If you find yourself having a difficult time dealing with a great loss in your life, you are not alone. In fact, you may have prolonged grief disorder. When people experience a great loss, it can feel like everything that they know about life has changed, and it's no wonder that a little extra help is sometimes needed to cope with the aftermath of that. Here are the steps you can take to start on the path to finally healing from your own grief.

Step #1: Seek Help

Nobody can be expected to overcome a great loss on their own. It takes courage to seek help for the pain, and the stigma that used to surround mental health care is thankfully lessening as more people become aware of the importance of taking care of one's overall well-being. When you see a psychiatrist while you are grieving, they can help you cope with both the problems that are tied to this particular event or person that you are grieving as well as any underlying issues that may be triggering the prolonged grief.

Step #2: Keep a Journal

It's a good idea to keep a journal throughout the therapy process. You may want to write about how you feel before and after a session. You may also want to make a list of things that you want to discuss in therapy. Simply jot down thoughts and issues that you think of during the week, then you can bring them up with your therapist during the session.

Step #3: Make Goals Beyond the Grief

You may want to also speak to your therapist about the goals that you want to make specifically for therapy and in your life. Many of these goals are likely to overlap. A therapist is someone that you can see about any issues that you are dealing with in your life, and your psychologist can help you work to solve problems and fulfill your goals. Envisioning the fulfillment of these goals beyond your grief may help when you are most hurting.

Finally, keep in mind that prolonged grieving can be different for everyone, and there is not one straight, clear cut path that works for everyone. Your psychologist can help you work through grief, and you may choose to continue to see the therapist as you go along your healing journey. A psychiatrist like Commonweath Affiliates PC can help you work through problems tied to grief and beyond, and you can then be empowered to take control of your problems, rather than them having control of you.