Grief can be overwhelming and complex. Someone who expects to feel sadness in grief may experience anger, guilt, relief or any number of emotions. They may be numb. Their thoughts may feel out of their control; they may be focused on their loss or unable to focus much at all. If you’re going through this right now, you’re not alone.

You may learn to understand your thoughts and feelings by working with a professional. Mental health care providers at Lightfully offer therapy for prolonged grief disorder, also known as complicated grief. This isn’t because grief is pathological; this is because having someone to talk to may make your grief easier to navigate. Additionally, you can learn healthier ways of coping.

Learn about prolonged grief disorder, treatment and healing

Everyone experiences grief differently, but those experiencing prolonged grief disorder may have some shared experiences. They may share some questions, too, like:

• What is prolonged grief disorder?

Following the loss of a loved one, grief may become overwhelming, prolonged or difficult to recover from. If this happens, you may be diagnosed with prolonged grief disorder. You may have prolonged grief disorder if you relate to statements like the following:

• “Life is meaningless without them” — You may feel that your purpose is lost.
• “I can’t accept that they’re not here with me” — You might want to deny that the loss happened.
• “I can’t focus on anything except for the person I lost” — You could find controlling your thoughts difficult.
• “Nothing makes me happy anymore, not even good memories with them” — You might get nothing out of things that you used to enjoy.
• “I can’t keep up with my family, friends or life anymore” — You may lose motivation, interest or executive functioning.
• “I don’t want to go on without them” — You could have thoughts of hurting yourself.

You may be numb or feel pain, sorrow, anger or bitterness. You might blame yourself or someone else for the loss. You may find yourself ruminating or isolating yourself from others. If you have a mental health condition like depression, its symptoms may worsen or old symptoms may resurface. You can use our quiz as a self-assessment tool to reflect on your experience with grief.

Severe symptoms, such as suicidal ideation, should be treated right away. Call or text 988, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for immediate support.

• What makes treating prolonged grief important?

Prolonged grief disorder can lead to extreme emotional lows. People may cope with it in unhealthy ways, like substance use. They might also experience symptoms of other mental health conditions, like depression or anxiety. Ruminating, obsessive thoughts could overlap with obsessive-compulsive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. Grief can aggravate a mental health condition, and a mental health condition can worsen grief, leading to a downward spiral. Grief can coincide with PTSD after a traumatic loss, like the loss of a sibling.

Some people going through prolonged grief disorder experience suicidal ideation or wish that they could take their loved one’s place. If you’re having thoughts like these, help is available. Reach out to a professional right away.

• What kind of treatment is available?

You can talk to a licensed clinical therapist at Lightfully about your experience with loss, how you’re experiencing grief and how you might want to move forward. You may have goals, like living in a way that honors your loved one or creating a healthy mindset. They may identify a program that may help, Lightfully’s Virtual Partial Hospitalization Program (vPHP). Your treatment can be fully tailored to you, using treatment methods like cognitive behavioral therapy.

• How can a professional help you with prolonged grief disorder?

You can work with a licensed clinical expert at Lightfully to create a customized treatment plan in a vPHP. Typically, a vPHP includes:

• Four to six hours of group sessions per day
• Five days of treatment totaling 20 hours or more per week
• One therapy appointment per week
• One psychiatry appointment per week
• Two family therapy sessions per month

At Lightfully, we base our approach to mental health care on our Precision Care Model. This care model is driven by data and a whole-person-centered approach.

Find a path forward with Lightfully

If you are experiencing grief from the loss of a loved one that feels persistent and overwhelming, you may need more intensive support than what outpatient therapy can provide. Please reach out to a professional at Lightfully to get started. We’re here to support you through your experience with prolonged grief, no matter what that may look like for you. You can move through grief with a licensed clinical therapist and groups of people going through similar things. We can provide psychiatric care if you need medication management services for existing prescriptions or you begin new psychiatric medication.

Moving forward is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.