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Trauma and stress

Prolonged grief disorder

After the death of a loved one, at least a year later (six months in children), intense longing, pain and difficulty in returning to life persist, beyond what is expected in their culture.

Common signs

Intense, constant longingDisbelief or a sense of emptinessCan't get on with their life

Tips

For you

  1. Grief has no deadline, but if it keeps you stuck, ask for help
  2. Allow yourself to remember and express what you feel
  3. Grief therapy helps rebuild the bond

For family and friends

  1. Mention the person who died: remembering them helps
  2. Be there on significant dates

When to ask for help

  1. If there are thoughts of being reunited with the person who died: 024
  2. If you can't get on with your life

Are you having a really hard time? If you're thinking of harming yourself, call 024 (free, 24 hours) or 112.

Guidance test

Answer thinking about the last few weeks. There are 8 questions and you get your result straight away. Your answers are not saved or sent.

0 of 8
1. I feel an intense longing for the person who died
2. I think about them almost all day
3. I find it hard to believe they have died
4. I avoid things that remind me of the loss
5. I feel part of me died with them
6. I find it hard to get on with my life
7. I feel life has no meaning without them
8. More than a year has passed and I'm still the same
Also take the full depression test →

Free resources

Downloadable PDF sheetSigns, tips and resources to print or saveFree guide: DepressionFree resource from Clínica Vivaldi

Related disorders

Reactive attachment disorderTrauma and stressDisinhibited social engagement disorderTrauma and stressPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Trauma and stressAcute stress disorderTrauma and stress

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Reviewed by María Teresa Fernández Vicente, health psychologist and neuropsychologist (registration no. CV17304), in November 2026. Educational information prepared by the Clínica Vivaldi team based on the DSM-5-TR classification. It does not replace a professional assessment and cannot be used to diagnose.