Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult of life’s challenges. Everybody grieves in their own way and there are many different ways in which individuals experience, express and adapt to their loss. You may be feeling numbness, frustration, anger, helplessness, confusion, anxiety or sadness. Maybe you are even feeling relief.
Perhaps the person who passed was someone you were very close to. Perhaps they were estranged from you. Maybe they passed away young, from a fatal illness, or maybe they died of old age, peacefully in their sleep. Perhaps the death was sudden. Perhaps it was anticipated. Maybe you had a chance to say good-bye. Maybe you didn’t. Perhaps you have suffered more than one loss in a brief period of time.
No matter what the circumstances, grief is a normal process every human being goes through when faced with a loss. Grief is often unpredictable and cannot be broken down into orderly steps or stages. You may feel fine one day and sad or weepy the next. Sometimes a significant day you shared with the deceased, like a birthday or anniversary, can trigger an emotional reaction. All of this is a normal part of the grieving process.
Some individuals grieve by connecting with others and some prefer to grieve by themselves. While you may be tempted to grieve alone or hold it all in, it’s important for you to find an outlet for your grief. Talk therapy can help you make sense of your loss and complete the grieving process. You can feel happy and whole again.