Signs of Complicated Grief
During the first few months after a loss, many signs and symptoms of normal grief are the same as those of complicated grief. However, while normal grief symptoms gradually start to fade over time, those of complicated grief linger or get worse. Complicated grief is like being in an ongoing, heightened state of mourning that keeps you from healing.
Signs and symptoms of complicated grief may include:
· Intense sorrow and pain at the thought of your loved one
· Focus on little else but your loved one's death
· Extreme focus on reminders of the loved one or excessive avoidance of reminders
· Intense and persistent longing or pining for the deceased
· Problems accepting the death
· Numbness or detachment
· Bitterness about your loss
· Feeling that life holds no meaning or purpose
· Irritability or agitation
· Lack of trust in others
· Inability to enjoy life or think back on positive experiences with your loved one
When your teen should see a doctor
Call your doctor if your teen feels such profound disbelief, hopelessness or intense yearning for his or her loved one that your teen can't function in daily life, or if intense grief doesn't improve over time.
Specifically, your teen may benefit from professional help if, over time, he or she continues to:
· Have trouble carrying out normal routines
· Withdraw from social activities
· Experience depression or deep sadness
· Have thoughts of guilt or self-blame
· Believe that they did something wrong or could have prevented the death
· Have lost their sense of purpose in life
· Feel life isn't worth living without their loved one
· Wish they had died along with their loved one