Grief is one of the most painful parts of being human. It has no timeline, no rules, and no quick fix. But for most people, grief softens over time. The pain doesnโt disappear, but life slowly becomes livable again.
For some, that shift never happens. The sadness stays sharp. The loss remains central. The world keeps moving, but inside, nothing has changed. This experience is called prolonged grief disorder, and if it sounds familiar, youโre not alone.
Prolonged grief disorder is more than just โhaving a hard time moving on.โ Itโs a real mental disorder, recognized by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). It affects an estimated 7% to 10% of bereaved persons, often those who have lost a close family member, partner, or friend. And when you’re living with it, it can feel like thereโs no way out.
What Is Prolonged Grief Disorder?
Prolonged grief disorder happens when the grief symptoms of loss donโt gradually ease over time, but instead linger, disrupting daily life and emotional stability. Itโs sometimes referred to as persistent complex bereavement disorder or complicated grief, especially when it begins to take over your ability to function.
You may be dealing with prolonged grief if:
- You feel emotionally stuck more than 12 months after the loss
- You experience overwhelming emotional pain or sadness
- Thereโs an ongoing sense of emptiness or emotional numbness
- You avoid places, objects, or activities tied to the person you lost
- You feel disconnected from others, like no one truly understands
- Your relationship to the deceased remains central to your identity
- You canโt accept the circumstances of the death
- You feel like your future died along with your loved one
This kind of grief is not a weakness. Itโs a signal that something deeper is at play โ and that deeper support is needed.
Why Some Grief Becomes Complicated
Everyone grieves in their own way. But certain factors can increase the risk of prolonged grief disorder.
These include:
- The death of a loved one that was sudden, violent, or traumatic
- Losing a child, partner, or someone central to your life
- Feeling isolated or having limited social support
- Experiencing multiple losses within a short period
- A history of anxiety, trauma, or depression
- Not having space to process the loss in a safe, supportive way
When your entire world changes in an instant, itโs not always possible to โmove on.โ And when that pain stays frozen inside, it begins to take over. Research shows that bereaved individuals with limited social support or unresolved trauma are three times more likely to develop complicated or prolonged grief.
How Healing Happens
Prolonged grief disorder is real โ and so is recovery. With the right care, itโs possible to begin healing and reconnecting to life again.
At Scottsdale Providence Recovery Center, we work with people struggling with prolonged grief disorder in a way thatโs gentle, trauma-informed, and personalized. That often includes:
- Individual therapy focused on loss, emotional regulation, and identity
- Grief-specific approaches like Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT)
- Trauma-informed treatment when the grief is tied to traumatic circumstances
- Somatic and mindfulness therapies to reconnect the body and emotions
- Support groups that offer a connection with others on a similar journey
- Help addressing co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety, or substance use
We donโt believe in one-size-fits-all treatment. Your story, your loss, and your healing process deserve individualized care that honors what youโve been through.
A Place to Start
If your grief hasnโt eased, and you’re finding it hard to function, you may be experiencing more than just a difficult loss. Losing a loved one changes your world โ but it doesnโt have to keep you trapped in pain forever.
At Scottsdale Providence Recovery Center, our experienced team understands the depth of grief and the ways it can become complicated. You donโt need to explain why it still hurts. You donโt need to justify the sadness. And you donโt have to go through this alone.
You donโt need to have it all figured out. You just need a place to start.
Reach out to us here and letโs talk about what support could look like for you.