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, but commonly surface after a loss of some kind – whether it is the sudden or expected loss of a loved one, a severed relationship, a pregnancy, a pet, or even a job.
When a person loses something or someone valuable to them, feelings of grief can feel so powerful as to be overbearing. Grief can leave a person feeling sad, hopeless, isolated, irritable, and, in many moments, numb, affecting them mentally, emotionally, and physically. It’s important to understand that healing from grief is a process, and everyone copes with this differently.
Many people don’t know what to say or do when a person is grieving, but be sure to have patience with the individual (including yourself) throughout the entire process.
Possible treatment methods include group therapy, working with a member of the clergy, individual psychotherapy, and couples counseling for grief. Through psychotherapy, a patient is likely to:
- Improve coping skills
- Reduce feelings of blame and guilt
- Explore and process emotions
- Establish boundaries with others by becoming clear about what's important to you
- Incorporate moments of acceptance (of what, right now, feels unacceptable)
- Slowly, but surely, regain some semblance of emotional flexibility and freedom again.
Consider seeking professional support if feelings of grief do not ease over time.
