GRIEF and LOSS

 

Loss and the related experience of grief happens to all healthy normal people.  This can be due to the death of a loved one, or just the parting of ways such as in a divorce or break up.  Grief can even be experienced with the loss of health such as a chronic illness or a lifestyle loss such as a person who is retiring and is "lost" without their old working "identity".  A healthy person can experience shock or disbelief, anger, a bargaining period, a blaming period and then acceptance.  These general stages can be experienced in all different orders and repeat themselves as well.  One very important thing about grief is that each person does need a way to express their expereince of loss.  If they come from a family that does not want them to express feelings or they are afraid of being overwhelmed, the bottles up emotions can really make trouble later and "spurt" out at unexected times.  A therapist can be a great way to make sure you have a place to process your feelings and sort out your thoughts without worrying about what anyone will think if you "fall apart" or have something to say that is hard for them to hear.  A therapist understands this is normal and healthy for you to share all of this and take your time to "work it out".

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Another issue with regular grief is it can become "complicated or unresolved grief".  This is when the grief does not go away and the emotions are "flooding" or "overwhelming".  This can happen if you have had several losses happen one ofgter the other.  Or you never worked out grief from long ago and it comes up when a new loss happens making you very overwhelmed more than you can function with.  Another thing is that gref can trigger full major depressive disorder (MDD) or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if there is trauma connected to this.  

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Major Depressive Disorder and PTSD are very serious and potentially dangerous, please do get help if you are not sure as the consequences from these are sometimes severe and you need support to cope in healthy ways.

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