Grief & Loss
What is grief and when does it become a problem?
Grief is a natural and complex human response to loss, typically triggered by the death of a loved one but also associated with other major life changes such as divorce, the end of a relationship, or the loss of a job. It is a complex emotional, physical, and cognitive experience that varies in intensity and duration from person to person.
The experience of grief often includes a range of emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, and anxiety. It can also affect a person's physical health, causing symptoms such as fatigue, changes in appetite, and sleep disturbances. Grief can also impact a person's thinking and behavior, leading to difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and changes in mood and personality.
While the experience of grief is a natural and necessary process, it can be challenging and overwhelming, and may require the support of family, friends, or mental health professionals. It is important to remember that everyone grieves differently, and that there is no "right" way to grieve.
Unhealthy grief - also called complicated grief, prolonged grief disorder, or traumatic grief - refers to a prolonged and intense experience of grief that interferes with a person's ability to function in their daily life. This type of grief can be more difficult to manage and may require the support of mental health professionals to help a person come to terms with their loss and find ways to cope with their grief.
What does grief look like?
Healthy grief is a natural process that helps people come to terms with the loss of a loved one or a significant change in their life. It is a complex and multifaceted experience that involves a range of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, but ultimately leads to acceptance, healing, and growth. Some characteristics of healthy grief include:
Acknowledging and expressing emotions associated with the loss
Accepting the reality of the loss
Maintaining connections with supportive people
Continuing to engage in daily activities and responsibilities
Focusing on positive memories and experiences with the person who has been lost
Adapting to life without the person or thing that has been lost
Unhealthy grief, on the other hand, can be characterized by a prolonged and intense experience of grief that interferes with a person's ability to function in their daily life. Unhealthy grief may include the following characteristics:
Excessive and persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or despair
Difficulty accepting the reality of the loss
Isolation from supportive people or activities
Inability to complete daily tasks or responsibilities
Obsessive thoughts or behaviors related to the loss
Increased use of drugs or alcohol to cope with feelings of grief
It's important to note that everyone's experience of grief is unique, and there is no "right" way to grieve. However, if grief is significantly impacting a person's ability to function, seeking support from a mental health professional may be helpful.
How do you treat problematic grief?
The treatment of unhealthy grief typically involves therapy and counseling, and may include medication in some cases.
Therapy can focus on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors associated with grief or developing more robust coping strategies to manage grief more effectively. In order, however, to resolve the issue, therapy helps individuals to identify and explore unresolved emotional issues related to their grief, and to develop insight into the underlying causes of their distress. This often means focusing on the relationship to the deceased individual or to the idea of death itself.
Grief support groups can provide a safe and supportive environment where individuals can share their experiences and receive support from others who are going through similar experiences.
Medications may be prescribed to help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety that often accompany unhealthy grief.
It's important to remember that there is no "one size fits all" approach to treating unhealthy grief, and that each individual's experience is unique. A mental health professional can help develop an individualized treatment plan based on the specific needs and goals of the individual.