Complicated Grief Will Impact One in Fourteen Americans

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Grief is normal after the death of a loved one. But 7% of all Americans will experience a little known form of grief that is intense, isolating, unrelenting and harmful to health and wellbeing. It's called complicated grief.

Many physicians, clergy and family members have never heard of complicated grief and don't know the symptoms. That's why Hospice Support Fund is launching a nationwide public awareness campaign, which will include TV public service announcements and communication to clergy and other concerned Americans to educate the public about how to recognize and treat complicated grief.

Here are the symptoms of complicated grief:

• Grief symptoms lasting over one year
• Persistent yearning for the deceased and inability to accept the death
• Intense sorrow and emotional pain
• Anger with those who they deem responsible for the death or guilt that they did not do more to prevent the death or pro-long the life of the deceased
• Withdrawal from work, family and friends
• Feeling that life is empty
• Feeling upset by memories of the deceased

People who could be more susceptible to complicated grief include being over age 60, female, those who have lost a spouse they were unusually dependent upon, lost a child especially to violent or unexpected death, having an anxiety disorder or depression before the loss, experiencing childhood trauma, being non-Caucasian.

The consequences of complicated grief can be severe and often include self destructive behavior including increased use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs, increased susceptibility to physical illness and death, and extreme social isolation.

If you know someone whom you think might suffer from complicated grief there are effective treatments using cognitive behavioral therapy administered by a licensed psychologist, social worker or psychiatrist.

Go to www.hospicesupportfund.org and click on menu to locate a licensed therapist in your community and to access the 18 page white paper on complicated grief. If you do not have access to the Internet mail your request to complicated grief White Paper, PO Box 6370, McLean, VA 22106 and a printed copy of the report will be sent to you by return mail free of charge.

Contact: Farrah Young
Phone: (615) 259-0128
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Hospice Support Fund