Dealing With Grief, Loss and Bereavement

Most people will experience loss at one time or another in their life. Grief is the reaction to the loss and can be difficult to deal with on your own. A bereaved individual can feel grief over the loss of someone close including the loss of a family member, friend, or even a pet. You can also experience grief from breakups and other forms of loss. 

The process of adapting to a loss varies greatly among individuals. Some people cope well with the loss; others don't. There are many reasons why people react differently to loss, including personality traits, religious beliefs, cultural values, and personal history. 
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Regardless of the type of loss you've suffered, it's important to work with a counselor who can help you process your feelings and cope more effectively. If you're suffering with grief right now, give us a call to schedule your appointment today. 

Grieving Thoughts and Behaviors

The grief process involves many emotions, including sadness, yearning, anger and regret. These feelings are not necessarily experienced simultaneously. For example, someone might grieve over the loss of a loved one while feeling guilty about it. Or, someone might experience strong feelings of anger toward another person, even though he or she feels sad about the situation.

Emotions are often surprising in how strong or mild they are. Some people may find themselves experiencing intense emotional reactions to receiving news of a death in the family. Others may show little emotion at all.
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One person may find themselves grieving over a painful relationship. Another may mourn a loved person who died from cancer and feel relief that the person isn't suffering anymore. Still others may want to keep their pain private. All of the complex emotions associated with grief can be hard to process without an outside perspective. 

​Recovering From Grief 

Grieving is an individual experience, one that may take anywhere from several days to many years. While some people are able to move on quickly, others struggle for much longer. People often grieve differently depending on how close they felt to the deceased, whether they had children together, and other life circumstances tied to the loss. 

Grieving involves many difficult and complex emotions. However, joy, contentment, happiness, and laughter don't need to be absent during this hard time. Recovery requires self-care, recreation, social support. Feeling occasional happiness does NOT mean a person has stopped grieving.
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When you lose someone you love, adapting to the new daily routines can be one of the hardest parts. You may have to develop new routines, rethink future plans, and even create a new sense of identity. It's very important that you have help through this process whether from social support, family, friends, or professional grief therapy. 

​What Are the Techniques Used in Grief Counseling?

Grief counseling focuses on helping people cope with the death of someone close to them. This type of counseling can take place either individually or within a group setting. A therapist might focus on the following aspects during sessions:

• Acceptance of the reality of the loss. You may want to talk about how much you miss the person who died and what it feels like to lose him or her.
• Work through the pain of grief. Talking about memories of the deceased can help you come to terms with his or her death.
• Adjust to life without the deceased. People often feel anxious and depressed after losing a loved one. They may find themselves feeling numb, angry, guilty, or sad. In addition, some people have trouble sleeping or eating.
• Maintain a connection with a loved while finding ways to move forward with life. When a person loses a loved one, he or she may struggle with feelings of guilt or responsibility. These feelings can make it hard to enjoy life again. However, talking to others about the situation can help you learn to live your life once more.

How Can You Get Started?

If you've experienced loss, there are several different ways to start coping with the pain. The most important thing to remember is that everyone grieves differently. Some people feel sad, while others feel angry or depressed. And some people even find themselves numb to the emotions that come along with losing someone close to them. Regardless of what you're feeling, refrain from judging your feelings. A counselor can help you cope with the emotions and find healthy ways to process. 
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If you're experiencing grief, reach out to the licensed counselors at Elevate Counseling Group in Rockwall, Texas to schedule an appointment today.