Treatment for Complicated Grief in Port Matilda, PA
If you have lost someone close to you, you know the power of grief. Grief can take many forms, from intense sadness to anger to physical complications to denial. Generally, when grief follows its natural course, it will become more manageable over time until the person feels sadness at the loss but is able to return to their daily routine and experience happiness and joy.
Sometimes, though, grief intensifies over time, leading to mental health issues and long-term inability to function. This type of grief is called complicated grief, or persistent complex bereavement disorder. People experiencing complicated grief find it challenging to adapt to life without their loved ones, leading to significant emotional distress and functional impairment.
St. Joseph Institute, near State College, PA, understands the various forms grief can take and how intense grief can trigger or exacerbate mental and behavioral health complications, including substance use disorder. If you are suffering from prolonged grief that is affecting your ability to work and to enjoy relationships, St. Joseph’s can help.
What Causes Complicated Grief?
People are most at risk for complicated grief when their loss is unusually extreme or challenging. For example, a lack of closure around the loss can make grief especially difficult. This can include grieving for someone who is presumed dead but whose body has not been recovered or grieving for someone who is still alive but unreachable, such as someone with dementia or someone who has been incarcerated.
In addition, grieving for someone or something that society doesn’t value can be challenging, as you feel as if your grief isn’t as valid. Loss that occurs due to trauma can also lead to complicated grief.
In addition to the type of loss experienced, other factors can increase a person’s risk of developing complicated grief:
- Being an older female
- Having a dependent relationship to the deceased person
- Lack of good friends or family to act as a support system
- Losing a child
- Having a history of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD
- Having other major life stressors at the same time
- Being dependent on or addicted to drugs or alcohol
How is Complicated Grief Treated?
At St. Joseph Institute, we understand that addressing complicated grief often requires a multifaceted approach involving psychotherapy, support groups, and sometimes medication. When you or a loved one inquires about our treatment programs, we will begin with a no-cost assessment. This includes a medical evaluation to rule out any physical causes for the emotional and cognitive symptoms. It also includes a bio-psycho-social evaluation to determine current environmental and lifestyle factors that may be at play, as well as any history of mental health issues.
If substance use disorder is determined to be a factor, we might encourage the client to begin treatment with a medical detox. After detox, residential or outpatient treatment will be recommended. These programs include individual, group, and family therapy as well as holistic therapies, psychoeducation, and, if relevant, relapse prevention. Treatment will likely include:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps individuals identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors related to grief.
- Support Groups: Participating in bereavement support groups allows individuals to share their experiences with others who have faced similar losses.
- Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Practices like mindfulness meditation and deep breathing exercises can help manage anxiety and stress associated with grief.
- Medication: In some cases, antidepressant medication may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT): A specialized form of therapy designed to specifically target and alleviate symptoms of complicated grief. CGT focuses on helping individuals adapt to the loss, change maladaptive beliefs, and promote healthy coping mechanisms.
- Equine-Assisted Therapy: Engaging with horses can provide unique therapeutic benefits, promoting emotional expression and connection.
Working Through Complicated Grief at St. Joseph Institute
Complicated grief is challenging, and it can significantly impact an individual’s well-being. The journey through grief is unique for each person, but with the right support and interventions, individuals can gradually adapt to life without the person or thing that was lost. If you or someone you know is struggling with complicated grief, reach out to our mental health professionals in Port Matilda. Let us help you or your loved one find happiness, health, and hope for the future.
What Causes Grief?
This may seem like a silly question, but it’s important to recognize that loss affects people differently. For some, the loss of a pet may be felt just as fiercely as the loss of a spouse might feel to someone else. A divorce or break-up can cause grief, just as loss of a job, financial stability, a home, or good health can cause grief. If you’re feeling deep sadness about a loss or a change, you’re experiencing grief–no matter how big or small the loss may seem to someone else. And if that sense of loss continues with great intensity after a year or more, you may want to seek professional help.
What are the Symptoms of Complicated Grief?
Grief can have emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms. These typically include things like deep sadness and yearning for what was lost, anger, and regret; fatigue, nausea, and muscle tension; and difficulty concentrating and making decisions. If you’ve suffered a loss, it’s important to allow yourself to feel the range of feelings that may arise, without judging them or trying to repress them. Letting yourself feel your emotions and seeking out support from loved ones, professional therapists, and grief and loss support groups can help you process the grief and find a way forward.
There is no “right” timetable for grief, but it’s often the case that the most intense experience of grief lessens after several months to a year. If you’re experiencing volatile emotions that have lasted months or longer and that interfere with your day-to-day functioning, complicated grief may be at play. If you have the following symptoms for a year or more, seek out professional support:
- You feel like you’ve lost a part of yourself.
- You continue to deny that the death or loss has happened.
- You avoid reminders of the death or loss.
- You experience such intense emotional pain that you cannot meet daily routines and responsibilities.
- You feel emotionally numb.
- Your life feels meaningless.
- You isolate yourself and lose interest in the people and activities you used to enjoy.
- You are relying on drugs or alcohol to help ease your emotional response.
