Counseling Services

counseling services center

Grief ~ Introduction

What is grief?

Grief is emotional feelings caused by a change or an end in a familiar pattern of behavior.  When grief is being express it comes from a loss of a person, divorce, possession, and etc.  Mourning would be another way to express your loss

What causes grief?

Losing something or someone important can cause grief.

Symptoms of grief

There are many symptoms of grief that can affect many parts of your life. Some of these symptoms you may experience but not all of them.

• A lump or tightness in your throat when you think about your loss
  
  
• Anxiety
  
  
• Crying at things that is not normal to cry about
  
  
• Depression
  
  
• Difficulty talking about your loss
  
  
• Feeling like you cannot breathe
  
  
• Having trouble making decisions
  
  
• Loss of appetite
  
  
• Changing in moods
  
  
• No energy to do activities
  
  
• Repetitive talk about your loss
  
  
• Trouble sleeping
  
  
• Unable to pay attention
  
  
• Chest feels heavy and fast heart beating
  
  
• Sadness
  
  
• Hospice, a service that you and your family can use, if you are experiencing grief over a death.  This also is provided for other grief experiences

   
Treatment

The following are good ways to help you deal with grief:

• Give yourself time to heal
  
  
• Ask family and friends for help
  
  
• Cry when you need to
  
  
• Face your pain.  Find some who you can talk to and share your feelings.
  
  
• It’s Ok to be angry about your loss
  
  
• If you have setbacks, do not panic. Be nice to yourself
  
  
• Keep a diary or a journal.  Try painting, singing or playing a musical instrument.  Letting your feelings come out creatively is very helpful in working with grief
  
  
• Learn more about grief and it will help the healing process
  
  
• Sometimes, caregivers might suggest short-term medicines
  
  
• Take care of yourself. Eat well and get plenty of sleep.
  
  
• Try to accept the loss

Additional Information