Coping With Complicated Grief

[Emotional Health] shares Coping With Complicated Grief,unresolved grief, complicated grief and dealing with grief and loss

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Coping With Complicated Grief

Given enough time and support, most people are able to move through the stages of grief in relatively quick succession. Nearly everyone feels overwhelmed during the initial outset of a significant loss, yet our human resiliency often wins out and brings us back to a state of emotional and psychological wellbeing (although we may never completely stop missing the absence of our loved one).

There are times, however, when - despite the best efforts of everyone involved - a person experiencing a loss is unable to move beyond the initial stages of grief, and suffers long past the typical time frame for such a loss. This is often referred to as complicated grief.For one reason or another, there is something about the nature of the loss preventing the person from moving through the natural progression of the grief cycle.

Excessive Periods of Longing

It is all but natural for any person who has recently lost a loved one, to long for that person and have frequent thoughts and memories about the person. While there is no set time frame for how quickly or slowly a person should experience these feelings, if several months have gone by and there has been no reduction in the intensity of the feelings whatsoever, this person may be experiencing complicated grief.

Inability to Function Throughout the Day

Just as with most medical conditions, any complication is indicative of a condition failing to resolve in a way that moves towards better health. Grief is no different, as its natural resolution eventually leaves people feeling somewhat at peace with the events that have taken place and able to miss that individual while still functioning on a regular basis.

If an individual who has experienced a loss still finds it difficult to complete activities of daily living and feels lack of motivation for completing routine tasks throughout the day, then complicated grief is a likely cause.

What Happens if Complicated Grief is Left Untreated?

If left untreated, complicated grief can lead to more persistent conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, depression and substance abuse issues. Even worse, sometimes individuals who are left untreated may begin to experience suicidal thoughts and will sometimes begin engaging in self-injurious behavior.

These individuals have experienced the effects of complicated grief for such a long period of time that it has truly begun to take a significant toll on their mental health. These behaviors and complications are merely a reaction to the body and mind being placed under intense stress for extended periods of time.

How to Move Forward

Nobody going through the grief process wants to stay fixed at any one phase. Everyone wants to get better and everyone wants to lead happy and productive lives. Sometimes all that is needed is additional time beyond that which is typically required for most individuals experiencing the different stages of grief. More often than not, however, it is through the help of a highly trained mental health practitioner that a successful resolution can be attained.