Hospice Bereavement Support In Pleasanton City, California

Everyone’s grieving process is unique. Dysfunctional sorrow, also known as persistent complex bereavement disorder, is a devastating condition. If you’re dealing with long-term sadness that’s affecting your quality of life, remember that you’re not alone and that there are things you can do to gain some relief.

Regardless of the type of care a hospice institution provides for bereaved people, it can assist them in finding their way to healing and feeling less alone.

Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder (PCBD)

Grieving symptoms vary greatly in severity, frequency and duration based on particular circumstances and culture. It might be difficult to tell when someone is suffering from persistent complicated bereavement disorder. However, it is critical to recognize the severity of these symptoms since people who have experienced this type of sorrow are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and attempts. 31 to 62 percent of widows who fit the criteria for this form of sorrow reported suicide ideation.

With that in mind, if you or someone close to you is suffering to the extent of suicidal ideation, it is critical that you seek care as soon as possible. Remember that strong emotions can lead you to consider or attempt things you would not typically do. This is reasonable, especially in the aftermath of such a traumatic event but you must ensure that you are able to keep yourself safe throughout this time.

Common Signs & Symptoms

Persistent complicated bereavement disorder is a type of trauma and stress-related disorder in which symptoms must last for at least 12 months following the death of the person. Remember that there’s a big difference between missing someone and feeling sad versus being deeply troubled in every aspect of your life for years. Keep an eye out for the signs and symptoms listed below:

You have recently endured the death of someone close to you. Going back to your normal life after such a strong bond with this individual may be extremely unpleasant and triggering on a daily basis.
You can’t stop thinking about the person who died. This yearning may obstruct your ability to care for yourself in a healthy manner. You might forget to eat, sleep sporadically and lack the energy to take a bath.
You’re obsessed with the person who has passed away. This can result in a stream of painful thoughts that feel overwhelming and uncontrollable.
You’re fixated on the specifics of the death. As a result, your other vital relationships may be disrupted, potentially leading to solitude.
You may also have trouble focusing on your work and may be unable to keep your employment.
You’re in a lot of emotional anguish that doesn’t seem to go away. This has the potential to disrupt every aspect of your life, from your relationships to your profession to your daily activities.
You go to great lengths to avoid any reminders of the departed, even if it is inconvenient. This can lead you to make judgments depending on what triggers you, affecting your ability to go out in public, perform errands and generally look after oneself.
You hold yourself responsible for the death. Many individuals are perplexed as to why the death occurred and what they may have done to prevent it. Blaming yourself might result in depression and suicidal ideation.
You’re having a hard time accepting death. As a result, the death may appear even more real and agonizing.
You wish to die so that you might reunite with the deceased. This isn’t always suicidal thinking but rather a desire to reconnect with the deceased, which is normal but makes living in the present more difficult.
Following the death, you have trust concerns. It’s difficult to imagine that your relationships have such unshakeable constancy and stability after someone so significant dies. They may appear to be fleeting and even useless.
You have a sense of being alone and unattached. Suicidal thoughts and extreme mental distress might result from feeling this way for a long time.
You are dissatisfied with your life and believe it is empty and meaningless. These are excruciatingly unpleasant feelings to have on a regular basis and they put a lot of stress on the mind and body.
You’re unsure of who you are and what you want to do with your life. Depressed moods, anxiety and difficulty sleeping through the night can all result from these ideas.
Since the death, you’ve noticed a decline in your usual hobbies. This can have a huge impact on your mood because hobbies are known to bring people delight and allow them to form significant social connections.

When The Grieving Process Is Extremely Upsetting

Even though classifying and labelling grief is challenging, it is vital to remember that doing so can assist people who are experiencing considerable distress obtain the care they need to get through this extremely trying period in their lives. If you’ve been suffering for more than a year and it’s impacting your quality of life, seek professional treatment. It’s critical to monitor your mental well-being throughout this time so you can get through this challenging shift.

For many families, having a loved one in hospice can be a heartbreaking, unpleasant and frustrating experience. The death of a hospice patient might exacerbate the pain that family members are already experiencing. It is critical to provide the entire family unit with the care, concern and compassion they may require when the individual nears the end of his or her life and finally passes away. Melodia Care Hospice provides grieving patients with hospice care support.

The Consequences Of Long-Term Complex Bereavement

Grieving is a difficult experience for both the mind and the body. If you operate at such a high, debilitating level for more than a year, you may develop other mental and physical problems. The following symptoms can occur:

Psychological disorders or symptoms such as major depressive disorder or anxiety, suicidal ideation and less typically, post-traumatic stress disorder are all examples of psychological disorders or symptoms (PTSD).
Visual and auditory hallucinations may result from distorted ideas and sensations.
Chronic discomfort, headaches and weight loss or gain are all more likely, as is the risk of chronic illnesses including high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease or stroke.

As your stress levels rise, these symptoms might make grieving even more difficult. It’s critical to look after yourself during the mourning process and to seek help if you’re feeling overwhelmed on a daily basis.

The purpose of bereavement isn’t so much to “let go” as it is to forge a new, healthy connection that allows you to operate normally. If you’re having trouble mourning, therapy that helps you develop resourcefulness, coping skills and emotional processing might be quite beneficial.

The following remedies may be beneficial depending on the nature and intensity of symptoms:

Depression Grief counselling is a sort of supportive psychotherapy that helps a person to assess their thoughts, ideas and actions while also aiding them in overcoming severely distressing symptoms.
Cognitive-behavioral grieving therapy is a sort of behavioral therapy that teaches a person how their ideas, emotions and behaviors interact.
Pastoral or spiritual counselling – Persons who find solace in religion may benefit from counselling from their pastor or spiritual leader.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a trauma-based therapy that aids in the processing of powerful, traumatic memories and emotions.

Treatment will assist you in working through your sorrow and reducing your unpleasant symptoms so that you can honor your loved one while improving your quality of life.

How to Cope with Loss & Grief?

Everyone’s reaction to sadness and loss is different; you may want to cry, be alone or yell. Some people don’t express their sadness in public, preferring to do it privately.

Grieving can be exhausting. As you allow yourself the time to mourn, seek out to others for comfort and encouragement. If you need support, don’t be hesitant to ask for it.

To assist you in overcoming adversity:

Accept that your bodily and emotional feelings are natural and valid.
Allow yourself time and space to grieve and express your feelings — crying is a healthy way to release emotions.
Talk to your friends and family about what you’re going through, even if you simply need them to listen.
Be patient with yourself; you’ll have good days and bad days. Try to make your life as normal as possible and continue to do the activities you’ve always enjoyed.
Allow friends and family members to assist you with daily tasks.
Make sure you get enough rest, get some modest exercise every day and eat a balanced diet.
Don’t make any important decisions because your grief may impair your capacity to do so.
If you have lost someone close to you, realize that they will always be a part of your life — celebrate their life and cherish their memories.

Despite the fact that sorrow is extremely painful, most people find that with the help of their family and friends, as well as their own resources, they can gradually learn to live with their loss.

Hospice bereavement and palliative care counselling can help a patient’s family cope with the grief that comes with their loved one’s death. Melodia Care begins these sessions by conducting an initial assessment of family members, their relationships, needs and strengths.

Supporting Someone Else In Their Sadness

You can’t always tell if someone is sad just by looking at them. The most important thing is to show your concern and willingness to assist your friend or relative. Sometimes the best help you can provide is simply listening.

People who are mourning may not know what will help them, so provide support in a variety of methods and at various times.

Make opportunities for your buddy or relative to talk — even if it’s about the same thing over and over — but don’t anticipate it. There will be occasions when you should talk and times when you should not.

You don’t have to use words; a squeeze of the hand, a touch on the shoulder or an embrace, if appropriate, can be just as soothing. You can also share some recollections with them if you believe it will help.

Another thing you may do is offer some practical assistance but don’t be upset if they decline. Remember that everyone grieves in their own way.

When Should You Seek Bereavement Help?

Meeting with a professional may be beneficial if you are having trouble working through your grief. It takes a lot of courage to seek help when you’re feeling overwhelmed and doing so shows that you’re taking care of yourself, which is something to be proud of. If you’re having trouble coping, talk to a counsellor or therapist. Especially:

You are feeling ill or dangerous as a result of your grief reaction.
It’s difficult to cope and perform successfully in this situation.
For more than a year, your ailments have caused you to suffer greatly.
You’ve had suicidal thoughts.
You have other sadness, anxiety or PTSD symptoms.
Symptoms that began shortly after your loss are not improving or are growing worse.
To avoid terrible feelings, you are consuming excessive amounts of alcohol or taking narcotics.

Losing a loved one is a traumatic experience for everyone and everyone grieves in their own way. If you observe numerous indicators of ongoing complex bereavement, make it a point to look after yourself so you may process the loss at your own pace while also improving your quality of life.

Bereavement is all-consuming and mysterious, unique to each individual but universal. It’s impossible to avoid; the only way to help yourself is to work through it. Melodia Care Hospice offers Hospice care and bereavement support to improve you in learning how to support yourself and others during difficult times.

Anyone whose family has been crushed by a sudden and unexpected loss or sickness can call our Helpline. You can reach us at any time by contacting us through our 24/7 online customer support chat or by calling 1-888 635-6347 (MELODI-7) & Melodia Care Hospice.