Grief is a natural part of our human response to loss, and the amount of time we spend in grief can vary by person and situation. There’s no standard amount of time that one should or shouldn’t grieve. If your grief from the loss of a loved one lasts longer than one year and becomes intense, disruptive, or all-consuming, you may be experiencing prolonged grief. And that’s ok, prolonged grief is another normal reaction to loss.
Continue reading to learn about the signs of prolonged grief and what you can do to move forward on your healing journey.
What is Prolonged Grief?
When grief significantly interferes with daily life beyond the first year, it can be considered prolonged. While mourning periods are different for every person and event, grief symptoms that impair daily life and last longer than one year may be a strong indicator for prolonged grief. Prolonged grief is accompanied by an intense longing for and preoccupation with the person who passed away.
5 Signs You’re Experiencing Prolonged Grief
- You have intense and persistent longing for the person who passed away. It is normal to miss someone we have lost. However, if the intense feelings or intrusive thoughts about the person are overwhelming, disrupting, and remain constant for over a year, this may be a sign of prolonged grief. You might feel intense waves of sorrow that remain persistent in intensity over time or feel emotionally numb about all other aspects of life.
- You have difficulty accepting the loss. If over a period of several months it feels as if the loss isn’t real or there is a persistent feeling of disbelief or shock, this may be a sign of prolonged grief. You might avoid anything that reminds you of the person or feel stuck in the moment you found out about their death.
- You avoid allowing life to move forward. Socializing and daily routines feel exhausting over an extended period of time when prolonged grief is present. You may avoid social situations, stop doing things you love, or avoid responsibilities for several months after the loss.
- You’ve lost your sense of self identity. When a person you love passes away, there can be a feeling of being stuck or that you’ve lost a part of yourself. You may have thoughts of being unsure of your purpose, what your future can look like, or a loss of life meaning.
- You have intense emotional pain that interferes with daily functioning. This pain will affect your ability to work, sleep, maintain relationships, and perform your regular self care routines. This may come with a sense of hopelessness and physical symptoms such as body pain, headaches, and fatigue.
When to Seek Help for Prolonged Grief
Grief therapy should be considered when your grief symptoms last for longer than 12 months with no decrease in intensity over time and your daily life functioning is impacted. You might also consider seeking help if the intensity of your grief remains as intense as it did in the early weeks of the loss. If you have thoughts of wanting to be with the person who passed away, grief counseling can be of help.
Healing from Prolonged Grief: Practical Steps
- Seek out community. Allow yourself to rely on your support network of trusted friends, family, or support groups.
- Stick to your daily routine. Even small self care actions can make a big impact.
- Find ways to honor the relationship you had with the person you lost. You might create a ritual or recall happy memories with the person.
- Offer yourself compassion. Healing from grief is not linear and takes time.
- Seek help with a grief therapist.
We’re here to help you navigate your journey through grief. If you’re ready to move through your grief journey with the help of therapy in Gaitherburg, MD, you can reach out by completing our contact us form or call or text 240-274-5680 anytime.
When working with clients, Amy (she/her) uses her warm personality along with her relational approach to engage her clients in the therapeutic process. She has always strived to have a supportive, collaborative relationship with her clients, allowing for deep personal growth and healing.