their ability to adapt to the loss and move forward. It may be caused by:
- Loss of someone very close to you, such as a spouse, romantic partner, or child
- Violent or abrupt and unexpected deaths
- Trauma-filled deaths, including suicide or murder
- Ongoing disasters
- Political violence
In these situations, the brain gets “stuck” in the grief process and fails to move forward properly. This isn’t the way life has to be, though it can seem like this may be the way you will live your future. Recognizing that you’re facing a mental health disorder means you can seek out treatment and support.
Symptoms of Prolonged Grief Disorder
Grief impacts each person in different ways, but most people experience some type of mental health complication. In those who have PGD, the symptoms become too intense, too limiting, and last for months. Some signs include:
- Feeling like part of you, personally, died
- No longer socializing with friends or pursuing activities that interest you
- Feeling an ongoing sense of disbelief about the loss of the person
- Constantly talking about or seeing reminders of the person who has died
- Strong emotional discomfort, including bitterness, anger, and deep sorrow over the death
- Feeling that life is hopeless, meaningless, or no longer worth living
- Extreme loneliness, even when people are around you
- Emotional numbness
In some situations, a person may develop unhealthy complications from this disorder. That may include difficulty making changes to a home after the death of a loved one who lived there. They may struggle with trusting others if they feel that their loved one left them.
There is also an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions, and in some people, substance use disorders, using alcohol, tobacco, or addictive substances, can also occur.
A person with PGD can’t just get over it. They cannot simply move on. Rather, they need support and guidance in moving forward. That often is best done with professional treatment.
When Is Treatment Necessary
Residential treatment or outpatient care can be beneficial to many people with PGD. It can help to better understand why you feel this way and help you overcome the trauma your brain experienced at the time of your loved one’s loss. It also provides you with more accurate expectations of your future.
If you are experiencing negative thoughts about yourself or others, or have lost your ability to manage daily life without your loved one, taking a step into treatment can create strategies for moving forward. Your brain needs support in overcoming this mental health challenge.
How We Can Help You With PGD
At Willow Creek, we offer a range of inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. Each program provides an opportunity for you to gain insight, real-world tools, and real-world tools to help you move your future forward. Set up some time to speak to our team. If you are at risk for any type of physical or emotional harm, visit us immediately. We welcome walk-in patients.
Grief is difficult for everyone. When you need help and support, we are here to guide you.
