Coping with Grief and Loss

The loss of a friend or loved one is among the most traumatic events that a person can experience. The emotions of grief and the grieving process are painful but natural, expected and necessary parts of healing and recovery. There is no one way and no right or wrong way to grieve, and there is no schedule or deadline for the resolution of and recovery from loss. Everybody grieves and incorporates the experience of a loss in his or her own way. Nevertheless, many bereaved persons share some common feelings and reactions.

Common Reactions to Loss

Emotions and Feelings

Sadness, yearning, depressed mood, mood changes
Feelings of helplessness & loss of control
Panic and anxiety
Fear of death
Shock, denial, numbness
Guilt, shame, remorse
Anger
Loneliness
Tearfulness, crying
Relief

Physical Symptoms

Changes in sleep and/or eating patterns
Anxiety/autonomic nervous system arousal
Exaggerated startle response
Increased somatic complaints or physical illnesses
Fatigue

Changes in Behavior

Social withdrawal and/or isolation
Preoccupation with the deceased
Avoiding stimuli that are reminders of the deceased
Increased use of alcohol or substances
Changes in activity level

Changes in Thinking

Poor concentration
Disorientation
Confusion, forgetfulness
Feelings of unreality

Factors That May Complicate Grieving

Sometimes other circumstances affect the grieving process and the responses of the bereaved. These include the age of the deceased and the circumstances of death, whether the loss was sudden or expected, and the cause of death, particularly if violence was involved (e.g. suicide, disaster, crime, etc.). The nature and quality of the relationship between the deceased and the bereaved person is important, too. Earlier unresolved losses, whether occurring through death, parental divorce, or broken relationships for example, may also complicate an individual’s recovery.

How to Help Yourself

Gather information. Develop your understanding of the grieving process. Talk with members of bereavement support organizations and/or clergy. Use bibliographic resources to learn more.
Participate in rituals/say goodbye . Ceremonies and rituals help us to make the “unreal” more real and to move toward accepting and integrating our loss. Attend the funeral or memorial service. Mark important anniversaries in ways that are meaningful to you.
Care for yourself physically. Get adequate rest, nutrition and exercise.
Care for yourself emotionally. Give yourself permission to grieve. Allow quiet time alone to reflect and to explore and experience your thoughts and feelings. Allow time to heal without setting unrealistic goals and deadlines. Resist/delay makiang major decisions/changes in your life.
Express your feelings. Allow opportunities to express the full range of your emotions. This includes sadness, but also perhaps, fear, guilt, anger, resentment, and relief. Avoiding emotions through excessive activity, denial, or abuse of substances complicates and prolongs the pain of loss.
Seek support. Gathering and using social support is essential. Support from others reduces isolation and loneliness and increases one’s sense of security, safety and attachment. Talk to friends openly about your loss. If religion or spirituality are important to you, talk with a member of the clergy or a spiritual advisor. Consider joining a support group for people who have experienced a similar loss.
Consider seeking professional help. The Talley Center for Counseling Services offers individual counseling, support groups and workshops on grief. We can also refer you to resources in the community. For more information, call us at 540-654-1053 or stop by Monday through Friday.

How to Help a Friend

Talk openly to the bereaved person about his/her loss and feelings. Don’t try to offer false cheer or minimize the loss.
Be available. Call, stop by to talk, share a meal or activity. Your presence and companionship are important.
Listen/be patient. Listening is an often overlooked gift of yourself. Allow the bereaved person to vent feelings. Don’t judge the person’s thoughts or feelings. Don’t feel you need to offer advice. Listening itself is very powerful.
Take some action. Send a card, write a note, call. This is important not just immediately after the loss, but especially later, when grief is still intense but when others have resumed their daily lives and support for the bereaved may dwindle.
Encourage self care. Encourage your friend to care for himself or herself physically, emotionally, and socially. Encourage your friend to seek out support and/or professional help, if appropriate. The counseling center offers confidential individual counseling, support groups, workshops, and referral services. For more information, call the Talley Center for Counseling Services at 540- 654-1053 or stop by Monday through Friday.
Accept your own limitations. Accept that you cannot eliminate the pain your friend is experiencing. Grief is a natural, expected response to loss and each person must work through it in his/her own way and at his/her own pace. Be supportive, but care for yourself too.