Grief

Grief may be experienced in the combination of mental, emotional, physical, or social reactions. Mental or emotional reactions can include anger, guilt, anxiety, sadness, despair, or forgetfulness. Physical reactions can include sleeping problems, changes in appetite, or illness.  Social reactions can include feelings about taking care of others in the family, role changes in the family, or returning to work. There is no right or wrong way to grieve after a significant loss.

5 Basic Facts about Grief: 

  1. Grief is a process that takes a lot of time, energy and determination. You won’t “get over” your grief in a hurry. 
  2. Grief is intensely personal. This is your experience – don’t let others tell you how to grieve. 
  3. Grief is an assault on the entire being. It affects you physically, emotionally, socially, mentally and spiritually. 
  4. You will be affected by this loss for the rest of your life. As time goes by, you will have new insights into what this death means to you. 
  5. Grief has the potential for being transformative. You will change, your values may change, and you will see life from a new and different perspective.