Grief or bereavement or loss
- After at least 1 year (6 months for children) following the loss of a loved one, are you still feeling as bad (or worse) and having significant difficulty coping and functioning?
Grief is the price we pay for love and attachment. Losing something precious brings at least temporary heartbreak and sometimes lasting depression. After experiencing the ultimate loss, the death of a loved one, we can experience severe and prolonged sadness, trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating and fatigue.
Distinguishing between necessary and “normal” grief versus clinical depression or persistent complex bereavement is difficult. Thoughts of suicide, persistent feelings of worthlessness, being out of touch with reality or having a complete breakdown in functioning are definite red flags. There’s nothing absolute about 12 months (or 6 months for children) for duration of intense grief but it seems to be a reasonable guide.
- Each individual suffering from grief, bereavement or loss has unique characteristics and should be thoroughly assessed.
- Every person suffering from prolonged, persistent or complex bereavement or grief would benefit from connecting with a skilled psychotherapist.
Blog posts on this topic
Psychotherapy for Bereavement
Grief, bereavement, or loss is the price we pay for love and attachment. Sadness or heartbreak is a natural response to losing someone or something precious. When despair is intense, prolonged, unrelenting, and causes trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and … Continue reading →
When change hurts, take heart, help is available
“Getting old is not for sissies” said Mae West. To this I would add: neither is experiencing great loss nor dealing with major illness. Most of us need help adapting to major changes in our lives. We all need to process … Continue reading →