Grief and Loss as a Process and Helpful Responses

Grief, loss and bereavement

When we experience any of the above, we tend to lose our way and are forced by circumstances to build a new reality.  With onset, we experience the full range of emotions - shock, upset, confusion, bewilderment, sense of overwhelm, anger, disorganisation and finally reorganisation.

Those impacted may cycle between episodes of calm and upset, as they struggle to accept the altered circumstances and life without the bereaved.  In terms of the above emotions, what has been noted in research is that individuals can advance towards acceptance of the new reality but at the same time can regress multiple times before a full acceptance is attained.  That is OK since it marks attempts at reorganising one's life and beliefs about what is possible in future from self-assessment without the bereaved.  That is a tall order which ever way you look at it.

For an outine of the steps bereaved individuals may expect to pass through and potential helpful responses, click here. 

Uncomplicated and Complicated Grief  (Courtesy Centre for Clinical Intervention, WA)

To read a definition of both these types of grief and their differences, click here.

There are many types of grief including:

(i) anticipatory grief (e.g. terminal illness)

(ii) grief of a work colleague

(iii) grief of a unborn child or infant

(iv) grief of a much loved pet or animal

(v) grief of a cherished item (e.g. heirloom).

If you or someone you love needs counselling to assist with grief, then for enquiries Tim can be contacted at Praxim here.

Alternatively, a booking can be made here.