When Grief Begins to Feel Complicated

Grief is a natural and normal response to a significant loss, especially if such a loss is life changing. The death of a loved one, the loss of a career, a beloved pet, a home, retirement, and illness – all of these experiences can cause grief. Grieving is a process that takes time; it is also a process that varies from person to person.

While all people experience grief at one point or another, people can also help themselves to move through their profound sorrow. No matter how deeply you feel the pain of loss, healing will come. If healing seems to be taking too long, therapy can help.

Symptoms of Complicated Grief

Experiencing grief is natural, however, when you experience grief for extended periods of time it can become what is referred to as “complicated grief”. This type of grief can leave you feeling as if you are mourning all of the time and it can make it hard to move forward.

The Mayo Clinic outlines the following symptoms of complicated grief:

  • Intense sorrow, pain and rumination over your loss
  • Difficulty focusing on anything other than your loss
  • Extreme focus on reminders of your loss or avoidance
  • Longing and pining for the deceased
  • Problems accepting death or loss
  • Numbness or detachment
  • Bitterness
  • Feeling as if life holds no further meaning
  • Loss of trust in others
  • Inability to enjoy life or remember positive experiences
  • Having trouble carrying out daily activities
  • Isolating or withdrawing
  • Symptoms of depression, deep sadness, guilt or blame
  • Thoughts of death

Grief is natural but it is not meant to feel all consuming forever. You deserve to feel better and move forward.

Avoidance Won’t Work

Unfortunately, grief is not something you can just pack away and be done with. Its intensity comes and goes, and people can find themselves falling into despair and depression while dealing with it. Some well-meaning friends and family members sometimes make things worse by encouraging you to “get over it” or “move on”, while others may make you feel guilty if you do.

The best way to get past grief is to be good to yourself. Taking care of your physical and mental health is essential. Avoidance will not help you move forward.

How Can Grief Counseling Help?

If you or a loved one is experiencing grief, you aren’t alone. Therapy can be an amazing place to process your feelings and grieve. A skilled therapist can create a safe environment for you to reflect on the past and find healthy ways to move forward.

If you are looking for grief counseling in Durham, North Carolina look no further than CCS. Carolina Counseling Services contracts with skilled licensed therapists and psychiatric professionals. Providers are in network with most major insurances including Aetna, Aetna State Health Plan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), Tricare, Medicaid and many more. Call today to schedule your first appointment!

Jaime Johnson Fitzpatrick LCMHCS, LCAS is one of the Owners and Vice Presidents of Carolina Counseling Services. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist in the State of North Carolina as well as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in State of New York. Jaime is also certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and utilizes various other approaches in her practice.