Understanding Grief
Grief is a natural and normal response to loss, most commonly the death of a loved one, but also other significant losses such as divorce, loss of health, job loss, or other major life changes. Grief involves a range of emotions, thoughts, physical sensations, and behaviors as you adapt to life after loss. While grief is not a mental disorder, it can be profoundly painful and disruptive.
Most people move through grief with the support of family, friends, and time. However, some people experience complicated or prolonged grief that significantly impairs functioning and persists long after the loss. Professional treatment can be helpful when grief becomes overwhelming or when you feel stuck in the grieving process.
Complicated or prolonged grief (also called persistent complex bereavement disorder) may be present when intense grief symptoms persist for more than 12 months (6 months for children) and significantly impair functioning. Signs include intense longing or preoccupation with the deceased or lost relationship, difficulty accepting the death or loss, feeling that life is meaningless without the deceased, bitterness or anger about the loss, difficulty engaging in activities or relationships, emotional numbness, feeling that part of yourself died, and difficulty envisioning a future with meaning or satisfaction.