The pain of losing someone you love deeply is one of the most intensely personal experiences anyone ever endures. There is no specific timeline for grief, but most people adjust in some way to life without their loved one(s) over time.
Others, however, may continue feeling relentless waves of sadness and suffering long after their loss. When grief significantly impairs your ability to live your life, you may have what’s known as “prolonged grief disorder.”
Prolonged grief disorder, also known as “prolonged bereavement disorder,” happens when the anguish you feel after someone dies does not improve even months or years after your loss.
Grief can be severe and debilitating, whether it lasts two weeks or two years, but healing is possible without forgetting about your loved one. With proper grief therapy, grief counseling, and support from a mental health professional, you can overcome prolonged grief disorder.
On this page, you’ll learn all you need to know about prolonged grief disorder, including:
Studies have shown that most people adapt to bereavement over time. However, some people develop symptoms of prolonged grief that continue to cause significant impairment.[1]
Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a mental health condition that occurs in response to the death of someone meaningful to you. People with PGD experience prolonged and intense grief that causes longing, emotional pain, and difficulty accepting life without the person who died.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, prolonged grief disorder is diagnosed when grief remains acute and substantially disrupts day-to-day activities over a period of time.[2]
For a diagnosis of prolonged grief disorder, symptoms must last at least 12 months for adults, and at least six months for children and adolescents.[2]
Feeling grief-stricken soon after a loss is perfectly normal. In the initial stages of grieving, it’s common to experience feelings of:
However, if your grief persists for months or years and prevents you from going about your normal routine, you may have persistent grief.
Grief affects everyone differently. Factors that can impact how you cope with grief include: your:
Throughout the grieving process, many people experience fluctuations in their emotions. Seeing, hearing, or thinking about a specific trigger may cause you to feel sad for weeks, months, or years after someone dies. This is typical grief.
The main difference between prolonged grief disorder and typical grief is that your feelings of grief are so overpowering that you cannot live your life as you normally would. Instead of learning to accept your loss over time, you may feel stuck and unable to move forward.
Living with prolonged grief disorder does not mean you have to forget about your loved one. Recovery allows you to grieve your loss while learning how to reconnect with life again.
You may be wondering, What are the symptoms of prolonged grief disorder? There are several common signs and symptoms that mental health professionals look for.
While everyone experiences PGD differently, symptoms of prolonged grief disorder may include:
Many people also report experiencing:
Since symptoms of grief and depression can overlap, seeking treatment can help you determine if you have prolonged grief disorder or depression.[3]
If you have suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or go to your local emergency department for immediate support.
Research has not identified one specific cause of prolonged grief disorder. Rather, prolonged grief disorder is believed to develop due to psychological, biological, social, and situational factors.
Although the loss of a loved one can cause anyone to experience prolonged grief symptoms, certain factors may put you at a higher risk. These risk factors include:
Unexpected losses and traumatic deaths can make it difficult for your brain to accept that the death actually happened.[2][4]
Additionally, if you and your loved one were extremely close, dependent on each other, or had conflicting or unresolved issues, you may have an increased risk of developing persistent grief after they pass.
Further, if you lack a support system or people in your life tell you to move on from your loss, you may be more likely to experience prolonged grief disorder.
And finally, having preexisting mental health disorders, trauma history, anxiety, or depression can also make you more susceptible to prolonged grief disorder.[1]
Due to similarities in symptoms, many people question whether prolonged grief disorder is the same as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Grief and depression share many of the same symptoms, including:
But although grief-related depression and major depression share some symptoms, they are not the same. Depression causes a general loss of interest in life and feelings of worthlessness. With prolonged grief disorder, your grief is centered around your inability to accept the death of your loved one.[3]
Unlike grief, PTSD is characterized by anxiety symptoms, fear, and trauma following a life-threatening event. If your loved one died due to unforeseen circumstances such as an accident, homicide, suicide, or overdose, you may develop symptoms of PTSD along with prolonged grief disorder. However, the main feature of prolonged grief disorder is separation distress rather than fear.[1]
While it’s possible to experience prolonged grief disorder with other mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, anxiety disorders, or substance abuse, it’s important to get evaluated by a professional who can provide an accurate diagnosis.
Prolonged grief disorder can impact many areas of your life if left untreated, including the following:
It’s not uncommon to pull away from friends and family because you feel like they won’t understand what you’re going through, or you don’t have the emotional capacity to socialize. You may also feel angry with others for forgetting about your loss or expect them to know how you’re feeling.
It may be difficult to concentrate on your responsibilities at work or school due to feeling the constant pain of loss. You may also lack the motivation or drive you once had and feel like your daily tasks no longer have any purpose.
Cooking, cleaning, paying bills, going food shopping, or doing laundry may feel like unbearable tasks. Additionally, small tasks that you once enjoyed may remind you of your loved one and trigger your grief response.
You may constantly feel stuck between wanting to heal but being scared to because you think moving on means you’ll forget about your loved one. Remember, healing from your grief does not mean you have to forget your loved one. In fact, healing from grief can allow you to hold love and cherished memories for your loved one while still experiencing joy and meaning in your life.
Like with most mental health conditions, the longer prolonged grief disorder persists, the more it can affect mental well-being. For this reason, early intervention can make a significant difference to people’s quality of life.
AMFM is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
The good news is that prolonged grief disorder can be treated. Grief therapy won’t make you forget your loved one or stop you from mourning their death. Instead, treatment can help you re-learn how to live your life while still keeping their memory alive.
There are many types of grief disorder treatment that can help alleviate symptoms. Evidence-based treatment for prolonged grief disorder often involves:[3]
Prolonged grief therapy (PGT) is an effective type of grief therapy used to treat prolonged grief disorder. Formerly known as Complicated Grief Treatment (CGT), this highly structured treatment involves:[1][5]
Prolonged grief therapy can help you:
Scientific studies have shown that this specific grief therapy is effective in treating prolonged grief disorder.[5][6]
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is another treatment that can benefit your grief recovery. CBT helps you identify any unhelpful beliefs that may be contributing to your grief. These beliefs can include:
A CBT therapist can help you work through these false beliefs while also helping you re-engage with life slowly.[7]
Grief counseling from a licensed therapist or psychologist provides a safe space to process your emotions and learn healthy ways to cope with your grief.
While grief counseling can help treat prolonged grief disorder, you may also benefit from joining a support group. Support groups allow you to connect with others who have experienced similar losses. Hearing someone else say “I know how you feel” can help you feel validated and comforted.
Support groups are not a replacement for professional treatment, but they can be used along with grief therapy.
While there are no medications to specifically treat prolonged grief disorder, certain medications can help with other symptoms you may be experiencing.
Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants if, along with your grief, you’re experiencing symptoms of:
Studies show antidepressants can improve symptoms of depression related to bereavement, but have shown little effect on grief symptoms.[7]
Medication is usually most effective when combined with talk therapy.
In some cases, people experience grief that becomes so severe that they are unable to function in their home environment.
If you’re thinking about reaching out to a mental health professional for grief, it may be worth knowing that residential mental health treatment could be required if your grief is severe. Mental health hospitals or inpatient care programs can offer you the time, space, and resources needed to recover.
You may need residential treatment if you have prolonged grief disorder with any of the following:
No one should have to deal with mental illness or prolonged grief alone. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health treatment, support is available. Recovery is possible with the right treatment program.
A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. Grief support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options.
See our residences in Southern California’s Orange County & San Diego County.
Take a look at our homes on the east side of the Metro area in Washington County.
View our facilities in Fairfax County, VA within the DC metro area.
Healing from prolonged grief disorder does not mean you’ll never feel sad again or stop remembering your loved one who died. It means you have learned how to cope with your grief so it no longer controls your life.
You may still experience bad days, but you can learn how to enjoy life again and form emotional connections with others. Many people continue to grieve their loved ones throughout their lives but are still able to find happiness, meaning, and hope.
At AMFM (A Mission For Michael) Mental Health Treatment, we provide a range of treatment programs, including residential and outpatient treatment programs. We offer an intimate, focused treatment experience for adults in home-like settings that are carefully maintained to be peaceful, comfortable spaces.
Our team of expert clinicians believes in treatment persistence so you can achieve lasting, life-changing outcomes. We also tailor every program so that it’s the right fit for someone’s symptoms and treatment goals.
Our locations in California, Minnesota, and Virginia accept insurance and are in-network with most major providers. To check your insurance coverage for mental health care, simply complete our confidential online verification form or call us at 866-478-4383.
If you have prolonged grief disorder, there is hope. You can still honor your loved one’s memory while creating a new life for yourself full of love and healing. Reach out to us to start your healing journey.
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While some people get better over time, it’s best to seek treatment if you believe you have prolonged grief disorder. Professional treatment can help alleviate your symptoms and help you function better in your day-to-day life.
“Complicated grief” was a term used previously to describe what is now known as “prolonged grief disorder.” Today, many clinicians use the terms complicated grief and prolonged grief disorder interchangeably. However, prolonged grief disorder is the official term used when diagnosing.
Studies show that prolonged grief treatment, such as Prolonged Grief Therapy, is one of the most effective treatments for prolonged grief disorder.[5][6][7][8]
If your grief has been present for over a year, causes you distress, or you have thoughts of harming yourself, it may be time to seek professional help.
At AMFM, we strive to provide the most up-to-date and accurate medical information based on current best practices, evolving information, and our team’s approach to care. Our aim is that our readers can make informed decisions about their healthcare.
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