Grief and loss can cause many different symptoms and they affect people in different
ways. As well as grief, there are other types of loss such as the end of a relationship
or losing a job or home. There’s no right or wrong way to feel.
Some of the common symptoms include:
* shock and numbness – this is usually the first reaction to loss, and people
often talk about “being in a daze”
* overwhelming sadness, with lots of crying
* tiredness or exhaustion
* anger – towards the person you’ve lost or the reason for your loss
* guilt – for example, guilt about feeling angry, about something you said or did
not say, or not being able to stop your loved one dying
These feelings may not be there all the time and powerful feelings may appear
unexpectedly. It’s not always easy to recognise when grief or loss are the reason
you’re acting or feeling differently.
Part of counselling is the process of what to expect as you cope with your loss.
During therapy, people are taught the normal grieving process, including familiar
feelings and thoughts. Clients learn how to distinguish the difference between normal
grieving and other mental conditions such as depression which can develop from
grieving.
Normal feelings associated with grieving include fear, anxiety, disbelief, anger, and
sadness. Additionally, some people feel physical pain during this period of grief.
Ultimately grief counselling serves as a way to help patients transition from a dark
period marked by loss, to a new, productive path forward. And, arguably the best
way to honour someone you love, is to live your best life, rather than continuing the
grieving process.
Of course, getting better takes work, and in many cases, a major time investment. In
therapy, patients will uncover the deep emotions they are experiencing during the
process. From there, they will learn to cope with those emotions and live a normal
life.