Grief is a natural response to loss. It can follow a death, divorce, job loss, or a major life change. For many people the intensity eases with time. Yet grief can also disrupt sleep, appetite, focus, and daily life. If you live in South Florida and need support, Destination Hope offers compassionate care in Fort Lauderdale.
How Grief Shows Up
- Emotional signs: sadness, anger, guilt, numbness
- Cognitive signs: intrusive memories, trouble concentrating, disbelief
- Physical signs: fatigue, headaches, stomach issues, poor sleep
- Behavioral signs: social withdrawal, avoidance of reminders, changes in routine
You can learn healthy ways to cope. Learn about how we treat Mental Health in Fort Lauderdale.
When Grief Becomes Prolonged
Most people adapt as months pass. A smaller group develops prolonged grief. Clinicians use DSM-5-TR criteria to identify this condition. In adults, symptoms must persist a year or more and cause clear impairment. Common features include intense yearning, identity disruption, and avoidance of reminders.
Studies estimate that prolonged grief affects about 7 to 10 percent of bereaved adults. Rates are higher after sudden or violent losses. Depression, anxiety, and PTSD often co-occur. Early screening and treatment help.
What Actually Helps
- Grief-focused therapy. Structured grief treatments outperform general therapy for depression. They target acceptance, restoration of roles, and reengagement with life.
- CBT skills. Work on unhelpful grief thoughts, avoidance, and daily activation.
- Sleep, routine, and support. Regular sleep, movement, and connection lower risk.
- Medication. Can help with co-occurring depression, anxiety, or sleep. It complements therapy when needed.
Grief Care at Destination Hope
We provide evidence-based care in a trauma-informed setting for cases requiring inpatient treatment. Services include individual, group, and family therapy. We also offer yoga, meditation, and psychiatric care when appropriate. Explore our program pages:
- Mental Health Treatment in Fort Lauderdale
- Trauma Resolution Therapy
- Inpatient Mental Health Treatment
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
- Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
How to Get Started
- Call our admissions team 24/7.
- We verify insurance and outline costs.
- Choose the level of care that fits your needs.
- Begin treatment with a clear, personalized plan.
Call (954) 302-4269 or contact us online. You can also verify insurance in minutes.
Quick Facts to Know About Grief
- Prolonged grief is diagnosed when disabling grief lasts a year or more in adults.
- About 7 to 10 percent of bereaved adults develop prolonged grief.
- Bereavement increases risk for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Screening matters.
- Randomized trials show grief-focused therapy improves outcomes more than general therapy.
