Most people would prefer to stay far away from grief, but it comes into everyone’s life sooner or later. After all, we are mortal. Loss and death are inevitable. Grief is not an emotional disorder. Rather, it is a natural, normal, human reaction to loss. Bereavement refers to the process of recovering from loss, including the death of a loved one. Both grief and bereavement encompass a wide range of emotions such as fear, anger and deep, deep sadness.

Adapting to loss can be dramatically different from person to person, depending on background, beliefs, relationship to the person who has passed, and other factors.

Common signs of grief can be physical, emotional or social:

Physical

• Crying and sighing
• Headaches
• Loss of appetite
• Difficulty sleeping
• Weakness
• Fatigue

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

As I mentioned already, every grieving experience is different. There is no “right” way to mourn. You may be able to continue your day-to-day routine after one loss, yet not be able to get out of bed after the loss of another loved one. Whatever are your personal experiences of grief, grief and bereavement counseling can make it easier to bear or process. Sometimes, people can get stuck, fail to grieve, or have prolonged emotional or life difficulties given a significant loss.

If you are distressed given experiences of grief-related thoughts, behaviors, or feelings, please contact me today for a free consultation.