- ABOUT GRIEF
- What Does It Feel Like to Grieve
- When to Seek Help
- Different Ways to Grieve
- Children and Death
- Loss of a Spouse
- Loss of a Child
- Traumatic Death
- Helping Others Grieve
- Holidays
What Does It Feel Like to Grieve
What Is Normal Grief?
Four Tasks of Mourning
Four Tasks of Mourning
Accepting the Reality of the Loss
In many ways we look and search for the person who died; to learn everything we can about him or her to understand that, indeed, he or she is really dead. It is often very painful and sad when we cannot just pick up a telephone or make a visit to our loved one to share the news of our lives.
Experiencing the Pain of Grief
We feel a great deal of pain during grief, both physical and emotional. We may be very depressed, sad, and prone to tears. It can be difficult to cope with everyday activities. We may want to keep busy constantly so that we don’t think of our loved one’s absence. We may feel angry or guilty. Often, during this time, we feel like we are going crazy.
Adjusting to An Environment in Which the Deceased Is Missing
We are not aware of all the roles played by the person who died until after his death occurs. Sometimes survivors experience difficulty and resentment about assuming new roles.
Find an Enduring Connection with the Deceased and Move on With Life
By developing a continuing bond with the deceased, we can find a new place in our life for the lost loved one — a place that will allow us to stay connected with our loved one while moving forward with life and forming new relationships. It is important to memorialize our departed loved ones--keeping them with us but still going on with life.
From Worden, J.W., Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy, Fourth Edition, Spring Publishing Co., NY, 2008.
