Grief & Bereavement Counseling
Bereavement is the experience of losing someone important to us. It is characterized by grief, which is the process and range of emotions we go through as we gradually adjust to the loss. Losing someone important to us can be emotionally devastating, whether that be our partner, a family member, friend or pet.
Grief can also be experienced as a result of health issues such as chronic illness, job loss, end of a relationship, periods of isolation such as the COVID pandemic, financial hardship and any other number of events that negatively impact our life.
The process of adapting to a loss can dramatically change from person to person, depending on his or her perception of the loss, background, beliefs, relationship to the person who has passed, and other factors.
Common symptoms of grief can be physical, emotional, or social.
A few common symptoms in these categories are:
Physical
- Crying and sighing
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty sleeping
- Weakness
- Fatigue
Emotional
- Feelings of sadness and yearning
- Feelings of worry or anger
- Feelings of frustration or guilt
Social
- Feeling detached from others
- Self-isolation from social contact
- Behaving in ways that are not normal for you
Every person grieves differently and in their own time. Grief often includes physiological distress, separation anxiety, confusion, yearning, obsessive dwelling on the past and apprehension about the future. While these are all normal reactions to loss, they can also be scary for the person experiencing them.
If you are experiencing grief-related thoughts, behaviors, or feelings that are distressing consider therapy to help you through this difficult time.