Our Grief Rehab Programs at Icarus Nevada

Overcoming Prolonged Grief Using Evidence-Based Support

Grief and loss are a natural part of the human experience. No two people experience the grieving process the same way. Some return to day-to-day life, still aching for their loved ones but eventually learning to make it through the day.

But others develop prolonged grief disorder, unable to move on after the death of a loved one. In the latter case, grief rehab programs can help dull the emotional pain and support the healing process.

Icarus Behavioral Health in Las Vegas, Nevada, has a team of mental health experts who understand that some people are unable to cope healthily after a trauma. We do not judge anyone for seeking a mental health treatment program to manage grief and loss. Our clinical staff will treat you with compassion and respect as you heal.

We invite you to continue reading as we discuss the grief process and how you can get back to leading a productive life after a traumatic loss.

An Overview of Prolonged Grief Disorder (Complicated Grief)

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), which comes with a set of distinct symptoms called complicated grief, is a diagnosed condition.

It has become more common and has earned a spot in the last revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5)

The Typical Symptoms of Prolonged Grief and Loss

For a diagnosis of PGD, the complicated grief symptoms must persist in adults for over 12 months. These are the signs to know:

• Intense, long-lasting emotional pain or sadness associated with the loss
• Preoccupation with the death of a loved one or the circumstances of the loss
• Difficulty adjusting to life without the person’s presence
• Feelings of disbelief at the loss
• Detaching from people and activities that were once enjoyable
• Persistent longing or yearning for the lost person

Resolving complicated grief requires comprehensive, personalized therapeutic treatment techniques. If the usual symptoms after a loss don’t dull after a year, they can play a role in additional mental health issues.

Dual Diagnosis: The Need for a Reliable Mental Health Treatment Program

Co-occurring disorders are common in those suffering from prolonged grief. Complicated grief can become present in already-diagnosed mental health conditions, also called dual diagnosis. These other conditions can give rise to additional complications.

4 Common Co-occurring Disorders with Complicated Grief Symptoms

According to an assessment by the American Psychological Association, these four conditions often co-occur with PGD:

1) Substance Use Disorder

People experiencing extensive, complicated grief symptoms are at higher risk for substance abuse than others. Addiction to alcohol or drugs happens when someone grieving turns to substance use to dull the negative feelings about the loss of their loved one.

The relief is short-lived, as their body becomes tolerant of their drug of choice (often alcohol).

Eventually, the repeated abuse leads to a reliance on substances to make them feel better when they feel sad – a Substance Use Disorder.

2) Prolonged Grief and Depression

PGD co-occurs with a broad spectrum of depression conditions, from mild to major depressive symptoms. If the person has already had a mild depression diagnosis, PGD can trigger increasing intensity. The loss, grief, and anger of PGD can also cause the onset of depression with no past history.

Grief treatments can end the suffering, as individual and group therapy can help people work through the pain of each mental illness.

3) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The APA resource mentions that about 49% of those suffering from PGD also have PTSD symptoms. The co-occurrence likelihood rises, especially if the death of a loved one happened in an unexpected, traumatic event.

Family members are left reeling to make sense of the traumatic events; some may require grief treatment to return to daily functioning.

4) Anxiety Disorder or Panic Disorder

The sudden feeling of being left alone by the loss of someone important can lead to anxiety or panic. That happens because the constant emotional and cognitive demands of processing grief can blunt your capacity for processing other demanding life experiences.

For those who already have existing anxiety or panic disorders, the increased feelings of fear and worry can become overwhelming. Therapy helps unravel these intertwined diagnoses and teaches healthy coping skills.

Residential Treatment Versus Outpatient Therapy for Grief

When is inpatient or residential mental health treatment necessary for effective long-term recovery, and when is outpatient therapy more appropriate?

Residential Treatment Center

Inpatient therapy is typically suitable for someone whose PGD diagnosis renders them unable to be safe in daily life. That often means they engage in self-harm or suicidal ideation or have a dual diagnosis, creating significant psychological distress.

They need a supportive, controlled setting. They can receive holistic care in residential treatment, including individual therapy and 24/7 supervision.

Outpatient Treatment Center

Most struggling with PGD benefit from a skilled treatment team in an outpatient setting, either an intensive outpatient program (also called a mental health IOP) or partial hospitalization program (PHP), depending on the severity of their situations.

Although their loss, grief, and pain have impaired their well-being, they can still manage their lives. They benefit from individual and group therapy and grief treatment. The critical factor here is that they don’t pose any significant harm to themselves or others while away from the therapeutic setting.

How a Grief and Loss Treatment Center Provides Extra Support

“Grief is like the ocean. It comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” – Vicki Harrison

Each person who comes to Icarus Nevada to learn coping skills to deal with grief or loss will receive a personalized treatment and therapy plan. Here are some typical treatments that we may suggest:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: DBT and CBT are evidence-based methods to help people cope with many behavioral and mental health issues. It’s very effective in grief treatment and helps clients regain a feeling of safety and well-being.
• Individual, Group, and Family Therapy: Clients participate in customized therapies based on their unique needs. Working in multiple settings can help them achieve different goals. Family therapy is useful in the context of grief treatment, as it can help family members regain footing and serve as support systems for each other.
• SMART Recovery and Other Community Support Groups: We recommend support groups for relapse prevention planning. SMART Recovery is a behavioral health program in the community. Unlike AA or NA, which open their doors only to those with substance abuse, SMART welcomes anyone who needs to change any compulsive habits that may have arisen from grief. You can also look for other support groups in your community—you often find them at churches.
• Addressing Physical Health Needs: Trauma can lead to chronic physical health issues. Weight gain or loss, for instance, can lead to blood pressure issues. The added stress that grief and loss place on your body can also lead to headaches or chronic aches and pains. We want you to heal from grief to have a better life. But we also want you to have physical wellness to enjoy it.

There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to start the healing process. With professional treatment and evidence-based therapy, you will learn to manage the painful feelings that stem from your grief and loss.

Call Icarus Nevada for Effective Grief Rehab and Treatment

Loss and grief are an unavoidable part of the human experience. Recovery from the worst symptoms of grief usually happens naturally in about a year. The love you feel for someone special will never go away, but the grief should dull.

If your grief recovery process has extended beyond that time, you will likely benefit from some form of treatment offered at Icarus in Las Vegas.

Call us today to start the grief recovery process. We’ll answer all your questions and will be glad to help you begin your treatment right away. All calls are confidential, so please reach out for support now.