How to Grieve - Part 1
""I just learned that my wife has a chronic disease. My best friend moved to the other side of the country. My pet was hit by a car. I found out I was laid off."
It is probable that you have heard similar phrases or have even said them yourself. These statements all have the similar binding message that suffering and distress are or have occurred over an affliction or loss.
These instances of loss can occur with any person, place, or even thing. However, it is with this loss a process has been initiated. That process is grieving and it can either be acknowledged or dismissed. In some ethnic cultures, there are days of ceremonies or services dedicated to the mourning process after a loved one has passed. Similarly, the Kübler-Ross model emphasizes another mourning process that begins with denial of the loss.
No matter the loss that has occurred, the worst thing to do is to deny the grieving process. Signals that this process are occurring often go hand-in-hand with emotions of shock, confusion, heaviness, and even depressed feelings after a loss. These feelings can be followed by actions of isolation, lethargy, crying spells, and sleeping more than usual. Just remember that these emotions and actions are normal responses to grief over a loss.
The beginning path to properly grieve is to acknowledge that you are grieving in order to let the process of grief, and the healing that goes with that, begin. It is okay to say, "I am grieving!"
The great thing about writing is that this is just the start of the discussion. What instances of loss have you had to grieve and how did you find hope amidst the grief? Please feel free to comment below.
In the next post, we will be continuing to look at how to grieve by moving from first acknowledging the grief process to more specific steps on what needs to be accomplished in order to help the grieving process continue.
