Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering you feel when something or someone you love is taken away. Often, the pain of loss can feel overwhelming. You may experience all kinds of difficult and unexpected emotions, from shock or anger to disbelief, guilt, and sadness. The pain of grief can also disrupt your physical health, making it difficult to sleep, eat, or even think straight. These are normal reactions to loss. The more significant the loss, the more intense your grief will be.
One may associate grief with the loss of a loved one, but any loss can cause grief, including:
- Divorce or relationship breakup
- Health complications
- Loss of job
- Miscarriage
- Loss of a pet
- Serious illness
- Loss of a friendship
- Selling a family home
How to deal with grieving process:
- Acknowledge your pain
- Accept that grief can trigger many different and unexpected emotions
- Understand that your grieving process will be specific to you
- Seek out in-person support from those who are close to you
- Support yourself emotionally, by taking care of yourself physically
- Recognize the difference between grief and depression
Taking Care of Yourself as you Grieve:
- Face your feelings - You may try to suppress your grief but you can’t hide from it forever. In order to heal, you must acknowledge the pain. Unresolved grief can also lead to other complications like depression, anxiety or even substance abuse.
- Express your feeling in a tangible or creative way
- Try to maintain your hobbies and interests
- Don’t let anyone tell you how to feel
- Look after your physical health
- Plan ahead for grief triggers
