Prolonged grief disorder (PGD)

Grief is the profound sadness and sense of loss that follows the death of someone you care about.

It’s a deeply personal experience and everyone grieves in their own way. There is no right or wrong way to grieve.

Understanding grief

Sadness – sorrow and tearfulness
Shock – difficulty accepting the loss, especially if it was unexpected
Yearning – intense desire to be with the person you lost
Anger – frustration directed at the situation, the person you lost, or yourself
Guilt – regrets about things done or left undone
Anxiety – worries about the future or your ability to cope
Loneliness – feeling isolated or misunderstood
Relief – a sense of release, particularly after a prolonged illness
Numbness – emotional detachment or inability to feel
Confusion – trouble thinking clearly or concentrating

Tips for coping with grief

Everyone deals with grief in their own way, but here are some tips that might help:

It’s natural to experience a range of emotions. Give yourself permission to feel and express your grief.
Find time for self-care activities that bring you comfort and happiness, whether it’s reading, taking walks, or spending time in nature.
Treat yourself with the same care and understanding you would offer a friend. Accept your feelings as they come and remember it’s okay to have tough days.
Share your feelings with someone you trust, whether it’s a friend, family member, or a support group.
Look after yourself by eating well, getting enough sleep, and moving your body regularly.
Maintain daily activities and set small, manageable goals to create routine and structure and a sense of normality in your day.
Discover meaningful ways to remember your loved one, such as creating a memory box or engaging in an activity they enjoyed.

What is prolonged grief disorder (PGD)?

While grief is a normal response to loss, sometimes it doesn’t ease with time and can stop you from living your life. This is known as prolonged grief disorder (PGD).

PGD happens when someone’s grief lasts longer than expected, six to twelve months, and becomes overwhelming.

The intense sadness and longing do not fade, making it difficult to manage daily activities and responsibilities at home, work, school, or in social settings.

Signs of PGD

Constant longing – a deep and ongoing yearning for the person you lost that doesn’t ease over time.
Always thinking about the deceased – you might find yourself constantly thinking about the person you lost, making it hard to focus on anything else.
Struggling to accept the death – finding it very difficult to accept that the person is really gone.
Feeling numb – feeling emotionally shut off or distant from others.
Loss of identity – feeling like a part of you is missing or that your life has lost its meaning.

What increases the risk of PGD?

PGD can affect anyone, but certain factors can increase the risk of it occurring.

If the death was sudden or violent, like in an accident or suicide, it can increase the risk of PGD.

The closer you were to the person who died, the higher the chance of experiencing prolonged grief.

If you’ve had mental health problems before, you might be more likely to develop PGD.

Not having enough support from friends or family can make PGD more likely.

Getting support

Grief is a personal experience, but it’s important to seek help if:

you’re struggling with day-to-day activities
you’ve withdrawn from people and activities you used to enjoy
you feel overwhelmed or unable to cope
you’re having thoughts of harming yourself
you think you might be experiencing PGD

Take part in research

We are working to develop a digital treatment for PGD.

If you have lived experience of mental health problems following the death of a loved one and are interested in helping develop or test the digital intervention, please register your details for our PGD study.

Resources

NCMH leaflet: Grief and prolonged grief disorder

These organisations can provide support for people struggling with grief and bereavement: