Therapy for Grief and Loss

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The death of a close friend or family member is a devastating blow. The experience can shock you to your core - causing intense pain that doesn’t seem to end. You may wonder if you can ever feel normal again.

Suffering

The suffering may be so overwhelming at times that it is difficult to function in the world.  If you have experienced a loss and are having severe emotional and physical symptoms, realize this can be a normal part of the process of losing someone dear to you. You are not going crazy!

The sorrow, grief and unanswered questions may disrupt your sleep, your appetite, and your concentration.  Yet, it is necessary to experience your feelings in order to heal. There is no other way. Over time, perhaps over months or years, the pain will diminish.  

The emotional connection between any two people can be as strong as between siblings, spouses or parents. Yet, other people in your life may not realize the depth of your connection and therefore not give you the empathy and support you need.  This insensitivity can add to your feelings of despair because you need acknowledgment and understanding of your loss.

It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate her, and a day to love her, but it takes an entire lifetime to forget her.

-  Author unknown 

Have you lost a family member or a dear friend?  Do you try to pretend everything's okay when truly you're barely holding it together?  Do you tell people you are coping well with the loss, when really your heart is breaking or you are totally traumatized?  

The first step is to allow yourself to acknowledge your feelings.  You don't have to keep pretending that everything is fine, when you are hurting inside.  Our fast-paced society often expects people to just "get over" a loss when in reality we never do that.  However, with the right therapeutic support, you can begin to manage your pain and regain joy in your life.

- Replay the good memories of your friend.  Keep her spirit and love alive inside of you. 

- Be patient with yourself.  Grief can interfere with your concentration and cause you to make mistakes or be forgetful. Let others help you.

- Make an effort to Be outside every day for 20 minutes. Sunlight and nature can be very restorative.  Concentrating all your attention on the beauty of one flower may give your mind and body some enjoyment. 

- Remember your friend with love and affection.  Do something – participate in a fundraising walk or plant a tree – to honor your friend.

- Talk to people who share your views about spiritual or life-after-death issues. Send us a message we will be glad to help.

It is often helpful to talk about your experiences with a professional outside of your regular circle of friends and family. 

Tips for Healing 

Healing is a very individual process. There is no set timeframe, but people can begin to regain some sense of normalcy after six months to a year. 

The first step is to allow yourself to Acknowledge your feelings.  You don't have to keep pretending that everything is fine, when it's really not! Our fast-paced society often expects people to "get over" a loss when in reality we never do that.  

- Take extra good care of yourself.  Try to sleep, even if you are experiencing bad dreams. Our subconscious mind processes situations and helps us work through problems, so dreaming is very helpful to recovery.