Grief affects every person differently. How you grieve or mourn the loss of a loved one, a friendship, a pet or your job or home is personal. Grief involves a five-stage process that includes denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally, acceptance. If you are grieving a loss of any kind, don't be surprised to feel such emotions, according to the mental health support website Helpguide.
Talk to Someone
If you're grieving a loss, talk about it with someone, suggests Helpguide. Don't keep your emotions bottled up inside, which may lead to physical illness such as fatigue, anxiety and insomnia. Therapists, grief counselors and grief support groups can offer a sense of solidarity and compassion. Clinical studies published by the Archives of General Psychiatry in 1999 offer statistics that show levels of emotional distress and grief ratings were lowered significantly with brief group intervention.
Face Your Feelings
Ignoring problems doesn't make them go away, and neither does ignoring your feelings, notes the Helpguide website. According to studies published by Advances in Psychiatric Treatment in 2005, participants who expressed their personal feelings, fears and emotions through writing saw a decrease in overall health problems.
Grieve in Your Own Way
Your grief is your own, according to Grief Care Provider website. As such, you will grieve for your loss in your own private way. Seek the support of family and friends, but you can allow yourself to feel what you feel without pressure from others to behave in a certain manner.
Take Your Time and Watch for Depression
The loss of a loved one takes time to get over. The Mayo Clinic recommends watching for signs of grief turning into severe depression. A person who experiences deep grief and disinterest in life, inability to function, resists getting out of bed for an extended period or who discusses suicide may be showing signs of clinical depression, and should seek professional care.
References
- Helpguide: Copiing with Grief and Loss
- Grief Care Provider: The Seven Principles of Human Grief
- Archives of General Psychiatry: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of a Bereavement Support Group Intervention
- Advances in Psychiatric Treatment: Emotional and Physical Benefits of Expressive Writing
- Mayo Clinic: Grief: Coping with Reminders After a Loss
