Grief is Complicated

People tend to think that grief follows a plan—you go from point A to point B and, eventually, you get through it. It turns out grief is much more complicated. It can come in waves that ebb and flow, or sometimes feel completely debilitating. It can be a slightly intrusive tickle in the back of your mind, or it can completely disrupt your day-to-day activities.

Grief and grieving are a challenge on many levels: physical, emotional and spiritual. Physically, you may feel exhausted and be unable to sleep. You may feel restless and unable to rest. You may even be experiencing physical pain, like your heart is breaking or your soul aching. Emotionally, you may be depressed or anxious, unable to concentrate or keep up with your activities of daily living. Spiritually, grief can challenge your faith, and leave you questioning.

It is Not Hopeless

At the moment, if you have lost a loved one, a pet or are feeling the sting of betrayal, you are in the midst of a process. At times it can be a difficult one, but it is not hopeless. You may feel like you can’t go on, or that things will never get better. The truth is, things will not get better—they will only become different. Working together, we can walk through your grief and get you to the other side. The process of grief and getting to the other side of it are different for everyone, but with someone who understands your experience working with you, you will find it, if not easier, at least more manageable.

Another aspect of grief is the sense of isolation you may be feeling. People don’t often understand grief. While social supports like friends, family, and co-workers can help, many people are awkward around someone who is grieving. These people are not avoiding you, but may simply not know what to do or how to act. What’s most important is to concentrate on moving through your grief and healing in whatever way is best for you.