Complicated Grief Treatment
Dr. Bryon McQuirt
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Bryon McQuirt
April 24, 2024
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When someone experiences grief, they may cycle through it in a relatively normal or healthy amount of time and move on from there. Sometimes grief provides more of a challenge and transitions into complicated grief. This can cause a person to feel symptoms of depression and that the grief process is never-ending. When this happens, the person should seek complicated grief treatment from a professional mental health care facility. Compassionate treatment by trained experts can help people recover from this mental health disorder and feel better again.
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What is Complicated Grief?
Experiencing grief happens to everyone at some point in their lives. They lose a loved one and go through the usual stages of grief. Yet, for some people, the grieving process does not end. They continue to feel extreme bereavement and loss without being able to accept their loss and recover from the effects of grief.
When this happens, the condition is called complicated grief or persistent complex bereavement disorder. The person suffering from it cannot find a way to start to heal. Their emotions become so overwhelming that they impact their ability to live their lives and interact in healthy relationships. They simply cannot accept the loss they have endured and feel mired in depression and sorrow for more than a year. When this happens, a person can benefit from having complicated grief treatment provided by a treatment professional.
How Does Complicated Grief Treatment Work?
Complicated grief treatment involves more than one tactic to help a person heal. Bereavement counseling can help people process the loss and learn that they can find a way to move on. Mental health programs often provide options to help people overcome complicated grief. A trained therapist helps the person recognize that they are stuck and work towards feeling better. Being able to talk to someone in a safe space and neutral setting can help many people open up and move through the grieving process. Therapists teach healthy coping skills which include ways to process the loss and accept that life can go on without the person.
In addition, a formal treatment program can identify if the individual deals with any co-occurring mental health disorders. For example, they may have depression, anxiety, or a trauma-based illness such as post-traumatic stress disorder. When this occurs, the person may find symptoms overlapping. Treatment for both complicated grief and another mental health disorder at the same time can help the person make a great deal of progress.
Signs and Symptoms of Complicated Grief
After the loss of a loved one, normal grief means a person goes through several stages and emotions while they learn to deal with the loss. When it comes to complicated grief, some of the symptoms continue for an extended time and often get worse. Even if they try their best to overcome their sorrow, they are unable to make progress. Common signs and symptoms that someone may need complicated grief treatment include:
- Intensified feelings of sorrow and depression
- Feeling numb
- Consistently focusing on the loss
- Thinking about the details of the person’s death
- Unable to find meaning or purpose in life
- Withdrawing from others and isolating
- Difficulty accepting that the person is gone
- Focusing on reminders of a loved one
- Avoiding any reminders of a loved one
- Difficulty meeting obligations with family, work, school, or hobbies
- Feeling guilty about the person’s death
- Suicidal ideation
How Do I Know I Need Grief Treatment?
While each person grieves in their own way, when someone finds they are unable to move out of the grieving process for a year or more, it’s a sign they need help. Complicated grief happens more commonly to women and in older populations, but it can happen to anyone. An evaluation by a qualified therapist can help determine if a person needs complicated grief treatment.
How to Protect Yourself from Complicated Grief?
Benefits of Grief Treatment in Atlanta
Our complicated grief treatment program provides many benefits. First, we provide bereavement counseling to help address the primary problem. Our trained therapists use compassionate care that helps people openly discuss their thoughts and feelings. In addition, we treat any co-occurring mental health disorders. Treating both situations concurrently helps the person make progress more quickly than if they approach them separately.
We respond to the specific needs of each person by offering different levels of treatment. We provide both outpatient and residential care that includes a variety of therapy modalities. As well, we can offer any needed medications that help a person dealing with grief and other mental health challenges.
If You are in need of immediate assistance...
Don’t hesitate to contact us immediately. In the case of a medical emergency please contact 911 or visit your local emergency department.
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Most major health insurance plans with out-of-network benefits can help cover the costs associated with our program. Find out your coverage now.
