Psychologist Heavy losses Grief must be lived out

Expert: Grief should not be pushed away in any case
That people mourn when they have lost a close relative is natural. Some, however, are no longer able to get out of their grief alone. The affected bereaved should seek professional help and not simply shirk the grief.

Serious loss for the bereaved
It is a heavy blow to anyone when a close relative dies. The existential loss can have psychological and physical consequences. Although grief after the loss of a close person is quite natural, but some people are no longer coming out of their valley of grief alone. Experts then usually advise you to visit a therapist, because too long persistence in mourning can be pathological. In a message from the news agency dpa an expert explained important to the topic.

The loss of a close relative is a serious blow to anyone. But if grief lasts too long, sufferers should seek professional help. (Image: bramgino / fotolia.com)

Grief can take a long time
"The period of mourning may take one to two years," said Iris Hauth, president of the German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Neurology (DGPPN). However, according to the specialist, it can also be that those affected get stuck in grief and the symptoms even get worse. Then there is talk of pathological grief, which can also lead to depression or addiction. Pathological grief usually also affects everyday life and the ability to reconnect.

Detect warning signals for pathological grief
As the message says, it is not easy to recognize the signs early. "Anyone who denies the importance of relatives should use this as a warning signal," says Hauth. Another sign can be, for example, when you rush into work after the funeral and do all the formalities. The same applies if you do not want to give up certain rituals, such as covering the breakfast table for the deceased. Or even if you do not come to rest and think about what happened. Minifying and trivializing the loss and dealing with it is also a warning signal.

If in doubt, get professional help
According to Hauth, one should pause when one notices such behaviors, and then think about what's going on and talk to a good friend or close relative. If necessary, you can get professional help from a medical or psychological psychotherapist. "Mourning is work for the psyche." Grief can in principle bring with it cognitive disorders such as concentration problems. Longing, loneliness, senseless futility and sometimes guilt also make mourning emotional problems, Hauth explained. In addition, mourners tend to isolate themselves from other people. All of these are - to a certain extent - normal reactions.

Grief can have health consequences
Last but not least, sadness can lead to physical discomfort. In recent years, researchers have found in various studies that grief can have numerous health consequences. For example, US scientists at Harvard University concluded in a study that severe heartache also increases the risk of heart attack. According to the experts, this has to do with the high blood pressure often caused by a bereavement, the associated stress as well as a possibly stronger blood coagulation. In addition, mourners would often suffer from lack of sleep, eating disorders and circulatory problems. (Ad)