Feeling pain, depression and anxiety are all common while dealing with the loss of a close friend or family member. Grieving is a natural part of humanity. But, sometimes a person might experience an unusually debilitating level of grief and need even more care and help in their time of need.

According to an article by the American Psychological Association, sometimes people experience a level of grief that affects their psychological and physical wellbeing.

Severe or complicated grief is, “marked by broad changes to all personal relationships, a sense of meaninglessness, a prolonged yearning or searching for the deceased and a sense of rupture in personal beliefs,” the article states.

People suffering from severe grief may try to pull away from their friends and family members, even though they need that support more than ever.

According to the article, those who are most at risk for severe grief are those who have struggled with depression in the past, who were especially close to the deceased, such as a spouse, and those who lost someone suddenly and unexpectedly such as a child.

“Mortality among surviving spouses in the six months following a loss increases 40 to 70 percent compared with the general population,” the article states.

If a friend or family member has recently lost someone close to them, keep an eye on their behavior and take any past or present mental illnesses into consideration. If a person is suffering from severe grief they may need professional assistance in their efforts to overcome the loss.

Within Picayune, there is a support group that can help deal with the loss of a loved one.

If you know of someone dealing with such an event in their life, let them know that there are people who care and that help is available to those willing to seek it out.