Throughout the course of our years, we all experience a loss at some point in our lives. In fact, statistics show that 1 in 5 children will experience the death of someone close to them before 18 years of age. Feelings of grief and loss are not always associated with death; however, grief often surfaces after a loss of some kind – the loss of a loved one, a severed relationship, a pregnancy, a pet, or a job.
When a person loses something or someone valuable to them, feelings of grief can be overwhelming and confusing. Grief can leave a person feeling sad, hopeless, isolated, irritable, and numbness; affecting you or someone you love mentally, emotionally, and/or physically. It’s important to understand that healing from grief is a process and everyone copes differently.
It is also important to know that many people don’t know what to say or do when a person is grieving; please have patience with the individual (including yourself) throughout the entire process.
Therapy may:
- Improve coping skills
- Reduce feelings of blame and guilt
- Explore and process emotions
Consider seeking professional support if feelings of grief do not ease over time.