Grief is the emotional pain and discomfort you feel when someone or something you hold dear is lost. It usually comes from the death of someone we love but can also come from other significant losses, such as the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, or changes in health. Grief comes in many emotional, physical, and mental facets, and the intensity and duration are different with everyone.
Causes of Grief
- Loss of a Relationship: The loss of a meaningful relationship, such as through divorce separation, or estrangement, can touch off deep feelings of grief. A breakup can be just as painful as a death due to the emotional connection to the person who has left.
- Losing Health: A person who finds out that they have a terminal illness or suffer from paralysis may grieve for the life they had before. Anticipating what’s to come, or the limits put in front of me, will generate sadness, frustration, and anger.
- Loss of Job: The loss of a job or career may feel like the loss of an identity.) It inflicts financial pressure and emotional turmoil, with people mourning their previous sense of purpose and stability.
- Loss of a pet: Many people become very attached to their pets and the death of an animal friend can lead to deep mourning. For some, pets are family, and some of the emotional void is the same without them.
- Other Life Transitions: Even good changes, like relocating to a new home, giving birth, or moving into retirement, can bring about grief over the loss of what life was like before. Major life transitions stir up changes that can feel overwhelming and trigger past losses.
How to Heal From Grief
- Feel it: To begin healing after grief, you must permit yourself to feel every emotion that accompanies it. Suppressing or denying grief becomes a hindrance to healing. It is an important part of learning to permit yourself to grieve, even if that does not feel good because it makes you vulnerable or out of control.
- Reach Out for Help: Going through the grieving process alone can make it more challenging. Speaking to friends, family members or a counselor can help in offering emotional support. Listening to your feelings could sometimes be the difference. Support groups, whether in person or online, can also be a valuable source of insight for people sharing common experiences.
- Build Rituals and Memorials: Creating rituals for honoring the loss can be a wonderful tool in coping and getting closure. This can be as modest as lighting a candle in memory on the anniversary of the death, or more elaborate, such as a memorial service. Smiles, tears exhilaration, and pain; remembering is mournful relief and focus; remember that finding ways to honor the lost person, pet or thing also helps keep the memory alive, and reminds you that you are still connected even when the person has passed.
- Take Care of Your Body: Grieving can affect you physically, as sadness and stress can manifest as physical symptoms. Be sure to take care of your body with good food, rest, and exercise. Even a little movement—a walk, for instance—can trigger the release of endorphins, which might lift your spirits.
- Be Kind with Yourself: It’s important to accept that the grieving process is not straight-line; there will be good and bad days. Some days are better than others; that is fine. During this time, you must be patient and gentle with yourself, letting the grieving process happen when it is supposed to.
Advice for Navigating Grief
- Don’t rush the process.
- Honor your loved one’s memory.
- Practice self-compassion.
- Consider professional help.