Prolonged Grief Disorder

Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is defined by deep feeling of loss. The condition has also been referred to as complicated or pathological grief. The hallmarks of prolonged grief include significant emotional distress and changes to a person’s level of functioning. 

While grief is a natural and normal response to painful or traumatic events or losses, prolonged grief makes it challenging for a person to accept the reality of a loss and begin to move forward.

What cause Prolonged Grief Disorder?

The circumstances by which we lose a person can contribute to the intense and long-lasting emotions of prolonged grief. Complicated grief may develop after situations such as:

• An accident
• A sudden or unexpected death
• Loss of a child
• Loss of a partner
• Violent death
• Suicide
• Losing someone to COVID-19

What are the symptoms of prolonged grief disorder?

Some warning signs of PGD include:

• Feeling as though part of you has died
• A sense of disbelief about the death
• Avoidance of reminders that the person is dead
• Strong emotional pain related to the death (anger, bitterness, or sorrow)
• Difficulty moving on with your life (socializing with friends, pursuing interests, planning for the future)
• Emotional numbness
• Feeling that life is meaningless
• Extreme loneliness (feeling alone or separate from others)

Someone with PGD might also:

• Leave the deceased person’s belongings exactly how they were before their death
• Have trouble remembering positive memories about their loved one
• Have a hard time trusting other people
• Use more tobacco, alcohol, or other substances
• Have suicidal thoughts or behaviour

Prevention

It’s not clear how to prevent complicated grief. Getting counselling soon after a loss may help, especially for people at increased risk of developing complicated grief.

Bereavement counselling. Through early counselling after a loss, you can explore emotions surrounding your loss and learn healthy coping skills. This may help prevent negative thoughts and beliefs from gaining such a strong hold that they’re difficult to overcome.

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