Grief doesn’t follow a set timeline. Depending on the nature of your loss, you might gradually feel better over the span of weeks or months or years. It’s important to be patient and recognize that the healing process cannot be hurried or forced. If you or a loved one continues to feel trapped in intense pain long after a loss, you might be experiencing complicated grief, or prolonged grief disorder. The condition can come with symptoms such as intense loneliness, emotional numbness, and difficulty reengaging with life.