A Psychologist Reveals: ‘Prolonged Grief Disorder’ May Be the Hidden Reason You Feel Stuck in Loss

“Grief is love that has nowhere to go. But when grief doesn’t soften with time, it can leave people feeling stuck, isolated, and unable to find their way forward,” explains Dr. Sarah Langford, a clinical psychologist who has worked with grieving individuals for over 15 years.

While most people experience a gradual easing of pain after loss, some continue to struggle for months or years. When grief remains intense and disruptive, professionals call it Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD).

Why Common Advice Often Doesn’t Work

Many grieving individuals are told things like:

• “Time heals all wounds.”
• “Stay busy and move on.”
• “It’s been long enough—you should feel better by now.”

But as Dr. Langford emphasizes:

“These messages don’t help. They often deepen feelings of guilt and shame, leaving people to believe there’s something wrong with them for still hurting. That’s not true—grief doesn’t follow a timeline.”

When people try to “push through” grief, here’s what often happens:

• They suppress emotions instead of processing them
• They withdraw from friends and activities
• They feel guilty for not healing fast enough
• They relive memories intensely, unable to focus on the present

This is where PGD becomes so misunderstood.

The Hidden Science of Stuck Grief

Over the past decade, researchers have found that PGD affects the brain’s ability to adapt after loss.

“When grief becomes prolonged, the brain continues to send strong ‘attachment signals,’ almost like the person you lost is still just out of reach,” says Dr. Langford.

This keeps the mind caught in cycles of longing, guilt, and pain—preventing natural healing.

It explains why:

• Memories feel as sharp as the day of loss
• Daily routines feel impossible to manage
• Joy feels distant or unreachable
• Grief resurfaces in waves that don’t diminish

Unlike depression, which affects mood broadly, PGD is anchored in an unresolved bond with the loved one. Healing requires approaches tailored to grief—not just general mental health advice.

Why Traditional Coping Strategies Often Fail

Dr. Langford notes that common strategies like distraction, overworking, or forcing positivity rarely bring lasting relief:

❌ Keeping endlessly busy only postpones the pain.
❌ Avoiding reminders reinforces fear instead of healing.
❌ Relying on willpower creates pressure but no emotional release.

“Grief isn’t a problem to be solved—it’s an experience to be supported. Without the right tools, people often remain stuck,” she explains.

A New Kind of Grief Support

In recent years, new digital approaches have started to reshape grief care. One such tool is Calmio—an AI-guided grief companion designed to provide daily comfort and reflection.

Unlike generic advice, Calmio creates personalized grief reflections, helps people honor memories, and gently encourages small steps forward.

Real Stories of Transformation

Dr. Langford recalls clients who felt “trapped in sorrow” but found unexpected relief when combining therapy with Calmio’s daily support:

• “I finally felt like I wasn’t alone in my grief anymore.”
• “The reflections helped me process emotions I had buried for years.”
• “It gave me space to honor my loved one without feeling pressured to ‘move on.’”

What stood out most? The small daily practices—like journaling prompts or memory rituals—that helped them reconnect with meaning.