Grief and Grieving
Treatment Overview
Grief itself is a natural response that doesn't require medical treatment. But sometimes people need help getting through the grieving process.
Initial grief
- Medicine. During the initial days of grief, anxiety or sleeplessness can make it difficult to function. If you suffer more than a few days of severe agitation, talk to your health professional about whether a short-term prescription sedative medicine can help you. (Health professionals disagree about the usefulness of medicines for people who are grieving; some health professionals believe that giving medicines for anxiety or sleep may interfere with the ability to grieve.)
- Counseling. If you find that obstacles to grieving are making it difficult to function after a loss, talk to a grief counselor, attend a bereavement support group, or both. Counseling and support groups can also help you work through unresolved grief from a past loss.
Chronic grief and complications
If you or someone you know exhibits suicidal behavior, call 911 or other emergency services immediately.
If you find that a major loss has caused ongoing complications, such as depression, prolonged anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or severe grief, see your health professional and a grief counselor for treatment.
If you have a chronic medical condition that has been made worse by the emotional and physical stress of grief, see your health professional immediately.
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| Author: | Jeannette Curtis | Last Updated: November 12, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Sidney Zisook, MD - Psychiatry | |
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| Topic Contents | |
| Topic Overview | |
Health Tools  | |
| Cause | |
| Symptoms | |
| What Happens | |
 | Treatment Overview |
| When to Call a Health Professional | |
| Home Treatment | |
| Other Places To Get Help | |
| Related Information | |
| References | |
| Credits | |