Grief Therapy is a form of therapy that is used when an individual appears stuck in grieving and mourning is not completed. While there is no one size fits all mourning, there are some categories of reactions that are signs that someone is stuck.
¨ Chronic grief is grief that is excessive in duration; this is not anniversary grief, which can be common for ten years or more. This grief is more of an unrelenting grief, the individual is usually aware that they are not moving through their grief, it just is not getting any better.
¨ Delayed grief is a grief where, at the time of the loss, because of a myriad of reasons the emotional reaction to the loss was not sufficient to mourn the loss at the time. The grief will reemerge at a later time, sometimes over a minor loss or event. The individual is usually aware that this current reaction is over-the-top.
¨ Exaggerated grief is when an individual, overwhelmed by the loss, is not managing daily life. Do not confuse this with the overwhelming feelings or responses common in the first few days or weeks of a loss. As with chronic grief, exaggerated grief lasts too long and the individual is usually aware that something is not right.
There are many reasons that people fail to complete the mourning task, we do know there are contributing reasons contributing to mourning difficulties:
¨ The relationship has an impact. Relationships that are ambivalent, or with many unresolved issues, such as hostility or past abuses cause the mourning to be difficult.
¨ The circumstances surrounding the loss contribute to complications. For example:
· A military person missing in action creates difficulty because of the uncertainty of the loss.
· Traumatic circumstances surrounding the loss, such as loss through violence is difficult.
· When there are multiple losses at the same time such as several members of the same family killed in a car accident.
· A person’s natural coping skills are exhausted if too many losses happen too close together.
¨ Social factors also contribute to mourning difficulties, as well as personality, personal history, and lack of a support network all create problems with mourning.
While this is just a brief overview, if you question whether you or another family member is struggling with mourning, it is a good idea to seek professional help and guidance. There is no need for someone to suffer endless grieving.