Understanding the Nature and Impact of Prolonged Grief Disorder

prolonged grief disorder

While grief is natural and necessary for healing, the response to loss is not always linear or predictable. Prolonged grief disorder is an extended and profoundly personal mourning period.

At Amend Wellness, we believe a comprehensive understanding of grief’s nuances is crucial to helping people find their way back to health and happiness. This post will explore what makes prolonged grief disorder different from typical grief and how a wellness retreat can facilitate your recovery.

What Is Prolonged Grief Disorder?

Prolonged grief disorder, also known as complicated grief, can disrupt your ability to live your daily life. Unlike typical grief reactions, which tend to subside over time, PGD remains persistent, often lasting for months or even years beyond the loss.

Everyone grieves differently, and there’s no “right” timeline for mourning. However, some notable distinctions between typical grief and PGD include the following.

  • Duration: Persistent symptoms lasting longer than six months to a year, with no signs of subsiding, might indicate PGD.
  • Intensity: PGD often feels consuming, with grief dominating most thoughts and making it challenging to think of anything else.
  • Functionality: While typical grief might cause moments of sadness and reflection, PGD impedes day-to-day functioning, making routine tasks seem difficult or impossible.
  • Avoidance: Those with PGD might avoid reminders of the loss or, conversely, immerse themselves so deeply in their memories that they cannot move forward.
  • Denial: A significant sign of PGD is the persistent disbelief or inability to accept the loss.

How a Wellness Retreat Can Help You Recover

Amend Wellness offers a unique and supportive environment for people dealing with persistent grief and related mental health challenges. Here’s how a retreat can assist.

  1. Dedicated healing environment: Away from daily stressors, you can make time for deep reflection and therapeutic work.
  2. Structured therapy: With evidence-based therapies, wellness retreats provide targeted interventions to address the root causes and manifestations of PGD.
  3. Group support: Sharing experiences with others can validate feelings, reduce isolation and offer new perspectives on coping and healing.
  4. Holistic approaches: Beyond talk therapy, activities such as mindfulness, meditation and nature immersion can promote emotional healing and self-discovery.
  5. Skills building: On a retreat, you will learn new coping mechanisms and strategies to reintegrate into your daily life.

Amend Wellness’ Commitment to Grief Support

Amend Wellness’ restorative atmosphere is ideal for people dealing with prolonged grief disorder and other mental and behavioral health crises. During your initial stabilization phase, our experienced team will bring you out of crisis and dysregulation and back to baseline. 

Prolonged grief disorder is challenging, but recovery is attainable with understanding and support. A wellness retreat serves as a haven where the blend of professional therapeutic guidance and a nurturing environment can pave the way for healing. At Amend Wellness, we guide clients through grief, ensuring they find the peace and resilience needed to move forward. If you struggle with PGD, contact us today.