Grief and bereavement, much like trauma, are unavoidable emotions to the human experience. Bereavement refers to the process of recovering from the death of a loved one, and grief is a reaction to any form of loss. Both encompass a wide range of emotions such as fear, anger, isolation, and deep, deep sadness.
The process of responding and adapting to a loss can dramatically differ from person to person, depending on one's background, beliefs, relationship to the person who’s passed, the event that occurred, and other extenuating factors.
Common symptoms of grief can manifest in physical, emotional, or social ways.
A few common symptoms in these individual 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's grieving/bereavement experience is different. One person may be able to continue their day-to-day routine soon after a loss, finding it helpful and supportive. While another person may self-isolate, and not be able to get out of bed after a loss they've endured. Whatever your experience has been, grief and bereavement counseling have been proven to help process thru an incredibly challenging time in a person's life thru gentle reflection of what has been lost--and the hope and love that remains.