Have you suffered 'complicated grief' and did therapy help?

[chloe40]

Please do share with us, thank you!

Chloe<3

[Marnie22]

Hi. I have only recently found out that I have Complicated Grief. It has been going on for twelve years. I am very desperate to find a way to heal. The therapy part is confusing for me. I am currently seeing a psychologist, but that has been to have EMDR therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I don't know if I can have any therapy for the grief situation because the psychologist is only supposed to work on the PTSD, and only for a certain number of sessions. Theoretically, it would need a whole new referral to be put through, which would take months, even if I was able to get a referral. I do not know what therapy might be offered or available in my area. I have to wonder, how do you get a referral for that when most doctors will not recognise it? Often they will see it as 'depression,' which is not the same thing at all. In my experience, certain more obscure diagnoses are often not officially recognised because they then don't have to treat it. Often, either the funding or the actual services may not exist in your area.

I only got diagnosed with PTSD after seeing a neuropsychologist. (My PTSD was caused by events when I suffered a brain injury.) I saw doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists before that and NONE of them recognised PTSD. I believe that Complicated Grief is often not recognised and is frequently misdiagnosed.

Sorry, I haven't actually answered your question!

🙂🌸

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Marnie22]

Hi Marnie22 I'm sorry you're having to deal with PTSD. Drs do indeed recognise this disorder as well as Complicated grief, so try not to worry. I would take the advice from your Psychologist, but I would imagine you'll need to finish the EMDR therapy first before embarking on bereavement therapy, you don't won't one interfering with the other. The Psychologist may well be able to refer you themselves, worth asking but I would asking for a referral for Bereavement therapy asap as by the time you've finished the PTSD, you shouldn't have to wait too long to begin the other.

Don't let the Dr. put you off but if you do have problems, you'll find many online bereavement therapists available.

Take good care of yourself

Chloe <3

[Marnie22 in reply to chloe40]

Thank you. What therapies have you heard of that are specifically for complicated grief? I haven't found any definitive information on this.

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Marnie22]

Hi Marnie22

Different areas and countries have different ways of treating this but it will range from Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural therapy CBT, Counselling, medication and a combination of treatments but I hope you will think about Counselling first. You have so much to talk about and this really needs to come out, just my personal opinion @Marnie.

I do hope whichever route you take, will bring some peace.

Chloe <3

[Marnie22 in reply to chloe40]

Thanks. In the past 12 years I have already had psychodynamic psychotherapy, 2 rounds of specific bereavement counselling, been under psychiatrists, and none of that made any difference with the grief at all. (Plus medication.) None of the professionals recognised my difficulties as complicated grief. My current psychologist is the first person to diagnose this.

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Marnie22]

HI again Marnie22 Maybe your present Psychologist is the very person you need to help, or at least know of someone who can Marnie, always worth asking but please don't overload yourself worrying as you will need to finish the present course of treatment first.

Please let me know what they say,

Sending support <3

Chloe

[Marnie22 in reply to chloe40]

Thank you. I appreciate your support. I am not really worried, I just have periods of desperation, when I feel that it won't ever end. I try to be positive, but 12 years of it has been tough. Thanks again.

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Marnie22]

I understand, always here for you Marnie <3

[Marnie22 in reply to chloe40]

🙂🌸

[Sarah1111111]

I did and ended up having emdr as it caused ptsd type symptoms and guilt. It really helped. Not totally sorted but a lot better than I was

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Sarah1111111]

Hi Sarah1111111 I really pleased it helped you and you're feeling a lot better. I hope Marnie22 sees your post.

Thank you for taking the time to let us know Sarah.

Chloe <3

[Caza in reply to chloe40]

Hi, this is the first time I’ve ever heard of complicated Grief, I had to look it up. I was diagnosed with PTSD. I was never offered any help apart from pills & I was in such a bad way that I wasn’t really able to ask for any. Because of shock my hair started falling out in handfuls I went to see my GP who said that after 2 months I should be getting over the death of my daughter & “moving on “, how I hate those words. I asked him if he had children, yes he had, were they all alive, yes, then you cannot possibly know what it feels like. With that I walked out & never saw him again. He did write to me to apologise & said he’d mishandled the situation & asked me to come back. I never did. Interesting complicated grief rings bells for me. Thanks for this x

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Caza]

Hi Caza I'm so very sorry you were treated like that, that's absolutely dreadful, in fact words fail me, to think that a ?professional could say such hurtful words.

How could you get over such a loss as you own child, shameful.

I'm sure complicated grief really is something you know about and have experienced.

If you feel you can Caza, please let me know how you managed from that day onwards.

Sending love

Chloe <3