I have been through grief. There was a time when I felt that I would never see the world in full colour again. Everything felt dulled by the grief that took up so much space in my life. Over time, with support and help, the world brightened again. I felt changed by the experience but I could appreciate feeling that I had come out on the other side of something that felt impossible at the time.
Grief is a natural response to loss and there is no escaping it. If we love, we will feel loss and grief. It is the raw emotional suffering you feel when someone or something you love is taken away. The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief will be.
Loss can be experienced in many different ways. Some are expected while others may feel more unexpected.
You may have felt grief if you have experienced any of these losses:
- Death of someone you love
- Relationship breakup or divorce
- Miscarriage, newborn or infant death
- Loss of health
- Loss of a job
- Loss of financial stability
- Retirement
- Death of a pet
- Loss of a cherished dream
- Sale of the family home
- Loss of safety following a trauma
Our grief experience is unique to us, but what is universal, is the pain associated with grief. Grief creates an emotional and physical response that can range from mild to severe. We cannot compare our grief to others nor should we judge our own or other’s reactions to grief.
These are some of the ways you may experience your grief:
- Shock
- Disbelief
- Anger
- Guilt
- Sadness
- Fear
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Lowered immunity
- Weight loss or gain
- Aches or pains
- Insomnia
Time is a part of healing, but time alone does not heal the heartbreak of grief. Turning to others for comfort is an important step so you do not suffer alone. Working with a therapist also provides a safe place to understand and process what you are going through.
Depending on the grief you are experiencing, you may feel the need to set your grief aside to take care of others. Or you may not want to burden others or fear that you sound like a broken record saying the same thing over and over again. Working with a therapist allows you to let go of the need to take care of others, so you can focus on you and what you need.
In grief therapy, your therapist will help you:
- Identify and acknowledge your feelings of loss
- Safely express your feelings of sadness, guilt, anger, confusion, and loneliness to allow you to move through them
- Manage the triggers you experience of your loss
- Create rituals to honour your loved one
- Work towards acceptance of the new direction your life has taken as a result of your loss
Loss is inevitable. We will all experience it. But you do not need to suffer through it alone. Let one of our compassionate therapists help you find your way through grief. Call to book your first session now.
