Description

The loss of a loved one is one of the most distressing and, unfortunately, common experiences people face. Most people experiencing normal grief and bereavement have a period of sorrow, numbness, and even guilt and anger. Gradually these feelings ease, and it is possible to accept loss and move forward.

For some people, feelings of loss are debilitating and don't improve even after time passes. This is known as duel complicated, sometimes called persistent complex bereavement disorder. In complicated grief, painful emotions are so long lasting and severe that you have problems to recover from the loss and resuming your own life.

Different people follow different paths through the experience of grief. The order and duration of these phases can vary from person to person:

  • The acceptance of the reality of your loss
  • Allow yourself to experience the pain of their loss
  • To adapt to a new reality in which the deceased is not present
  • Have other relationships

These differences are normal. But if you are unable to move through these stages more than a year after the death of a loved one, you may have complicated grief. If so, seek treatment. You can help to reach an agreement with their loss and regain a sense of acceptance and peace.

Symptoms

During the first few months after a loss, many signs and symptoms of normal grief are the same as those of complicated grief. However, while normal grief symptoms gradually start to fade over time, those of complicated grief linger or get worse. Complicated grief is like being in an ongoing, heightened state of mourning that keeps you from healing.

The signs and symptoms of complicated grief may include:

  • The intense pain, the pain and the reflection on the loss of your loved one
  • Focus on little else but your loved one's death
  • Extreme care in the memories of the loved one, or excessive avoidance of reminders
  • Intense and persistent yearning or pining for the deceased
  • Problems accepting the death
  • Numbness or detachment
  • The bitterness about your loss
  • Feeling that life has no meaning or purpose
  • The lack of trust in others
  • Inability to enjoy life or to think positive experiences with your loved one

Complicated pain may also be indicated if follow:

  • Have trouble carrying out normal routines
  • Isolate from others and withdraw from social activities
  • The experience of depression, profound sadness, guilt or self-blame
  • I think that you did something wrong or could have prevented the death
  • Feel life is not worth living without your loved one
  • I wish you had died along with your loved one

When to see a doctor

Contact your doctor or a mental health professional if you have intense pain and functional problems that do not improve in less than a year after the death of their loved one.

If you have thoughts of suicide

Sometimes, people with duel complicated you may want to consider suicide. If you are thinking about suicide, talk to someone you trust. If you think that you can act on the feelings of suicide, call 911 or your local emergency services number immediately. Or in contact with a direct line of suicide. In the united states, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or use the Lifeline Chat . The services are free and confidential.

Causes

There is No known cause of the complicated grief. As with many mental health disorders can involve your environment, your personality, inherited traits and your body's natural chemistry.

Risk factors

Complicated grief occurs more frequently in women and in older people. Factors that may increase the risk of developing complicated grief include:

  • An unexpected or violent death, like the death of a car accident, or the murder or suicide of a loved one
  • The death of a child
  • Close to or in a relationship of dependency on the deceased person
  • Social isolation, or the loss of a support system and friends
  • The past history of depression, separation anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Traumatic childhood experiences, such as abuse or neglect
  • Other major life stressors, such as major financial difficulties

Complications

Complicated pain can affect you physically, mentally, and socially. Without appropriate treatment, complications may include:

  • Depression
  • Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
  • The anxiety, including PTSD
  • Significant sleep disorders
  • Increased risk of physical illness, such as heart disease, cancer or high blood pressure
  • Long-term difficulty with daily life, relationships or work activities
  • The Alcohol, the nicotine, the use or abuse of substances

Prevention

It is not clear how to prevent complicated grief. Receive counseling soon after a loss of aid, especially for people at increased risk of developing complicated grief. In addition, caregivers providing end-of-life care for a loved one can benefit from advice and support to help you prepare for the death and its aftermath emotional.

  • Talking about. Talking about your pain and allow yourself to cry it can also help to prevent jamming in their sadness. As painful as it is, trust that in the majority of cases, the pain is going to start lifting if you allow yourself to feel it.
  • Support. The members of the family, friends, social support groups and the faith community are all good options to help you work through your pain. You may be able to find a support group focused on a particular type of loss, such as death of a spouse or a child. Ask your doctor to recommend local resources.
  • Bereavement counseling. Through the principles of counseling after a loss, you can explore the emotions surrounding her loss, and learn coping skills healthy. This can help to avoid the negative thoughts and beliefs to get a strong grip that is hard to beat.

Diagnosis

Grieving is a highly individual process for each person and the determination of when normal grief becomes complicated grief can be difficult. Currently there is no consensus among mental health experts about how much time must pass before complicated grief can be diagnosed.

Complicated grief may be considered when the intensity of the pain has not decreased in the months after the death of a loved one. Some mental health professionals to diagnose complicated grief the grief is still intense, persistent, and debilitating of more than 12 months.

There are many similarities between complicated grief and major depression, but there are also differences. In some cases, depression, and complicated grief occur together. Getting the correct diagnosis is essential for appropriate treatment, so that a comprehensive medical and psychological testing is often done.

Treatment

Your doctor or mental health professional considers your particular symptoms and circumstances in determining what treatment is likely to work best for you.

Psychotherapy

Complicated pain is often treated with a type of psychotherapy called complicated grief therapy. It is similar to psychotherapy techniques that are used for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, but it is specifically for complicated grief. This treatment can be effective when it is done individually or in a group format.

During the therapy, you can:

  • Learn about complicated grief and how it is treated
  • To explore such issues as the reactions of grief, complicated grief symptoms, to adapt to the loss and the redefinition of their life goals
  • Press and imagined conversations with your loved one and to relate the circumstances of the death to help you become less distressed by images and thoughts of your loved one
  • Explore and process thoughts and emotions
  • To improve coping skills
  • To reduce feelings of blame and guilt

Other types of psychotherapy can help you to deal with other mental health conditions, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, which can occur together with the complicated grief.

Drugs

There is little research on the use of psychiatric drugs to treat complicated grief. However, antidepressants may be useful in people who have clinical depression as well as the complicated grief.

Coping and support

Although it is important to get professional treatment for complicated grief, these strategies can also help you cope:

  • Stick to your treatment plan. Attend therapy appointments scheduled and practice the skills learned in therapy. If necessary, take medications as directed.
  • The practice of stress management. Learn how to better manage stress. Unmanaged stress can lead to depression, overeating, or other unhealthy thoughts and behaviors.
  • Take care of yourself. Get enough rest, eat a healthy diet and take time to relax. Exercise regularly. Physical activity can help to relieve stress, depression and anxiety. Do not turn to alcohol or recreational drugs for relief.
  • Reach out to your community of faith. If you follow the religious practices or traditions, you can gain comfort in the rituals or the guidance of a spiritual leader.
  • Socialize. Stay connected with the people that you enjoy being around. They can offer support, a shoulder to cry on, or shared laughter to give it a little boost.
  • Plan ahead for special dates or anniversaries. Parties, anniversaries and special occasions can lead to painful memories of your loved one. Find new ways to celebrate, in a positive way to remember or recognize your loved one that will provide you with the comfort and hope.
  • Learn new skills. If you were highly dependent on your loved one, for example, for the management of the kitchen or finance, try to master these tasks yourself. Ask your family, friends, or professionals of the guidance, if necessary. Looking outside the community and classroom resources, too.
  • Join a support group. You may not be ready to join a support group immediately after your loss, but with time, you can find shared experiences, comforting and you can form meaningful new relationships.

Preparing for your appointment

You can start by getting in touch with your doctor. After your first appointment, your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional who can help diagnose your symptoms and provide a treatment plan.

You can ask a trusted family member or friend to be present at your appointment, if possible, to help you remember important information.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • The symptoms you have been experiencing and for how long. Your doctor will want to know the extent to which these symptoms are affecting your daily life, including work and personal relationships.
  • Your key personal information, especially additional stress or important change that has been experienced since your loved one died, such as a serious illness, an important family of interruption or financial problems.
  • Medical information, including other physical or mental health conditions with which you have been diagnosed.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, herbs, or other supplements you are taking and the dose.
  • Questions that you would like to ask your doctor.

Some questions to ask your doctor or mental health professional include:

  • Do you think that my symptoms are more severe than is typical after the death of a loved one?
  • Do you think that psychotherapy would help me?
  • The availability of medicines that could improve my symptoms?
  • What are the possible side effects of your medications?
  • What self-care measures are more likely to help me?
  • There are local support groups or online support groups that could help me?
  • How much time do you expect it will take me to feel better with treatment?
  • Will I finally feel like myself again?

Do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor or mental health professional will likely ask you a series of questions. Be prepared to answer to reserve a time to go over any points you want to focus on. The questions may include:

  • How often do you think about your deceased loved one?
  • You think that could have prevented her loved one's death?
  • Do you ever wish that you had died along with your loved one?
  • How well you are functioning in your daily life, such as work, the maintenance of the home and relationships?
  • Have you experienced any other major stresses, changes or losses, because their loved one died?
  • She has had problems eating or sleeping, because their loved one died?
  • How much social support would you say. that has, as of family, of friends or a church community?
  • Have you been diagnosed with any medical condition?
  • Have you ever been treated for mental health problems? If yes, what type of therapy was more beneficial?
  • Have you ever thought of harming yourself or others?
  • Do you drink alcohol or use recreational drugs? If so, how often?
Symptoms and treatment of Complicated grief