The Purpose of Grief
Grief is a process. Although emotionally painful, it allows a person to come to terms with a loss and to heal emotionally (HelpGuide). It is a natural response, not only to the death of a loved one, but also to other losses regarding relationships, jobs, pets, miscarriages, friendships or health. Less significant events (moving, graduation, job change) may also trigger less-intense grief responses. The intensity of grief depends on the significance of the loss. Every person grieves differently. Grief has no rules and follows no timetable. Some people may recover in weeks, whereas others may grieve for years.
Seven Stages of Grief
A grieving person passes through seven stages (Recover-from-grief.com). They may occur in any order, and some stages may occur simultaneously. They are: 1) shock and denial, an attempt to avoid pain by denying the loss; 2) pain and guilt, a period of devastating pain and feelings that life is chaotic; 3) anger and bargaining, including emotional outbursts that can permanently damage relationships and attempts to bargain with a higher power for relief from the emotional pain; 4) depression and loneliness, or a period of reflection during which the person realizes the full impact of the loss; 5) upward turn, when the person begins to adjust to the loss; 6) reconstruction of life without the loved one; and 7) acceptance and hope. Acceptance does not imply happiness. Instead, the grieving person can now reminisce about the loved one with sadness, but without intense emotional pain.
Coping Strategies
Certain coping techniques may help ease the grieving process (HelpGuide). One should tap into family and friends for emotional support, or join a support group. One can also seek help from a grief counselor or religious advisor. Emotions must be faced, and one should resist using alcohol or drugs to suppress feelings (Recover-from-grief.com). It is helpful to anticipate difficult milestones such as anniversaries and holidays.
When to Seek Professional Help
Bereavement takes time and cannot be hurried, but if feelings of grief and depression worsen, one should seek professional help from a grief counselor or therapist (HelpGuide). Thoughts of regret for being alive, blaming oneself for the loss, lacking the ability to trust people or perform daily activities and feeling disconnected from others for more than a few weeks are signs that one should seek professional help.
Tags: emotional pain, from grief, from grief counselor, grief counselor, grieving person, help from