Posted by
J. Kipp Lanning, LIMHP CPC in
Intellectual Disabilities on
May 27, 2008 |
no responses 
Grief is an individual and personal process. No one grieves the same or for the same length of time. Still, there are times when grief seems to linger and one wonders if it will ever subside. There is growing evidence of a diagnosable set of symptoms that may indicated what experts are calling Prolonged Grief Disorder. Prolonged Grief Disorder has been associated with suicide, cardiovascular problems, major depressive disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
You may benefit from an assessment from a qualified grief counselor if any of the following symptoms occur more than once a day for the last six months or more and have caused problems at work, home, or in social situations (Neimeyer, 2006)…
- Chronic disruptive yearning, pining, and longing for the deceased
- Trouble accepting the death
- Inability to trust others
- Excessive bitterness or anger relating to the death
- Uneasiness about moving with life
- Feeling empty or unable to relate to others
- Feeling meaningless or purposeless without the past loved one
- Feeling hopeless about the future
- Jumpiness or edginess
Determining the difference between a major depressive disorder, PTSD, and Prolonged Grief Disorder can be difficult (if in fact there is a “disorder” at all) and should be done by a qualified mental health practitioner.
Whose at the greatest risk of Prolonged Grief Disorder? Persons who have lost a child – of any age, persons who have lost a loved one to accident, homicide or suicide, and persons in families with poor communication are at the greatest risk of Prolonged Grief Disorder. On the other hand, persons who have been the caregiver have a decreased risk, often adjusting quicker to grief than others would expect, sometimes resulting in unfair accusations about their grieving.
Counseling can help. Counseling can help persons experiencing Prolonged Grief by addressing co-occurring mental health issues such as depression or PTSD. Counselors can also help grievers make sense of what has happened and put it in context of the meaning of their lives. Counselors can also help to find effective ways of connecting with the deceased in meaningful ways and honor their memory while providing assurance that moving on will not lessen their memory.
If you are concerned about yourself or someone you know, call today for an assessment interview – Lets talk about your goals today.
Reference
Neimeyer, R. A., (2006) Complicated grief and the reconstruction of meaning: Conceptual and emperical contributions to a cognitive-constructionist model. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 13(2), 141-125.
Related posts:
- Is Therapy for Grief Dangerous? The Science and the Media Hype.
- Caregiver Self-care, Support & Counseling
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Grief is an individual and personal process. No one grieves the same or for the same length of time. Still, there are times when grief seems to linger and one wonders if it will ever subside. There is growing evidence of a diagnosable set of symptoms that may indicated what experts are calling Prolonged Grief Disorder. Prolonged Grief Disorder has been associated with suicide, cardiovascular problems, major depressive disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
J. Kipp Lanning, LIMHP