When Does Grief Become Complicated?

Grief can stay with us for a lifetime, but when does grief become something more complicated?

In Episode 2 of Life After Grief, we’re taking a closer look at what researchers once called complicated grief, what we now know as Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), and how our understanding of grief continues to evolve.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• What complicated grief means and how the terminology has evolved
• What Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is
• How professionals determine when grief may meet the criteria for PGD
• Why grieving for a long time does not automatically mean your grief is disordered
• How our scientific understanding of grief continues to evolve

Grief doesn’t come with a simple expiration date. You can love someone, miss them, and carry their memory with you for the rest of your life.

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What is grief, really?

Grief is something most of us will experience, but understanding what’s actually happening to us can make it feel a little less confusing.

In the first episode of Life After Grief, we’re starting with the basics and taking a closer look at what grief actually is, both through research and the human experience of living through it.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• The difference between grief, bereavement, and mourning
• Acute grief and integrated grief
• Why grief doesn’t follow a straight line
• How grief can look and feel different from person to person
• Why understanding grief can help us navigate it with more compassion

This is just the beginning of a deeper conversation about loss, healing, life transitions, and learning how to live alongside grief, one step at a time.

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