Grief And Grieving: Treatment Overview

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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.

Last updated:	November 12, 2007
Author:	Jeannette Curtis
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Sidney Zisook, MD - Psychiatry
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC