What term is used to describe prolonged mourning that affects daily functioning?

The term that describes prolonged mourning affecting daily functioning is complicated grief. This form of grief goes beyond normal grieving processes, where individuals may find it hard to move forward after a loss. Complicated grief is characterized by intense yearning for the deceased, extreme sorrow, or even difficulty in carrying out everyday activities, which can significantly impair a person's life.

In contrast, normal grief refers to the range of emotional responses experienced after a loss, typically allowing for some degree of adjustment over time. Unresolved grief is often seen as an inability to process a loss, but it doesn't necessarily have the same clinical implications as complicated grief. Anticipatory grief occurs when an individual begins to grieve before a death occurs, often seen in terminal illnesses, and while it may be challenging, it is not classified as prolonged mourning impacting daily functioning post-loss.

Overall, complicated grief captures the profound and disruptive nature of mourning that extends well beyond what is typically expected, hindering one's ability to function in everyday life.