Losing a loved one can be emotional and devastating. It is normal to have many feelings, such as sadness, denial, and guilt. It is also important to allow yourself as much time as you need to grieve. Everyone grieves differently.
During this difficult time, you may need extra support. Here is some information that can help you through the healing process.
Sadness and yearning for a loved one, an object, or a way of life you have lost are the most common and expected feelings that occur after any loss. Probably the best thing you can do to cope with your sadness and yearning is to talk about how you feel.
Grief counseling is short term and focuses on working through the grieving process related to a major loss. Grief counseling is also called bereavement counseling.
Complications that can develop from grieving include depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and physical illness. If you or someone you know experiences any of the following problems, contact a doctor or mental health professional for counseling, medicine, or both.
There is no definite point in time or a list of symptoms that define unresolved grief. Unresolved grief lasts longer than usual for a person's social circle or cultural background.
A major loss can make you question your beliefs. Sadness, anger, guilt, hopelessness—all these emotions can make you question everything you once believed about life, death, and suffering.
