Bereavement and grief aren’t light-hearted topics, but they are universal. We all experience loss but, sadly, often find our feelings after loss difficult to talk about. “Bereaved” means to be “torn apart” or “to have special needs”, which we definitely do when we lose someone we love. Grief is our internal reaction for any form of loss. Grief encompasses a wide range of emotions, including fear, anger, deep sadness, loneliness, confusion, regret, relief, and even guilt.
The process of adapting to a loss can dramatically change from person to person, depending on his or her background, beliefs, relationship to the person who’s passed, how the person died, and other factors. All of these can be explored in the counseling relationship, which offers needed support and understanding as you adjust to your life following loss.
Common symptoms of grief can be physical, emotional or social.
A few common symptoms in these categories are:
Physical
- Crying and sighing
- Headaches
- Changes in eating patterns
- Difficulty sleeping
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Confusion and inability to concentrate
Emotional
- Feelings of sadness and yearning
- Feelings of worry or anger
- Feelings of frustration or guilt
Social
- Feeling detached from others
- Self-isolation from social contact
- Behaving in ways that are not normal for you
Every grieving experience is different. A person may be able to continue their day-to-day routine after one loss, yet not be able to get out of bed after the loss of someone else. Whatever your personal symptoms are, grief and bereavement counseling have been proven to help.
If you are experiencing grief-related thoughts, behaviors, or feelings that are distressing, please contact me today for a free phone consultation.