When Grief Feels Stuck
04 of 08If time hasn't softened anything, you're not failing at grief.
For many people, the pain of grief slowly becomes something they can live alongside. The love stays. The sharpest edges soften.
For some, that doesn't happen. Research suggests that around one in ten adults bereaved through natural causes go on to experience prolonged grief [1].
What prolonged grief can feel like
- An intense longing for the person that hasn't eased over a long time
- Being consumed by thoughts of them, or of how they died
- Struggling to accept that they're gone
- Feeling that part of you died with them
- Finding it very hard to re-engage with life, plans or people
- Feeling that life has no meaning without them
- Depression and PTSD can also be triggered
Clinicians now recognise this as prolonged grief disorder, when it continues for many months and seriously affects daily life [2]. A name can help some people feel understood and find the right support. It doesn't mean you loved them too much, or that you're grieving wrong.
Grief, depression and trauma
Grief can overlap with depression, anxiety and trauma. A significant loss can also bring older pain to the surface. If you're struggling to function, feel hopeless or can't find any joy at all, please talk to someone.
→ Explore our Depression and Trauma pages
