Grief and loss are an unavoidable part of life. There is no one way to mourn a loved one. The pain and suffering we experience can be overwhelming at times. Suffering a loss and recovering from grief are some of the hardest things we may do in life.
As a result of your loss, do you find yourself experiencing?
- Intense sadness
- Unrelenting depression
- Uncontrollable crying
- Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
- Frequent nightmares and intrusive thoughts
- Difficulty engaging in happy memories
- Avoiding people, places or things that remind you of your loved one
- Preoccupation with the deceased
- A constant reliving of the death
- Lack of desire in your personal interests
- Bitterness or anger
When we feel we are alone, a therapist can provide support for us. There may be things that you want to talk about that you might not want others to know, or you might be concerned that you would be judged. Sometimes our support system wearies of us talking about our loss and we begin to feel more isolated.
While self-directed activities can be beneficial, it is also important to have someone to tell our story to, in order to validate our feelings. The more support and understanding we can get, the easier it is to cope. Grief treatment involves a three-phase process that includes setting goals for recovery, coping with and sharing the loss, and reviewing progress and planning for the future.
At times like this, grief counseling is the answer.
Our understanding and compassionate therapists will help you recognize the particular thoughts, events, or actions which contribute to your grief. Our therapist’s plan might include traditional individual therapy or groups therapies, along with some alternatives ways to process your loss. If the loss involves a family member, it’s often helpful to engage in couple or family counseling.