When we talk about losing a loved one, it is easy to assume that grief is only experienced after their death. However, there can be other events which can result in the same feelings of bereavement and grief such as:
- Miscarriages
- Divorce
- Separation
- Health Concerns
- Loss of a Pet
- Failed Relationship
- Moving Away
- Loss of a Best Friend
There can be a wide range of underlying conditions that can sometimes also result in grief, such as a huge argument with your best friend. Afterward, they may tell you they want nothing to do with you and block your phone calls, unfriend you on social media, and take other steps that can cause you grief.
For each person, grief affects them differently. Some people get angry, mad, and upset. Other people become sad, depressed, and cry a lot. Other people can experience a range of these emotions and others.
The important thing to remember is there is no right or wrong way to experience grief. It will hit us differently based on why we are grieving. For instance, if you are single and your only at-home companion was your faithful pet, losing them can be just as traumatic as losing a child.
It is never advisable to go through bereavement and grief on your own. While you might think you can handle it by yourself or are simply tired of everyone asking if you are okay, it is still better to go through it with a qualified counsellor.
Having a counsellor to talk to can help you discover exactly why you are grieving. Sometimes it is not just because of the loss we are experiencing. There may be other underlying emotions, feelings, or past events tied to our current grief.
Being able to work through your emotions and feelings in a caring, supportive, and non-judgmental environment allows you to gradually work through your grief. Grief is not having a cold or the flu that will eventually just go away.
Grief can remain with us for the rest of our lives depending on the type of loss we experienced. However, with counselling and learning how to manage our grief, moving forward is possible. Eventually, you can get to a point where you can remember the happy times you shared, which makes you smile and feel warm inside, rather than the actual loss.
The first step to overcoming your grief is requesting a consultation with a grief counsellor. Your counsellor is there to listen and guide you. Even if you do not feel like talking, just having someone that sits with you can be beneficial and help you slowly start to get to the point where you can talk about the loss.
Managing grief and bereavement is a daily process at first. As you progress through counselling, you will gradually find you have more good days than bad days. To schedule a bereavement and grief consultation, please contact me, Ellen Starr, at 416-488-3102 today!
