Symptoms of Unresolved or Complicated Grief

[David Baxter PhD]

Symptoms and Behaviours of Unresolved Grief
Counselling Connection
March 22, 2012

Lindemann (1944), Lazare (1979) and Worden (2005) have identified numerous symptoms and behaviours that indicate unresolved / complicated grief. While many of the symptoms identified can be considered ordinary during the more acute earlier phase of grief, they are considered major signs of unresolved / complicated grief if they remain for unusually prolonged periods of time.

Also, the more symptoms an individual exhibits, the more likely they are experiencing unresolved grief (Worden, 2005; Freeman, 2005). Some of the symptoms are listed below:

Lindemann?s symptoms

• Over activity without a sense of purpose
• Acquisition of symptoms belonging to the last illness of the deceased
• Alteration in relationships with friends and relatives
• Lasting loss of patterns of social interaction
• Agitated depression with tension, insomnia, feelings of worthlessness, self accusation, obvious need for punishment and even suicidal tendencies
• Furious hostility towards someone connected to the death.

Lazare?s symptoms

• Unwillingness to move the possessions of the deceased even after a reasonable amount of time has passed.
• A depressive syndrome to varying degrees of severity
• Symptoms of guilt and self reproach, panic attacks and somatic symptoms
• Somatic symptoms representing identification with the deceased, often symptoms of the terminal illness
• A feeling that the death has occurred yesterday even though the loss took place a long while back
• Inability to discuss the deceased without crying
• Changes in current relationships following death
• A history of delayed or prolonged grief

Worden?s symptoms

• Inability to speak of the deceased without experiencing intense grief emotions
• Unaccountable sadness during various times of the year
• Self destructive themes
• Radical changes in lifestyle
• Phobias about illness or death
• Over identification with the deceased leading to compulsion to imitate the dead person
• A relatively minor event triggering a major grief reaction.
• Exclusion of friends, family members or activities associated with the deceased.

References:

1. Freeman, S (2005). Grief and Loss: Understanding the Journey. Belmont, CA: Thompson Brooks/ Cole.
2. Williamson. J.B. & Shneidman, E. (1995). Death: Current Perspectives. (4th ed.). California: Mayfield Publishing Company
3. Worden, J.W. (2005). Grief Counselling and Grief Therapy: Handbook for the Mental Health Practitioner (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

This article is an extract of Mental Health Academy?s Complicated Grief professional development course.