Prolonged Grief Disorder: What Is It and How to Recover

Grief is a natural and necessary response to loss. But for some people, grief does not follow the expected path toward eventual healing. Instead, it becomes a persistent, debilitating presence - this is known as Prolonged Grief Disorder, and it is far more common than many people realise.

What Is Prolonged Grief Disorder?

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), sometimes called complicated grief or persistent complex bereavement disorder, is a condition in which a person experiences intense grief that does not diminish over time and significantly disrupts their daily functioning.

While it is normal to feel deep sadness for months after a significant loss, PGD is characterised by grief that remains intensely disruptive well beyond twelve months (or six months in children) and shows little sign of natural resolution.

Signs and Symptoms

People experiencing PGD often report feelings and behaviours that go beyond ordinary grief, including:

•  An intense, persistent longing or yearning for the person who has died.

•  Difficulty accepting the reality or permanence of the loss.

•  Emotional numbness or a feeling of detachment from life.

•  Bitterness or anger about the loss that feels impossible to move through.

•  Difficulty engaging with other relationships or pursuing meaningful activities.

•  A sense that life feels meaningless or that the future holds no purpose.

•  Feeling as though part of oneself has died along with the loved one.

PGD is recognised in the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 as a distinct clinical condition — which means it is real, diagnosable, and treatable.

Who Is at Risk?

PGD can affect anyone, but certain factors may increase vulnerability. These include a history of prior trauma or loss, a very close or dependent relationship with the deceased, sudden or traumatic deaths, limited social support, and a personal history of depression or anxiety.

It is important to emphasise that experiencing PGD is not a sign of weakness, excessive love, or failure to "move on." It is a recognised clinical condition that deserves compassionate, professional care.

How to Recover

The most well-evidenced treatment for PGD is Complicated Grief Treatment (CGT), a specialised form of therapy developed by researchers at Columbia University. It incorporates elements of cognitive behavioural therapy and exposure-based techniques and has been shown in clinical trials to significantly reduce symptoms.

Other approaches that can support recovery include:

•  Individual therapy with a grief-informed clinician.

•  Grief support groups that provide community and shared understanding.

•  Mindfulness-based practices to help regulate emotional overwhelm.

•  Gradual, supported re-engagement with meaningful activities and relationships.

•  In some cases, medication to address co-occurring depression or anxiety.

A Message of Hope

Recovery from PGD does not mean forgetting your loved one or loving them less. It means learning to carry your grief in a way that allows you to also carry joy, connection, and purpose. Many people who have experienced PGD go on to live deeply meaningful lives.

If you believe you may be experiencing Prolonged Grief Disorder, please reach out to for support. You do not have to navigate this alone and with the right support, healing is genuinely possible.