Grief is a natural reaction to loss. It can involve intense emotions like sadness, anger, and anxiety. With time and support, most people adapt to loss in a healthy way. However, some people develop what is known as distorted grief.
Distorted grief occurs when grief reactions become exaggerated, chronic, or manifest in unhealthy ways. There are several types of distorted grief reactions:
Prolonged grief disorder involves an intense yearning for the deceased and preoccupation with the loss that persists beyond 6 months. This excessive grieving impairs daily functions.
Chronic grief is an ongoing sense of sorrow and pain that doesn’t seem to improve over time. People with chronic grief get stuck in their sadness.
Exaggerated grief means expressing overwhelming emotions that are disproportionate to the loss. Reactions are dramatic and intense even many years after the loss.
Masked grief involves suppressing grief emotions and avoiding processing the loss. People with masked grief often have physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches.
Delayed grief occurs when grief reactions are absent or minimal immediately after the loss, but then burst out later with great force.
Factors like childhood trauma, co-dependent relationships, lack of social support, or unresolved guilt can contribute to distorted grief. Getting stuck in anger, denial, or severe depression after loss can also lead to an unhealthy grieving process.
Treatment generally includes grief counseling to identify and process feelings about the loss. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps people change detrimental thought patterns that feed distorted grief. Group therapy enables sharing of stories and advice. Medication is sometimes used to treat accompanying anxiety or depression.
With professional help and self-care, distorted grief can be overcome. The pain of loss can be transformed into cherished memories of love. If your grieving process has gone off track, reach out. There are understanding people ready to listen and guide you to a healthier place.
