Grief

It's normal to feel sad, numb, or angry following a loss. But as time passes, these emotions should become less intense as you accept the loss and start to move forward. If you aren't feeling better over time, or your grief is getting worse, it may be a sign that your grief has developed into a more serious problem, such as complicated grief or major depression.
If you recognize any of the symptoms of complicated grief or clinical depression listed below, talk to a mental health professional right away. If left untreated, complicated grief and depression can lead to significant emotional damage. Treatment can help you get better.

When to seek help for grief.

Contact a grief counselor or professional counselor if you:

• Feel like life isn't worth living
• Wish youhad died with your loved one
• Blame yourself for the lass or for failing to prevent it
• Feel numb and disconnected from others for more than a few weeks

Symptoms of Complicated Grief:

• Intense longing and yearning for the deceased
• Intrusive thoughts or images of your loved one
• Denial of the death or sense of disbelief
• Imagining that your loved one is alive
• Searching for the person in familiar places
• Avoiding things that remind you of your loved one
• Extreme anger or bitterness over the loss
• Feeling that life is empty or meaningless
• Symptoms that suggest depression, not just grief
  
• Intense, pervasive sense of guilt
  
• Thoughts of suicide or a preoccupation with dying
  
• Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
  
• Slow speech and body movements
  
• Inability to function at work, home and/or school
  
• Seeing or hearing things that aren't there
  

*adapted from www.helpguide.org/mental

If you have identified one or more of the above symptoms as creating difficulty in your life, call us to complete a brief phone intake and/or to schedule an appointment.