Complicated Grief
Grief is difficult enough in and of itself. But sometimes it can become even more complicated by factors that can prolong the process and increase the pain and difficulty.
Factors that Complicate the Grieving Process Include:
- The surviving person's expression of grief. We all look to the adults in our lives for cues on how to act, how to grieve. If you have no healthy role models for this, then you may have difficulty finding healthy and appropriate ways to express your feelings.
- Denying your feelings and expressions. Sometimes your feelings and expressions of grief can be ignored by others because people are so uncomfortable with this topic and don’t know how to deal with you and your grief.
- Thinking that nobody cares. You may think that nobody cares, but many people just don’t know how to act or what to say, and so they choose to do or say nothing.
- Feelings of confusion or guilt about the person who died and how the person died
- Indifference toward the death. It may be easier to act indifferent, but at some point, you will need to deal with your loss. The sooner you deal with it, the sooner you will be able to get back to your life.
- Unable to put thoughts and feelings into words. This is a common problem for all of us. The pain is just too big and too deep to put into words. A song, a poem or a saying can sometimes help others know what you are feeling and thinking.