After a couple of months or at any later time
After a couple of months it is normal for more extreme symptoms to begin to subside. The deep grief remains, but the initial shock has subsided. On the other hand, it is also normal at any time to find that symptoms haven’t subsided, or they have got worse, or there are new symptoms. These symptoms could include trouble eating, trouble sleeping or terrible dreams, feeling angry a lot, or crying all the time, inability to work, or concentration problems at school. Some people are scared to go out or they jump at loud noises, or even find it hard to talk.
Whatever the symptoms, if a child or adult isn’t beginning to feel a little better either emotionally or physically, then now is the time to seek an assessment of needs from a medical professional. In the UK, your family doctor should be able to arrange for an assessment for conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or depression. Many people bereaved suddenly develop conditions such as these and it is important to get a condition diagnosed and treated. The most common and effective form of treatment following a sudden death for both children and adults isn’t drugs; it’s a series of confidential conversations with an expert therapist, who can help someone to talk about what has happened to them and find a way forward to be happy again.
You can read UK government guidelines on treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder here.
As well as seeking help through your GP, you may also wish to seek help from a specialist bereavement charity for children and families, such as Winston’s Wish, which can offer on-going support and help through grief.
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