Complicated grief is often referred to as “unresolved grief” because “there has been some disturbance of the normal progress towards resolution.” [Rando]
J. Worden prefers the term “complicated mourning” to that of “unresolved grief” as it is believed that some grief issues may never be fully resolved due to the nature of the death and/or the situation around the death.
Complicated grief has many diagnostic names, such as: pathological, abnormal, unresolved, complicated, chronic, delayed, or exaggerated. Whatever the label, the idea is that grief is intensified to a level where a person is overwhelmed, resorts to abnormal behavior, and remains unable to progress through their grief, adapt to their loss, and return to a fully functioning life.
Do you know someone like this? If so, it may be an opportunity to help them through this most difficult experience. Beware though, some people may need to seek personal counseling if their grief is chronic to the point that they can not carry on normal, daily tasks.
GEC (Grief Education Center) 