Prolonged grief is an intense and persistent form of grief. The circumstances of the loss, the relationship with the person who died, the griever’s loss history and a number of other factors can contribute to a prolonged grief experience.
Some signs of prolonged grief are difficulty functioning in daily life, intense emotional pain, loneliness, prolonged shock and numbness, feeling “stuck” or very lost in grief, or feeling like grief is getting worse rather than softening or easing. If this describes your grief experience and it has been a year or longer since your loved one died, you may be suffering prolonged grief.
There is hope. People experiencing prolonged grief can benefit greatly from professional help and support.