Still Standing

What is grief?

Grief is a natural response to loss. You may experience difficult emotions, from shock or anger to disbelief, guilt, and profound sadness. It is important to note that the pain of grief can also disrupt your physical health, making it difficult to eat, sleep, or even think. It is all a normal reaction to loss, the more significant the loss, the more intense the grief will be.

When we think of grief, we think of death; however, any loss can cause grief:

• Divorce/ Breakup
• Death of a pet
• Loss of health
• Losing a job
• Loss of a friendship
• Miscarriage
• Retirement

The process

There is no right or wrong way to grieve. How you grieve depends on your personality and coping style, your faith, and how significant the loss was. However, you must keep in mind that the grieving process takes time. Healing cant be forced.

Myths

• The pain will go away faster if you ignore it.
  • You must acknowledge your pain and ignoring it will make it worse 
• You must be strong
  • Crying doesn’t mean you are weak
• Greving should last at least a year
  • There is no specific time frame
• Moving on with your life means you don’t care
  • Moving on means you have accepted your loss

How to deal with grieving process:

• Acknowledge your pain
• Understand that grieving process is unique to you
• Seek support if needed

If you or anyone you know may be in need of someone to talk to and live in the Chicagoland area, feel free to call Olive Branch Counseling Associates at (708) 633-8000 and speak to a professional.

Yadira, Graduate Intern

References

What is Grief. (2019, April 03). Retrieved from https://www.nhpco.org/patients-and-caregivers/

            grief-and-loss/the-grief-experience/what-is-grief/

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https://www.verywellmind.com/five-stages-of-grief-4175361