Griefis a persons natural response to losing a loved one.
Its accompanied by feelings of hurt, loss, and sadness.
They might be so intense that they disrupt their day-to-day lives.
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Its a chronic form of grief that could impair ones life.
About 7% to 10% of bereaved people might experience complicated grief.
At a Glance
When grief lingers, complicated grief occurs.
It can lead to feelings of profound, disruptive sadness that make it difficult to function in daily life.
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Symptoms of Complicated Grief
The signs and symptoms of complicated grief are similar to normal grief.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Symptoms of complicated grief might also manifest physically.
But this isnt a hard and fast rule.
Complicated grief itself is not a recognized mental health condition.
It is important to note that grieving is a highly individual process.
There is no single “normal” way to grieve or a timeline that people must follow.
While loss can influence depression, other factor often play a role in its onset.
Complications of Complicated Grief
Many symptoms of complicated grief might look like symptoms of depression.
In certain cases, complicated grief might even evolve into depression.
Depression can occur alongside complicated grief and worsen the symptoms of the condition.
In cases where death is violent and sudden, a person might also experiencePTSD.
Some types of loss might also cause complicated grieffor instance loss of a child or a persons significant other.
Complicated grief has also proven to be more prevalent in older individuals.
One study found that around 9% of older women experience complicated grief.
Your doctor will determine the best treatment plan for you.
A combination of medication and therapy might be used to treat complicated grief.
Joining abereavement support groupcan also help to cope with feelings of loss and sadness you might be feeling.
For instance, where its accompanied by depression, antidepressants might also help to relieve symptoms of complicated grief.
5th ed, text revision.
Washington, D.C.; 2022.
Kristensen P, Dyregrov K, Dyregrov A.What distinguishes prolonged grief disorder from depression?.
Hva skiller forlenget sorg-forstyrrelse fra depresjon?Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen.
