Loss or Grief

Grief is a reaction to a major loss. Most frequently it is a sad and painful feeling.

Causes

Grief occurs due to various losses, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, etc. People can experience grief if they have a disease or illness that doesn’t have a cure, or a persistent condition that negatively affects their lifestyle. Ending a serious can also cause grief.

All people feel grief in their own form. But, there are similar stages to grieving. It begins with identifying a loss and continues until you finally accepts the lesson. People have different reactions to grief, and it depends on the situation surrounding the death.

As an example, if someone died had a chronic disease or illness, the death may have been predictable. The finality of the person’s suffering may have given relief.  If the death was caused by an accident or was as a result of violence, learning to accept it may take more time.

Symptoms

Grief can be described in 5 stages.  The 5 reactions may not happen in a certain order, and may sometimes happen at the same time.  Not all people feel of these feelings:

• Denial, “can’t believe”, feeling numb
• Anger, putting fault on other people
• Bargaining (for instance “If my disease goes away, I will never eat unhealthy in the future.”)
• Depressed feelings, feeling sad, and tearing or crying
• Accepting and coming to terms with the situation

Some people that are experiencing grief can have “crying spells”, difficulty at times sleeping, and be less productive at work.

Tests and Signs

If you decide to get therapy from me, I will ask questions symptoms that you are experiencing, such if you are having any sleep issues or appetite problems. If you have symptoms that occur for a long time can lead to clinical depression.

Treating Grief

Your family and friends may be able to give you emotional support during your period of grieving.  At times, other outside factors may have an effect on the regular process of grieving, and people may require assistance from someone such as myself whom is able to give mental health counseling.

The acute period of grief often is up to 2 months in length.  Some less serious symptoms can occur for 1 year or even longer. I provide mental health counseling and it may help someone who does not have the ability to deal with the loss (aside from the normal grief reaction), or who is depressed while grieving.

Expectations (prognosis)

It can take 1 year or more to get past intense emotions of grief, and to come to terms with the loss.

Complications