How To Deal With Grief

What Is Grief

Grief is the natural reaction to loss. Grief is both a universal and a personal experience. Individual experiences of grief vary and are influenced by the nature of the loss. Some examples of loss include the death of a loved one, the ending of an important relationship, job loss, loss through theft or the loss of independence through disability.

No one is ever prepared to lose a loved one. Whether it was expected or not, it still comes accompanied by shock. Even though we know rationally that death is inescapable we always hope that it won’t or won’t yet happen. Even though grief is an experience that feels like you are going crazy, there are a range of reactions and responses that are normal. Some of the possible reactions may be on the emotional, physical, cognitive, behavioral and spiritual level. ‘Normal’ does however not mean that they are in any way easy to experience.
In the following article we will look at the emotional, physical and cognitive reactions.

Emotional reactions may include

Sadness
Shock
Anger
Guilt
Jealousy
Anxiety and fear
Shame
Relief
Feeling powerless and hopeless or helpless
Feeling irritable and frustrated

Physical reactions may include

Headaches
Nausea
Tiredness
Loss of appetite
Insomnia
Sensitivity to various stimuli, in particular noise
Muscular tension
Exhaustion
Pain

Cognitive reactions may include

Disbelief
Obsessive thinking
Apathy or numbness
Looping thinking and continuous ‘what if’ scenarios
Disorientation and confusion
Lack of motivation and focus

How To Deal With Grief Effectively

A person who understands realities simply allows thoughts to take place. Thoughts come and go automatically. A wise person experiences hunger and thirst as well as emotions, these do not affect his fullness. Such a person knows these are all me and i am more than all of them. Knowing the nature of realities, the wise do not sustain thoughts of grief.

1. A thought is momentary, it comes and goes.
2. Express your feelings in a tangible or creative way
3. Look after your physical health
4. Don't let anyone tell you how to feel, and don't tell yourself how to feel either
5. Plan ahead for grief “triggers.”