After losing a loved one, there is often a period of grief, mourning, or bereavement. This is a completely normal response to loss. Grief can take on many different forms and can manifest differently for each individual. It is a very complicated emotion which is often accompanied by a variety of complex feelings. Grief typically involves feelings of sadness, as well as guilt, anger, yearning, and regret.
GRIEF & LOSS
What is Grief?
Types of Grief
Grief can be broken down into two categories:
Instrumental Grieving focuses primarily on problem-solving tasks. Thinking more than feeling; less of an emotional expression and more of an expression of grief through doing something.
Intuitive Grieving is an expression of grief through affect. A heightened period of emotional feeling and expression. It involves deeply felt emotions and open expression of sorrow.
Stages of Grief
There is a commonly used 5-Stages Model which outlines the stages of grief. However, not everyone experiences each of these stages, and grieving is often not a linear process – individuals may dip in and out, back and forth, within the stages.
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Grief and Depression
Typical signs of grief can be similar to signs of depression. However, grief is not characterized as a depressive disorder.
Symptoms of Depression:
- Feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing
- Feelings of helplessness
- Prolonged loss of interest in activities one used to enjoy
Similarities:
- Feelings of intense sadness and pain
- Difficulty sleeping
- Either too much or too little changes in appetite resulting in weight loss/gain
Symptoms of Grief:
- Irritability and Numbness
- Regretfulness
- Disbelief or difficulty accepting the loss
- Seeing or hearing things related to the loss
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Complicated Grief
Complicated grief occurs in approximately 7% of bereaved individuals. It is characterized by a prolonged period of mourning, during which the symptoms of grief do not fade. Symptoms of “normal” grief tend to fade over time, however, with complicated grief, symptoms persist for much longer and can worsen with time. Experiencing complicated grief can delay the healing process or prevent individuals from healing from the loss of a loved one entirely.
Symptoms of Complicated Grief
- Intense pain and sadness
- Ruminating over the loss
- Problems accepting the loss
- Inability to focus on anything but the loss
- Inability to think back on positive experiences with the loved one
- Difficulty engaging in normal routines
- Isolating and withdrawing from activities one used to enjoy
- Feeling that life is not worth living without the loved one
Complicated Grief Counselling
Counselling to address complicated grief can be effective in both individual and group settings. In counselling, individuals can explore a variety of topics including grief reactions and coping mechanisms for complicated grief symptoms. Counsellors can help individuals process the loss, readjust their routines and redefine their life goals following the loss of a loved one. Counselling can be an instrumental part of the healing process for individuals experiencing complicated grief.
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