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Trauma & Stress

Prolonged Grief Disorder

Prolonged Grief Disorder

A condition where intense grief after losing a loved one continues for so long that it interferes with daily life. Even as time passes, it becomes very difficult to move beyond the pain of loss.

Details

Prolonged Grief Disorder refers to a state in which an abnormally intense grief reaction persists for an extended period following the loss of a significant person, causing serious difficulties in daily functioning.

What is Prolonged Grief Disorder?

Let's explore this together. When we lose someone we love, everyone feels deep sorrow. Most people gradually return to daily life as time passes, but some continue to experience intense grief even after 6 months to a year. This is Prolonged Grief Disorder.

Key Features

  • Intense longing: An overwhelming yearning for the person who has passed
  • Denial of reality: Difficulty accepting that the person is truly gone
  • Identity confusion: Feeling uncertain about who you are without that person
  • Loss of meaning: Feeling that life going forward is meaningless
  • Impaired daily functioning: Serious difficulties with work, relationships, and self-care
  • Difference from Normal Grief

    In typical grief, the intensity of sadness gradually decreases over time and a return to daily life becomes possible. However, in Prolonged Grief Disorder:

  • The intensity of grief does not diminish, or may even intensify
  • Preoccupation with the deceased interferes with daily life
  • Engaging in new relationships or activities becomes extremely difficult
  • Ways to Heal

  • Seek help from a grief counseling specialist
  • Consider joining a support group for people who have experienced loss
  • Find healthy ways to cherish memories of the person you lost
  • Respect your own grieving process without rushing it
  • A Warm Word from Mindy

    The grief of losing someone you love is proof of how deeply you loved them. It is not strange that the sorrow lasts a long time. But if you find yourself trapped within that grief, reaching out and walking alongside someone else is also a path forward.

    💡 Real-Life Example

    Someone who lost their spouse over a year ago but cries every day, cannot leave the house, and has been unable to put away a single one of the deceased's belongings.

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    This content is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical diagnosis.

    Prolonged Grief Disorder (Prolonged Grief Disorder) | 마음스캔 심리학 용어사전