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Grief

People deal with loss in a great many ways. As a rule, there is no correct or incorrect method of grieving, although some people can become incapacitated by grief, taking many years to recover. Counseling is often indicated when severe and incapacitating grief extends more than a few months following loss.

Grief is a normal process, and seemingly strange reactions to grief – including a feeling of anger at the departed, experiencing a range of emotions, or “seeing” a recently deceased loved one – can all be a perfectly normal part of the grieving process. It is also common for mourners to experience insomnia, fatigue, helplessness, physical problems, loss of appetite, loss of the ability to experience pleasure, and greater susceptibility to disease.

Therapy and counseling for grief includes helping the mourner complete a variety of steps while resuming normal life, including emotional separation, adjustment to new circumstances, forming and supporting relationships, experiencing all emotions, and addressing any lingering psychological difficulties such as depression or low self-esteem.