Advice on grief
Grief is the natural emotional pain and sadness that follows a loss, which can be the death of a person or pet, or other significant events like a job loss or divorce. It involves a range of feelings such as shock, sadness, anger, and guilt, and can also include physical symptoms like fatigue.
Grief is a highly individual experience with no set timeline or order, and people may go through periods of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance at different times, or not at all.
Emotional and physical symptoms
Emotional: Shock and numbness, overwhelming sadness, anger, guilt, fear, anxiety, and confusion are all common.
Physical: People may experience physical symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, changes in weight, aches and pains, and insomnia.
The stages of grief
While the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance) are widely known, they are not a linear or mandatory process.
People may experience these feelings in a different order, move back and forth between them, or not experience all of them.
It is normal for the intensity of these feelings to change over time, and many people find that, with time, the pain becomes less strong and they can adapt to life after the loss.
How to cope
Be kind to yourself: Allow yourself to grieve in your own way and at your own pace.
Prioritize self-care: Make an effort to get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, exercise, and find time for relaxation.
Acknowledge your feelings: Try to feel your emotions without judgment.
Seek support: Reach out to friends, family, or support groups like Cruse Bereavement Support or Mind.
Remember it's okay to move on: Over time, it is normal to find yourself not thinking about the person or loss as often and to be able to enjoy life again.
Grief is a highly individual experience with no set timeline or order, and people may go through periods of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance at different times, or not at all.
Emotional and physical symptoms
Emotional: Shock and numbness, overwhelming sadness, anger, guilt, fear, anxiety, and confusion are all common.
Physical: People may experience physical symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, changes in weight, aches and pains, and insomnia.
The stages of grief
While the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance) are widely known, they are not a linear or mandatory process.
People may experience these feelings in a different order, move back and forth between them, or not experience all of them.
It is normal for the intensity of these feelings to change over time, and many people find that, with time, the pain becomes less strong and they can adapt to life after the loss.
How to cope
Be kind to yourself: Allow yourself to grieve in your own way and at your own pace.
Prioritize self-care: Make an effort to get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, exercise, and find time for relaxation.
Acknowledge your feelings: Try to feel your emotions without judgment.
Seek support: Reach out to friends, family, or support groups like Cruse Bereavement Support or Mind.
Remember it's okay to move on: Over time, it is normal to find yourself not thinking about the person or loss as often and to be able to enjoy life again.
26-30, F
