Grief & Loss: When to Seek a Specialist

Grief is a natural response to loss. Yet there is a clear difference between a process a person can move through on their own and a state that calls for professional support. Dr. Saулitis emphasises that it is possible to understand whether a specialist is needed — but knowing who to turn to and what to expect matters enormously.

Signs It Is Time to Seek Help

Grief becomes a reason to seek consultation when a person tries to manage it alone — through alcohol or other ways of "taking the edge off" — yet the condition still "takes over." That is the signal: internal resources are no longer sufficient, and outside support is needed.

Psychologist or Psychiatrist: Who to Choose

Dr. Saulitis is direct on this point: a genuinely qualified specialist is one who has studied neurophysiology, psychology, and psychiatry, and who has real hands-on experience in acute and geriatric wards. In his assessment, the majority of practising psychologists lack that background. When the condition is serious — prolonged and profound low mood, behavioural changes, attempts to chemically numb the pain — a psychiatrist is required, not only a psychologist.

Why Delaying Is Dangerous

The longer a person postpones reaching out, the more deeply a pathological response becomes entrenched. Dr. Saulitis points out that becoming a true professional in psychiatry means years of work with acute conditions, watching how they unfold. This is precisely why an early specialist perspective on grief makes it possible to distinguish a normal mourning process from something that already requires treatment.

A Practical First Step

If you are unsure whether you need a specialist, that uncertainty is itself a reason for a single consultation. The goal of a first visit is not to receive a diagnosis, but to understand which direction to move in next.